Chris Farlowe British blues musician, singer Date of Birth: 13.10.1940 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Career and Skiffle Beginnings
2. Chris Farlowe & the Thunderbirds
3. Solo Success and "Out of Time"
4. Collaborations and Setbacks
5. Jimmy Page Revival and Later Career
6. Critical Reappraisal and Legacy

Early Career and Skiffle Beginnings

John Henry Daymon began his musical journey on the skiffle scene, forming his own group, The John Henry Skiffle Group, in 1957. He subsequently joined The Johnny Burns Rhythm and Blues Quartet a year later.

Chris Farlowe & the Thunderbirds

In 1959, adopting the stage name Chris Farlowe (after American jazz guitarist Tal Farlow), he became a member of The Thunderbirds, which soon changed its name to Chris Farlowe & the Thunderbirds. The group embarked on a string of five singles in 1966, each critically acclaimed but failing to achieve commercial success.

Solo Success and "Out of Time"

In 1966, Andrew Loog Oldham signed Farlowe to his Immediate Records label. The resulting single "Out of Time" (a cover of a Rolling Stones song) topped the UK Singles Chart that year. Farlowe followed up with "Handbags and Gladrags" in 1967, but it was his last entry in the UK Top 40.

Collaborations and Setbacks

Despite Immediate's efforts to reposition Farlowe as an album artist, commercial success eluded him. After the label folded in 1970, Farlowe joined Colosseum (recording three albums with them) and later Atomic Rooster. A car accident sidelined him for two years, and although he reformed The Thunderbirds in the mid-1970s, the project failed to regain commercial traction.

Jimmy Page Revival and Later Career

Farlowe's career was revitalized by Jimmy Page, a former Immediate label mate and ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist, who invited him to contribute to his "Outrider" album. This led to Farlowe's first television appearance in two decades and a resurgence in recording and touring, though it did not translate into significant commercial success.

Critical Reappraisal and Legacy

Despite his lack of sustained commercial success, Farlowe's later albums (particularly "The Voice") received critical praise. His 1960s work has been re-evaluated by music critics and established him as one of the enduring voices of that era. As Allmusic notes, "Farlowe... remains one of the undimmed vocalists to emerge in the '60s, alongside Mike d'Abo and Paul Jones."