Rick Fenn | |
|---|---|
 Fenn performing live in 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Fenn |
| Born | 23 May 1953 |
| Genres | Rock |
| Instrument(s) |
|
Richard Fenn (born 23 May 1953) is an English rock guitarist. He has been a member of the band 10cc since 1976[1] and has also collaborated with Mike Oldfield, Rick Wakeman, Hollies singer Peter Howarth, and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.
Rick Fenn attended the Dragon School[2] and Magdalen College School[citation needed] in Oxford. Fenn’s musical career started in Oxford where he was leader of the school band 'Bagshot Louie'. The band folded with the end of the school year in 1971 and Fenn moved to Cambridge, to attend the Cambridge College of Arts and Technology.[citation needed]
After completing an HND business studies course, Fenn joined a Cambridge band called Hamilton Gray who moved to Manchester and became the band 'Gentlemen'. Their debut TV appearance on a show called 'So It Goes' (along with the Sex Pistols) resulted in a liaison with Paul Burgess who soon after, recommended him to 10CC which he joined towards the end of 1976 at the launch of the Deceptive Bends album and has been part of the team ever since.
From 1979 he also toured and recorded with Mike Oldfield and with him co-wrote the song “Family Man” which went on to become a big hit for Hall & Oates all over the world and won him an A.S.C.A.P. award for best song in 1984.
In 1985, Fenn wrote and recorded his own album Profiles with the Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason. The single from the album, "Lie for a Lie" sung by David Gilmour and featuring Maggie Reilly was a hit in the United States.[citation needed] Also in the 1980s Fenn and Mason formed Bamboo Music, a company that produced music jingles for corporate clients.
Over the years, Fenn has toured with artists such as Rick Wakeman,[3] Jack Bruce, Elkie Brooks and Wax (with Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman). As a guitarist, he has recorded with numerous artists among them Cliff Richard, Peter Green, Agnetha Fältskog (ABBA), Marilyn, Sniff 'n' the Tears, John Wetton, and Justin Hayward.
From the late 1980s, Fenn devoted more of his time to composing and wrote countless scores for television documentaries, dramas and comedies (including series for Hale and Pace and Craig Charles) and a number of feature films.[citation needed] Amongst those were White of the Eye which was another collaboration with Nick Mason. Over the years he has won several awards for high-profile commercial sound tracks.
One soundtrack that won Fenn a Gold Clio award in America in 1989 for best song, featured Peter Howarth on vocals.[citation needed] He went on to form a writing partnership with Howarth, now the lead singer with the Hollies, and in 1990 they wrote a rock opera called "Robin, Prince of Sherwood" which toured the UK for a year and spent four months in the West End. Fenn and Howarth have other projects in the pipeline. They also periodically assemble a troupe of prominent musicians and perform as the Feramones.
Fenn recently[when?] toured throughout Germany as part of the Nokia Night of the Proms Band where, as well as 10cc, he played with Tears For Fears, Robin Gibb, and Kim Wilde.[citation needed]
When not working with 10CC, Fenn now spends most of his time at his home near Byron Bay, New South Wales, in Australia, where he has also collaborated with Australian rock legend Brian Cadd on various projects including a stage musical.[citation needed]
