"Vernon's upbringing in Surrey was typical of many children born in the mid-1940s: he sang in his church choir, listened to the jazz and show tune LPs his parents owned and was bowled over by the arrival of rock'n'roll, responding most strongly to the likes of Little Richard, Fats Domino and Larry Williams."
"He and his brother Richard started their fanzine R&B Monthly and its attention to detail on artists and record releases made it a must-read on the London scene. Most music fans would feel they had achieved an exalted status to be publishing a magazine that was voraciously consumed by their fellow aficionados but Vernon had greater dreams."
"From the 1970s on, he would record and perform as a solo artist and band member; he was a producer for David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton and more. His was a life determined by his love for music, and he served his muse generously for more than 60 years."
Mike Vernon, who died at 81, was a pioneering figure in British blues music whose passion for the genre defined his six-decade career. Beginning as a schoolboy blues enthusiast in Surrey, he co-founded the influential fanzine R&B Monthly with his brother, establishing himself as a knowledgeable voice in the London music scene. His determination led to employment at Decca Records at age 18, where he recorded African American blues musicians and British bands. Vernon subsequently launched his own indie label and eventually established Blue Horizon with CBS financing. From the 1970s onward, he worked as a solo artist, band member, and acclaimed producer for major artists including David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, and Eric Clapton, dedicating his life entirely to music.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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