Ron Roker

Ronald Ernest Alfred Roker[1] (born 23 January 1941)[2][3] is an English songwriter, singer and record producer

Ron Roker
Birth nameRonald Ernest Alfred Roker
Born (1941-01-23) 23 January 1941
GenresPop music
Occupation(s)Songwriter, singer, record producer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1970s–present
Websiteronroker.com

Roker has written UK chart hits for Jackie Lee, The Fortunes, Barry Blue, Tina Charles, Polly Brown, The Pearls, The Real Thing and Sweet Dreams.

Career

Roker first worked as a song-plugger. His first taste of chart success was provided by the theme music to children's TV programme The Adventures of Rupert Bear. The song "Rupert", co-written with Len Beadle and recorded by Beadle's wife Jackie Lee, made the UK Singles Chart in 1971.[4][5] He also wrote the theme for Inigo Pipkin (later renamed Pipkins).[6] Further success was attained when Roker met up with Lynsey Rubin (who was about to change her name to Lynsey de Paul). Together they penned "Storm in a Teacup" for The Fortunes,[7] which landed them a Top Ten hit single;[8] "When You've Gotta Go" which made the Dutch Tipparade (peak number 17) in late 1972,[9] as well as the lower reaches of the Australian Aria chart in 1973;[10] and also de Paul's third single, "All Night", which made the UK chart breakers listing in May 1973[7] and No. 17 on the Dutch Single Tip chart.[11] Together with de Paul, he also wrote "Taking It On" and "It's Been a Long Time", both recorded by the Young Generation on their 1973 album Give Me Love.[12].

Roker also began writing with De Paul's partner Barry Blue, (with whom he is often confused) notably on the song, "Do You Wanna Dance",[7] a Top Ten hit at the end of 1973,[13] as well as some album tracks. The three of them also wrote "Sugarloaf Hill" released as a single by Del Davis.[14]

Moving from pop to a more soulful/dance vein, he was behind the Tina Charles hits "Love Bug" and "Dance Little Lady Dance".[7] His profile in the US benefited from Dionne Warwick recording one of his songs, "Do You Believe in Love at First Sight",[7] and this became the theme song of the film of the same name, starring Dan Aykroyd. "Up in a Puff of Smoke", also written by Roker and recorded by Polly Brown (aka Polly Browne, formerly of Pickettywitch),[15] was a Top 20 hit in America in the 1970s and charted in the UK.[16]. Together with Gerry Shury, he wrote "Guilty", which was recorded both by The Pearls[17] and First Choice and was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

One song he did not write was Sweet Dreams' cover version of the ABBA song "Honey, Honey", although Roker actually sang the male vocal on that record, in a duet with Polly Brown. He also co-wrote and co-produced "Stone Cold Love Affair", a 1975 single by The Real Thing.[18]

In 1983, Roker resurfaced with Jan Pulsford and Phil Wigger as the songwriters of the UK's Eurovision Song Contest entry, "I'm Never Giving it Up".[19] It was recorded by another band called Sweet Dreams, which came in sixth in the song contest. That year his protégé group, Two Way (featuring actor Anthony Head), released a single "Face in the Window", penned by the same writers.[20]

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See also

References
  1. "Ron Roker Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  2. "Ronald Roker". Companiesintheuk.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  3. "Dellam Corporate Information Limited, England". 51.350638;-0.19093: Dellam.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. "Artist: Ronald Ernest Alfred Roker". Second Hand Songs. 22 December 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 316. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. "Ron Roker Discography at Discogs". Rock.discogs.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  7. "Songs composed by Ron Roker". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  8. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 208. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  9. Top 40, Stichting Nederlandse. "Solomon King - When You've Gotta Go". Top40.nl.
  10. "Top Singles of 1973". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  11. "Dutch Charts". Dutchcharts.nl.
  12. "Vinyl Album: The Young Generation - Give Me Love (1973)". 45worlds.com.
  13. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 65. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  14. "Del Davis - Sugarloaf Hill". 45cat.com. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  15. "Up in a Puff of Smoke – PollyBrowne : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  16. "up in a puff of smoke | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  17. "Pearls, The – Guilty (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  18. "Real Thing, The – Stone Cold Love Affair (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  19. "Sweet Dreams – I'm Never Giving Up (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  20. "Two Way – All Dressed Up (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
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