Albert Hammond Biography

Birth name : Albert Louis Hammond

Born : 18 May 1944 (age 67) London, England

Origin : Gibraltar

Genres : Popular music

Occupations : Singer, musician, songwriter, record producer

Pop and rock singer, songwriter and guitarist Albert Louis Hammond was born on May 18, 1944 in London, England. He was the second of three children. His father was a firefighter. Hammond grew up in Gibralter and learned how to fluently speak both English and Spanish. Albert sang in the church as a kid and was a choir boy. In 1958 Hammond and his friend Richard Cartwright began performing as a duo in both Spain and Gibralter. In 1960 Albert joined the band The Diamond Boys, who performed at nightclubs in Madrid. Hammond subsequently dropped out of school to pursue a career in music. In 1966 Albert co-founded the British vocal group Family Dogg, who had a Top 10 UK radio hit with "A Way of Life" in 1966. It was during this time that Hammond met fellow musician and future songwriting collaborator Mike Hazelwood. In 1972 Albert scored a massive international smash with the fine and touching song "It Never Rains in Southern California;" the song peaked at #5 on the US pop charts and sold a million copies worldwide.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Albert wrote several other highly successful songs including Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy-nominated “Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now” (Starship), “I Don’t Want to Live Without Your Love” (Chicago), “Through the Storm” (Aretha Franklin & Elton John), “Don’t Turn Around” (Aswad, Neil Diamond and Ace of Base), “I Don’t Wanna Lose” and “The Way of the World” (Tina Turner), “Give A Little Love” (Ziggy Marley & The Melodymakers), “It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be” (Whitney Houston & Aretha Franklin), “Don’t You Love Me Anymore?” (Joe Cocker), and “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” (Diana Ross).

In 1988, Albert wrote the theme song for the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, “One Moment in Time” performed and recorded by Whitney Houston, which won him his first Emmy. During this period, other artists that recorded his songs were Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow, Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, Roy Orbison, Simply Red, Dionne Warwick, Bonnie Tyler, Hank Williams, Jr., Aur Supply, Agnetha Faltskog (of ABBA), Phil Everly, Bill Medley & kd lang, Nancy Sinatra, Cliff Richard, Westlife, Jose Carreras and Josh Groban.

Albert achieved early success as an artist with his song “It Never Rains in Southern California,” and he has since built a multi-faceted career as an artist, songwriter and producer in both English-speaking and Latin markets. What sets Albert Hammond apart as a songwriter, earning him induction into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2008, is that Albert doesn’t just write hits—he writes classics. He is one of very few songwriters of our time whose songs not only have the mass appeal to make them pop hits, but whose very same songs also have the timelessness and depth that over time turns them into standards. Few writers can successfully walk this line and deliver hits for the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today. Albert’s songs are the kind of songs that turn one-hit wonders into career artists and keep records selling and spinning on radio decades after their first release.

Albert’s songs have repeatedly topped the international pop, R&B, country, adult contemporary and Latin charts, sometimes simultaneously. Included among these are the #1 hits “When I Need You,” “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy), “One Moment in Time,” and “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” Anthems like “One Moment in Time,” which was written as the theme song for the 1988 Olympic games and won Albert his first Emmy, and “Cantare, Cantaras,” the Spanish-market equivalent of “We Are the World,” which Albert co-wrote and produced, are just two examples of Albert’s ability to create lasting theme songs that live on in our collective consciousness.

Hammond released his debut solo album on October 9th in the UK. Entitled "Yours to Keep," the album features musical guests such as Sean Lennon, Ben Kweller, and even The Strokes' manager Ryan Gentles and lead singer Julian Casablancas. Bassist Josh Lattanzi and drummer Matt Romano serve as the backing band, with Albert the main singer and guitarist. It was produced by former Thin Lizard Dawn vocalist Greg Lattimer at the Electric Ladyland Studios.

Hammond played his first solo dates at the end of October in a few cities including New York City and Philadelphia. He is set to tour the UK and Europe in November and December 2006, and provides support to Incubus on their forthcoming US tour of January/February 2007.

In 2008, Albert was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and has also received the OBE (Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II. His home country of Gibraltar will be honoring Albert with a commemorative postage stamp series which will feature his image and highlight his biggest international hits.