Richard Kerr

As the co-writer of "Mandy," "Looks Like We Made It," and "Somewhere in the Night" -- all huge hits for <a href="spotify:artist:3alW3LYQS8K29z8C8NSLIX">Barry Manilow</a> -- pianist Richard Kerr wrote some of the most beautiful pop/easy listening music ever made.

Kerr's writing dreams began when he was given the opportunity to pursue songwriting full-time after he was fired (his boss discovered a rock & roll album Kerr had recorded for a small progressive record label). The Englishman went on to have his songs recorded by <a href="spotify:artist:1Mxqyy3pSjf8kZZL4QVxS0">Frank Sinatra</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:21LGsW7bziR4Ledx7WZ1Wf">Johnny Mathis</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4sj6D0zlMOl25nprDJBiU9">Andy Williams</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2d6JU9LvNhZR7AAtu4x2rS">Yvonne Elliman</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1BwHztAQKypBuy5WBEdJnG">Jennifer Warnes</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:59hLmB5DrdihCYtNeFeW1U">Glen Campbell</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3IuP2fe32xEYp0GqLxWgmj">the Edwin Hawkins Singers</a>.

Not long after having been shown the door by his boss, Kerr had a number two hit in England -- "Blue Eyes" by <a href="spotify:artist:5zxGUxTlb8wAoWbzupXdIK">Don Partridge</a>, later covered by <a href="spotify:artist:1Mxqyy3pSjf8kZZL4QVxS0">Frank Sinatra</a>. Kerr was hired as a staff producer at RCA Records' London branch. Not finding any artists he wanted to produce, he accepted a Screen Gems staff writing job. While there he co-wrote "Brandy" (not to be confused with the '70s hit by <a href="spotify:artist:5jJN1nmKXzRjodMl1THQeI">Looking Glass</a>) with lyricist/recording artist Scott English. The record became a Top Ten British hit and peaked at number 91 pop in March 1972.

<a href="spotify:artist:5alKeK7PQGqEJ2oBz5n7sU">Clive Davis</a>, president of Bell Records (now Arista), suggested that <a href="spotify:artist:3alW3LYQS8K29z8C8NSLIX">Manilow</a> record the song as a ballad. Davis changed the song title to "Mandy" and <a href="spotify:artist:3alW3LYQS8K29z8C8NSLIX">Manilow</a> had his first chart record, going all the way to number one pop on January 18, 1975. Around 1976, while visiting Hollywood, Kerr signed with Rondor Music, A&M Records' European music publishing company. He was initially teamed with songwriter <a href="spotify:artist:4jmVG1bMuHIUGZJ13EJ9TT">John Bettis</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:1eEfMU2AhEo7XnKgL7c304">the Carpenters</a>) but was introduced to lyricist <a href="spotify:artist:1Mq5WQehpxWHq4S2KTB3HI">Will Jennings</a> by Irving Music executive Lance Freed. Their first song, "Somewhere in the Night," became Kerr's first U.S. hit, going to number 19 pop for <a href="spotify:artist:0Sq7oGrYEe0BDmb13wgjOO">Helen Reddy</a> in 1975. Another Kerr-Jennings composition, "Looks Like We Made It," gave <a href="spotify:artist:3alW3LYQS8K29z8C8NSLIX">Manilow</a> his third number one pop hit on July 23, 1977. <a href="spotify:artist:3alW3LYQS8K29z8C8NSLIX">Manilow</a>'s version of "Somewhere in the Night" went to number nine pop in 1978. In November 1978, Kerr's first solo album, Welcome to the Club, was released by A&M Records. Produced by Chris Bond (<a href="spotify:artist:77tT1kLj6mCWtFNqiOmP9H">Hall and Oates</a>), it was solid MOR pop with Kerr contributing both acoustic grand and electric piano and co-writing the LP's ten tunes with frequent collaborator <a href="spotify:artist:1bggYlGuKvYNC2yruhGN9r">Jennings</a>, Gary Osborne, and Bettis. Other albums by Kerr include From Now Until, Somewhere in the Night, and Same. Richard Kerr's death was announced on December 11, 2023; he was 78 years of age. ~ Ed Hogan, Rovi