Biography 1944-1968
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1944
Albert Hammond is born on May 18, as the second of his parents' three children (sister Violet *1941, brother Leslie *1947).
His family originally comes from Gibraltar, but because the women and children are evacuated to different parts of the world during the War, his mother is sent to London, where she gives birth to Albert.
Just a few months later, they move back to Gibraltar, where they live modestly (Albert's father worked as a fireman and didn't earn much money).
1953
He is head choir boy in church. Around the same time, his uncle records four tunes sung by Albert on a demo machine. One of those songs (Estrellita) was officially released years later.
1958-60
Albert and a friend of his, Richard Cartwright, start performing as Albert & Richard in Gibraltar and Spain.
1960-62
Albert leaves school, and, together with Richard, forms The Diamond boys, whose members are themselves (vocals, guitars), Albert's brother Leslie (sax), Luis Balloquí (bass) and Luis Vinet (drums). Their repertoire consisted of English and Spanish rock'n'roll songs mainly.
They send a record of Albert's very first compositions (New Orleans/Fool In Love) to England, where it is put out by Parlaphone. Albert is ecstatic about hearing these recordings on an English radio station in Gibraltar.
Some months later, The Diamond Boys head for Morocco, where they perform in several clubs in Casablanca. Although Albert is only seventeen years old at that time (and Leslie being even three years younger!), his parents can't fight his passion for music and his longing for adventure.
Back from their tour, they win first prize at the well-known Circo Price music festival in Madrid, which gets them a contract with the RCA label. Without hesitating, they make their second record: Popotitos/Hey, Little Girl/What'd I Say/O'Canganceiro.
1963-65
The Diamond Boys disband, and Albert & Richard start performing as a duo again.
After cutting El Ritmo De La Lluvia/Tu Gran Amor/Devuélvase Al Remitente/Qué Cosas Me Dirás and, together with Los Flaps, El Mundo/Rosy/Has Roto Tu Mi Corazón/Las Hojas Muertas, they head for England, where they appear on television (e.g. Thank you lucky stars) and make their final record: All I Have To Do Is Dream/Da Dou Ron Ron/Love's Made A Fool Of You/I'll Do It To You.
In 1965, Albert & Richard split up, Richard staying in England with his girlfriend, Albert going back to Gibraltar, where he meets his wife to-be, Pamela.
1965-68
Albert returns to England, meets up with Richard again, and together they join a band called Los Cincos Ricardos . They make only one record together, Most Exclusive Residence For Sale/It's All Over Now, the b-side being a song written by Albert.
Through this membership, Albert makes the acquaintance of lyricist Mike Hazlewood, who is a writer for the band. Almost immediately, they team up as songwriters and cut two records under the name of Hammond & Hazlewood: I Can Make The Rain Fall Up/The Hawkmoth And The Flame, Hey Love Let Me In/Let The Sunshine In and Broken Hearts Brigade/Wendy, Wendy, which consist of self-written material.
Because of money matters, the two of them are fired by the other band members after about nine months. But they don't run out of work:
Albert, since 1965 married to Pamela, works as a sessions singer for, among others, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich (1966/67) and, with Mike and Steve Rowland, forms Family Dogg, whose members include themselves (Albert and Mike: vocals and guitars, Steve: lead vocals) as well as two female voices which will be frequently replaced (Zooey, Dina Knight, Jane Harries, Christine Holmes, Doreen DeVeuve and Ireen Sheer).
Although they put out several singles over the next few years, only A Way Of Life enters the British charts (in 1969). The album named after it, released in the same year, is not quite as successful.
In 1969 and 1970, Steve puts out two singles whose a-sides are duets by Albert and himself: Follow The Leader/Time Of Your Life (under the name of Pancho & Cisco) and Follow The Bouncing Ball/Time Of Your Life (Steve & Albert), the b-side being a Family Dogg song written by Albert and Mike.
