Steve Marriott British rhythm and blues musician Date of Birth: 30.01.1947 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Steve Marriott
2. Rise to Fame with Small Faces
3. Humble Pie and Solo Career
4. Legacy and Tragic Death

Biography of Steve Marriott

Steve Marriott, a British rhythm and blues musician, was born on January 30, 1947 in London. He began his career as a successful actor in his childhood and teenage years, performing in the musical "Oliver." In the mid-1960s, Marriott worked at a local music store where he met bassist Ronnie Lane and accepted his offer to join the band "Pioneers." Marriott quickly integrated into the group and, influenced by American R&B and fashion trends, they changed the band's name to "Small Faces."

Rise to Fame with Small Faces

While "Small Faces" became known in the US primarily for their hit "Itchycoo Park," they achieved much greater success in their homeland with a series of explosive hits, including "All or Nothing," "My Mind's Eye," and "Lazy Sunday." Their album "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake," released in 1968, has since become a classic. However, disagreements between Marriott and the band began during this time. The popularity of the single "Lazy Sunday" troubled Marriott, as he had recorded the song as a joke, and it was released against his objections. When the more thoughtful composition "The Universal" failed to enter the Top 20, his dissatisfaction only grew. Marriott's time with "Small Faces" came to an end when he left the stage during a performance on the eve of New Year's Day in 1969.

Humble Pie and Solo Career

Soon after, Marriott teamed up with former "Herd" guitarist Peter Frampton to form the hard rock band "Humble Pie." After months of work at Marriott's cottage in Essex, the group released their debut single "Natural Born Boogie," which reached the Top 5 in the UK. Their album "As Safe as Yesterday Is" followed, but they once again struggled to find success in the US. It was only with their 1971 live album "Performance Rockin' the Fillmore" that they achieved gold status. Although Frampton soon left the band, their 1972 album "Smokin'" became a breakthrough, reaching the top ten on the US charts. However, subsequent works failed to reach the same heights, and "Humble Pie" disbanded in 1975.

After releasing a solo album titled "Marriott" in 1976, Steve briefly reunited with "Small Faces." Four years later, he reorganized his second incarnation of "Humble Pie" with drummer Jerry Shirley. However, the second lineup of "Humble Pie" was short-lived, and the band disbanded again after releasing two albums.

Legacy and Tragic Death

During most of the 1980s, Marriott lived in seclusion. His plans to reunite with Frampton never materialized. On April 20, 1991, Steve Marriott tragically died in a fire that started from an unextinguished cigarette in his own home. In 1996, he received a posthumous "Ivor Novello" award for his outstanding contribution to British music and was listed as one of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time."