Electric Light Orchestra
If there is something in doubt for almost everyone who knows his long career, it is that Jeff Lynne is one of the greats of the melody in the entire history of rock.
Obsessed with the Beatles since its inception, the traces of the Liverpool group are appreciated throughout the career of the ELO champion, from its beginnings in the 1960s, when it was part of its first groups as The Idle Race, until the 21st century , where he continued, after years of absence, leading his best-known and most successful band.
Jeff Lynne (born December 30, 1947 in Birmingham) spent his teens listening to the music of people like the Beatles, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley or Del Shannon.
After acquiring his first guitar to emulate his youth idols, he was part of various combos in Birmingham until he landed in 1965 in The Chads and later in The Wizzards and The Nightriders, a group that evolved in 1967 to The Idle Race, the stupendous band with which Jeff managed to leave the anominato.
The Move leader, impressed with Lynne's talent, repeatedly invited him to join the group, Roy Wood (born November 8, 1946 in Birmingham), Jeff finally agreeing to join The Move in 1970.
This formation, after the LPs "Looking On" (1970) and "Message From The Country" (1971), was called The Electric Light Orchestra with the aim of creating an ambitious project by Roy and Jeff, both coinciding in their ability to the melody, his admiration for the Fab Four and classical music, to combine pop-rock with it and continue what the Beatles had started with "I Am The Walrus".
The group, in its first stage, was completed by Move drummer Bev Bevan (born November 25, 1945 in Birmingham).
The same year as "Message From The Country" the first album with the name of ELO also appeared, the magnificent, probably its most underrated and best work, "Electric Light Orchestra" (1971), an album released in 1972 in the United States. United with the title of "No Answer".
The LP, with an emphasis on stringed instruments, contains Lynne's hit single "10538 Overture" and other great pieces like "Look At Me Now", "The Battle Of Marston Moor" or "Whisper In The Night ”, All three written by Roy Wood.
Jeff showcased his talent in tracks such as “Manhattan Rumble (49Th Street Massacre)”, “Mr. Radio ”or“ Queen Of The Hours ”.
Bill Hunt collaborated on the album playing the French horn and Steve Woolam on the violin.
After this essential work, the first misfortune occurred for the ELO project, since Roy decided to leave the group because he could not bring the sound of the album to live with conviction.
Soon after, he created Wizzard, a band that Bill Hunt also joined.