Stephen Harley British rock musician, singer and songwriter Date of Birth: 27.02.1951 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Influences
2. Education and Musical Beginnings
3. Inspiration and Career Path
4. Early Writing and Journalism
5. Musical Career
6. Cockney Rebel
7. "Make Me Smile"
8. Later Career and Legacy
9. Death and Legacy

Early Life and Influences

Born on February 27, 1951, in Deptford, London, Steve Harley was the son of a jazz vocalist. After contracting polio at the age of two, Harley spent a total of four years (from ages three to sixteen) in hospitals, undergoing major surgeries in 1963 and 1966.

Education and Musical Beginnings

From age five, Harley attended Edmund Waller primary school near his home. At the age of nine, he entered Haberdasher Aske's Hatcham secondary school, where he remained until age seventeen. Despite leaving school without passing A-Level exams, Harley later earned an English language certificate in his forties.

Inspiration and Career Path

While in hospital at age 12, Harley developed a passion for poetry, prose, and contemporary music. Inspired by the likes of T.S. Eliot, D.H. Lawrence, John Steinbeck, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, and Bob Dylan, he resolved to pursue music and literature as his life's work.

Early Writing and Journalism

After leaving school, Harley worked as an accounting assistant for the Daily Express and Essex County Newspapers. During the early 1970s, he wrote for various provincial newspapers before returning to London to work for the East London Advertiser.

Musical Career

Harley's musical career began in 1971 when he performed as a "floor-spotter" in clubs such as Les Cousins, Bunjie's, and The Troubadour, sharing the stage with folk artists like Ralph McTell, John Martyn, and Julie Felix.

Cockney Rebel

In 1972, Harley joined the band Odin as a singing rhythm guitarist and met violinist John Crocker. Together, they formed Cockney Rebel in 1973, with Paul Jeffreys on bass, Milton Rome James on keyboards, and Stuart Elliott on drums.

The band signed a three-album contract with EMI and released "The Human Menagerie" in early 1973. Its lead single, "Sebastian," became a European hit, topping the charts in Belgium and the Netherlands. Subsequent albums and singles achieved significant commercial success, including "Cockney Rebel," "The Psychomodo," "The Best Years of Our Lives," "Timeless Flight," "Love's A Prima Donna," and "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)."

"Make Me Smile"

"Make Me Smile" holds a special place in Harley's repertoire. Recognized as one of the most-played British radio hits by the Performing Rights Society, it has been covered over a hundred times in seven languages and featured in several films, including "The Full Monty," "Velvet Goldmine," and "Saving Grace."

Later Career and Legacy

After the breakup of Cockney Rebel, Harley focused on raising his sons in the 1980s. He continued to perform occasionally, including a critically acclaimed turn as Christopher Marlowe in the West End production of "Marlowe."

Harley wrote lyrics for other artists, notably his longtime friend Rod Stewart, who praised him as one of the greatest songwriters "ever to have come out of Britain." He also participated in charity concerts and became an activist against landmines, serving as an ambassador for the Mines Advisory Group.

Harley hosted his own BBC Radio 2 program, "The Sound of the Seventies," for nine years. In 2007, he starred in the London production of Beckett's "Rough for Theater 1 & 11." In 2002, he received the Badge of Merit award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. He was also recognized for his charity work with a special award from Childline Rocks in 2009.

Death and Legacy

Steve Harley passed away on March 17, 2024, at the age of 73, after a battle with cancer. He is remembered as a talented singer-songwriter who left an enduring mark on the British rock music scene. His music continues to resonate with countless fans around the world.