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Jeff Lynne
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Jeff Lynne is an English singer, songwriter and producer, born in 1947 in Birmingham. He was strongly influenced by the Beatles. He began in 1963 with the Andicaps, joined the Chads and from 1966 to 1970 was founder and regular songwriter of the Idle Race. In 1968 he was allowed to watch for an hour at Abbey Road as the Beatles recorded the White Album, an experience he never forgot.
Music and breakthrough
In 1970, at the invitation of Roy Wood, he joined the Move. Together with Wood and drummer Bev Bevan he built a band there that was meant to unite rock and classical music: Electric Light Orchestra, ELO for short. The group wanted to carry on where the Beatles had left off. From 1972, after Wood's departure, Lynne wrote all the music. The hits include Evil Woman, Livin' Thing, Telephone Line, Mr. Blue Sky and Don't Bring Me Down.
Influence
After 1986 he became chiefly a producer. In 1988 he formed the supergroup Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. For the Beatles he co-produced the singles Free as a Bird, Real Love and Now and Then, made from demos by John Lennon. In 2017 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with ELO. His importance lies in the idea of a rock band with strings, built on the meticulous studio technique of a producer who began as a band member.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
- 1990Armchair Theatre
- 2008Xanadu on Broadway (soundtrack)
- 2012Long Wave