Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
On July 31, 1953, Hugh McDowell of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Wizzard was born.
I'm a day early, but I've already got the post done.
Hugh McDowell
McDowell on tour with ELO
in Oslo, Norway, 1978
Background information
Birth name: Hugh Alexander McDowell
Born: 31 July 1953; Origin Hampstead, London, England
Died: 6 November 2018 (aged 65)
Hugh Alexander McDowell (31 July 1953 – 6 November 2018) was an English cellist best known for his membership of the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and related acts.
Career
McDowell started playing the cello at the age of four-and-a-half; by the age of 10, he had won a scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School. Only one year later he made his first professional appearance in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw, in which he sang. Later he attended Kingsway College of Further Education, the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He played with the London Youth Symphony Orchestra, the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and London Youth Chamber Orchestra, until he was persuaded by Wilf Gibson to join The Electric Light Orchestra.
Electric Light Orchestra career
McDowell performed with the first live line-up of ELO in 1972 while only 19 years old, but left with founding member Roy Wood and horn player/keyboardist Bill Hunt to perform with the group Wizzard. During his time in Wizzard, he played both cello and Moog synthesizer, but returned to ELO in 1973 to replace Colin Walker. McDowell's return was partly motivated by a desire to play more cello and less keyboards as he had done with Wizzard. He remained with the group until Jeff Lynne removed the string players from the line-up. McDowell appeared in promotional videos for the Discovery album, despite not having played on the record. He performed with Electric Light Orchestra Part II in 1991.
{snip}
McDowell on tour with ELO
in Oslo, Norway, 1978
Background information
Birth name: Hugh Alexander McDowell
Born: 31 July 1953; Origin Hampstead, London, England
Died: 6 November 2018 (aged 65)
Hugh Alexander McDowell (31 July 1953 – 6 November 2018) was an English cellist best known for his membership of the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and related acts.
Career
McDowell started playing the cello at the age of four-and-a-half; by the age of 10, he had won a scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School. Only one year later he made his first professional appearance in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw, in which he sang. Later he attended Kingsway College of Further Education, the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He played with the London Youth Symphony Orchestra, the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and London Youth Chamber Orchestra, until he was persuaded by Wilf Gibson to join The Electric Light Orchestra.
Electric Light Orchestra career
McDowell performed with the first live line-up of ELO in 1972 while only 19 years old, but left with founding member Roy Wood and horn player/keyboardist Bill Hunt to perform with the group Wizzard. During his time in Wizzard, he played both cello and Moog synthesizer, but returned to ELO in 1973 to replace Colin Walker. McDowell's return was partly motivated by a desire to play more cello and less keyboards as he had done with Wizzard. He remained with the group until Jeff Lynne removed the string players from the line-up. McDowell appeared in promotional videos for the Discovery album, despite not having played on the record. He performed with Electric Light Orchestra Part II in 1991.
{snip}
Electric Light Orchestra - Can't Get it Out Of My Head (1975) • TopPop
TopPop
1.46M subscribers
6,148,860 views Oct 22, 2015
Can't Get It Out of My Head" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra (also known as ELO). First released on the band's fourth album 'Eldorado' in September 1974, the song is the second track on the album and follows "Eldorado Overture." The song was released in November the same year as a single.
The song became the band's first top 10 single in the United States, reaching number 9 and helped boost public awareness of the band in the U.S.; however, back in the UK the single and LP failed to chart. In 1978, it was included as the lead song on the four-track The ELO EP (UK release), reaching number 34 on the UK charts. The song has appeared on many ELO compilation albums.
The song reached #19 on the Dutch Top 40 chart on 15 March 1975
{snip}
TopPop
1.46M subscribers
6,148,860 views Oct 22, 2015
Can't Get It Out of My Head" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra (also known as ELO). First released on the band's fourth album 'Eldorado' in September 1974, the song is the second track on the album and follows "Eldorado Overture." The song was released in November the same year as a single.
The song became the band's first top 10 single in the United States, reaching number 9 and helped boost public awareness of the band in the U.S.; however, back in the UK the single and LP failed to chart. In 1978, it was included as the lead song on the four-track The ELO EP (UK release), reaching number 34 on the UK charts. The song has appeared on many ELO compilation albums.
The song reached #19 on the Dutch Top 40 chart on 15 March 1975
{snip}
Hat tip, a poster at Joe.My.God.
Tue Aug 1, 2023: On July 30, 1953, Hugh McDowell of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Wizzard was born.