Wayne Bickerton facts for kids

Wayne Bickerton (born Arthur Ronald Bickerton; 11 July 1941 – 29 November 2015) was a British music expert. He was a record producer, a songwriter, and a leader in the music business.

Wayne became famous in the 1970s. He worked with Tony Waddington. Together, they wrote and produced many hit songs for the band The Rubettes. He also became a very important person at SESAC. This is one of the biggest groups in America that helps musicians get paid for their songs.

Early Life and Music Career

Wayne Bickerton was born in Rhyl, Wales, on July 11, 1941. He grew up in Kirkdale, a part of Liverpool, England.

In 1963, Wayne started to become well-known in music. He played bass guitar and sang for the Pete Best Four. This band later changed its name to the Pete Best Combo. His childhood friend, Tony Waddington, played guitar in the same band. Wayne and Tony often sang together. They also started writing songs for the group. The band toured in Germany and the United States. Wayne and Tony left the band in 1966.

Producing and Songwriting Hits

After leaving the band, Wayne became a record producer. He worked at Deram Records. He helped create albums for groups like Giles, Giles & Fripp. He also worked with famous singers such as Petula Clark and Tom Jones.

Later, Wayne joined Polydor Records. He became the head of A&R there. This means he was in charge of finding new artists and helping them record music.

Wayne and Tony Waddington kept writing songs together. One of their most successful songs was "Nothing But A Heartache." The American group The Flirtations recorded it. This song became a hit in the US in 1969. It is now seen as a classic "northern soul" song.

Creating The Rubettes

Wayne and Tony had an idea for a rock 'n' roll musical. They wrote a song called "Sugar Baby Love." They first thought about sending it to the Eurovision Song Contest. Instead, they offered it to the band Showaddywaddy, but they said no.

Then, Wayne and Tony offered the song to the musicians who played on their demo recording. They said the musicians could have the song if they formed a real band. The musicians agreed and became The Rubettes.

"Sugar Baby Love" became a huge hit in 1974. It reached number one in the UK. Wayne and Tony wrote and produced all of The Rubettes' hit songs. They had nine songs in the UK Top 50 between 1974 and 1977. They even won an Ivor Novello Award for being Songwriters of the Year. They also had another Top 10 hit with "Sugar Candy Kisses" by Mac and Katie Kissoon.

Wayne and Tony started their own record company called State Records.

Leading the Music Industry

Wayne Bickerton moved into higher roles in the music business. He worked as an executive for the Performing Right Society in England. This group makes sure songwriters and composers get paid when their music is used. He eventually became the chairman of this society.

He also became the Deputy Chairman of The University of Liverpool Institute of Popular Music. In 1997, he joined SESAC. This is a major organization in the US that protects the rights of musicians. He became the Chairman of SESAC International. The University of Liverpool also gave him an honorary doctorate degree.

Later Life and Passing

Wayne Bickerton passed away on November 28, 2015. He was 74 years old. He died at his home in Hertfordshire, England.