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Artist
Allan Clarke
12+ albums
The Hollieseasy listening70spop rockbritish
about
Allan Clarke (born Harold Allan Clarke, 5 April 1942, Salford, Lancashire) is a British singer who was one of the founding members of The Hollies. He and his childhood friend, Graham Nash, began singing together in Manchester while still at school. In April 1963, they added Tony Hicks (lead guitar) (who replaced Vic Steele), along with the later additions of Bobby Elliott and Bernie Calvert (who would replace Eric Haydock on bass in 1966), became The Hollies formed in December 1962. Clarke was their lead vocalist, but also played occasional guitar and harmonica. In the UK they enjoyed 29 chart singles, 17 of which made the Top 10, with two - "I'm Alive" (1965) and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (1988 re-issue) - reaching No. 1, the latter on re-release; it had originally been a top three hit in 1969. In the US charts they achieved 23 chart singles, six of which hit the Top 10. Many of the group’s songs were co-written by Clarke, usually with Hicks and Nash, until the latter's departure at the end of 1968. They used the pseudonym "L. Ransford" initially for their song-writing credits. Keen to launch a solo career due to Nash's success in CSN, Clarke left the group in 1971, and was replaced by the Swedish singer Mikael Rickfors formerly with Bamboo. Clarke made three albums on his own - My Real Name Is 'arold (1972), Headroom (1973), and Allan Clarke (1974). However, none of Clarke's solo works had much acclaim. Ironically, after Clarke left the Hollies, "Long Cool Woman
