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Mitch Murray CBE (born Lionel Michael Stitcher; 30 January 1940)[1] is an English songwriter, record producer and author. He has won two Ivor Novello Awards, including the Jimmy Kennedy Award. Murray has written, or co-written, songs that have produced five UK and three US chart-topping records.[2] He has also been awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.[3]

Biography

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Early life

[edit]

He was born Lionel Michael Stitcher[4] in Hove, Sussex, England.[5] In 1968, he changed his legal name by deed poll to Mitch Murray.[6]

Musical career

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Murray's first major songwriting success was "How Do You Do It?"[7] It was picked up by producer George Martin, who insisted that The Beatles record it as their first single. The recording remained officially unreleased until it appeared on Anthology 1 in 1995. Martin let them release "Love Me Do" instead, passing "How Do You Do It?" to another young Liverpool-based group, Gerry and the Pacemakers. Their version launched their career with a UK Number 1 single the following spring.[8] Thus encouraged, Murray sent them another of his songs, "I Like It",[7] which became their second single and also topped the UK Singles Chart.[8][9]

He had further success throughout the next ten years, writing "You Were Made for Me" and "I'm Telling You Now" for Freddie and the Dreamers, the latter in collaboration with their frontman, Freddie Garrity;[10] and "I Knew It All the Time" recorded in 1964 by The Dave Clark Five.[11] Murray's 1964 book, How to Write a Hit Song,[12] inspired Sting, then a 12-year-old schoolboy, to start writing songs. Sting now refers to Murray as "My Mentor", and wrote the foreword to Mitch Murray's Handbook for the Terrified Speaker (Valium in a Volume).[13]

Most of Murray's subsequent hits were written with Peter Callander, among them "Even the Bad Times Are Good" (The Tremeloes),[14] "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde" (Georgie Fame),[15] "Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha" (Cliff Richard),[16] "Ragamuffin Man" (Manfred Mann),[17] "Hitchin' a Ride" (Vanity Fare),[18] "Turn On The Sun" (Nana Mouskouri)[19] and "Avenues and Alleyways", "Las Vegas", and "I Did What I Did for Maria" for Tony Christie.[20]

Murray and Callander were also Christie's producers, and produced "Is This the Way to Amarillo?" (written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield).[21] In an interview in The Times in which Christie described another Murray-Callander penned tune, "Las Vegas", he noted that the two "were the star songwriters of the day".[22]

After writing many hits for other people, in October 1965 Murray had a hit single as a performer, with his humorous composition, "Down Came the Rain", issued on Fontana Records under the moniker Mister Murray, with "Whatever Happened to Music" on the B-side. It missed the Record Retailer Top 50, but reached number 30 in the NME chart. An Italian version of "Down Came the Rain", under the name "Una ragazza in due" ("A girl for two") with lyrics unrelated to the original, has been performed by various artists, among them I Giganti, Ornella Vanoni and Mina.[23] Murray also wrote "My Brother" which became a children's favourite when recorded by Terry Scott in 1962.[24]

Later, Murray and Callander formed their own record label, Bus Stop,[12] through which they launched the career of Paper Lace. Their first two singles, released in 1974, were both written by Murray and Callander: "Billy Don't Be a Hero" (number one in the UK,[25] with a cover version by Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods reaching number one in the US), and "The Night Chicago Died" (number one in the US). Another song Murray was involved in was "Sing Me", a UK Top Ten hit for one-hit wonders, The Brothers, in 1977.[26]

In 1968, Murray became the youngest ever director of PRS for Music.[2] In 1971, he conceived and founded the Society Of Distinguished Songwriters (SODS).[2] Current members include Sir Tim Rice, Guy Chambers, Gary Barlow, David Arnold, Mike Batt, Justin Hayward, Don Black, Marty Wilde, Ricky Wilde, and more than thirty others.[citation needed] Bill Martin, who was also a founding member, died in April 2020.

Murray was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to music.[27]

Comedy

[edit]

In the mid-1980s, just before the privatisation of British Telecom, Murray wrote and starred in a series of comedy programmes, The Telefun Show, which were only available for listening via the telephone (by dialling 01–246 8070 in the UK) in a similar way to the contemporary Dial-A-Disc service, which he also presented and which attracted up to 300,000 calls per day.[23]

After "Down Came The Rain", Murray built up a reputation for comedy in many areas, including voice characterisation for movies and radio commercials, as well as for after-dinner speaking.[2]

Author and speechwriter

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Murray is now regarded as one of Britain's leading professional humorous speechwriters, and has written several best-selling books on the subject including Mitch Murray's One-Liners For Weddings (1994), Mitch Murray's One-Liners For Business and Mitch Murray's One-Liners for Speeches on Special Occasions (1997).[28][29][30]

Personal life

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Murray was married to the singer and actress Grazina Frame, but they divorced in 1980. They have two daughters, Gina and Mazz. Mazz, who was Bob Monkhouse's god-daughter, starred for nine years as Killer Queen in the musical We Will Rock You. Gina starred in the West End productions of The Full Monty and Chicago. They worked together in 2020 as vocalists in 'Woman' The Band with Brian May.[31]

Murray resides in the Isle of Man.[3]

References

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[edit]
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Mitch Murray

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from Grokipedia
Mitch Murray (born Lionel Michael Stitcher; 30 January 1940 – he legally changed his name to Mitch Murray in 1968) is an English songwriter, , and author renowned for his pivotal role in the scene. He achieved international success by penning multiple number-one hits, including "How Do You Do It?" and "I Like It" for , as well as "" for . An early career highlight was the ' rejection of his song "How Do You Do It?" for their debut single in 1963; Murray then gave it to , who recorded it and achieved a number-one hit. Born in , , Murray began writing songs at age 22 and quickly rose to prominence in London's music industry, collaborating with artists such as , , and . His songwriting extended into the 1970s, co-authoring tracks like "" and "" with Peter Callander, the latter topping charts in both the (Paper Lace) and (). Over his career spanning nearly two decades of active songwriting until around 1976, he amassed over 20 international hits. Murray has received multiple , including for Songwriter of the Year, recognizing his lyrical and melodic contributions to . In 2019, he was appointed Commander of the (CBE) by the Prince of for services to , an honor reflecting his enduring legacy. Now residing on the Isle of Man, he has also ventured into authorship with humorous books such as Mitch Murray's One-Liners for Weddings and performed in broadcasting and comedy. In 2020, the Isle of Man issued a set of stamps commemorating his career achievements.

Early life

Birth and family background

Mitch Murray was born Lionel Michael Stitcher on 30 January 1940 in , , . He legally changed his name by to Mitch Murray in to align with his emerging professional identity in the entertainment industry. Murray hailed from a working-class Jewish family; he grew up in , , attending the . His family operated a small handbag business, with expectations that he would join as a salesman upon adulthood. No siblings are documented in biographical accounts. His family lacked a strong musical heritage, with most members described as tone-deaf, though his father maintained a collection of records and possessed a rudimentary sense of pitch. His parents offered conditional support for his creative pursuits; his father granted him a brief period to pursue songwriting before insisting on stable employment, while his mother accompanied him to local events. Murray's formative years occurred in post-war , a time of economic rebuilding and cultural shifts following . He absorbed influences that nurtured an early fascination with , including exposure to and popular music through community venues and his father's record collection of pre-war songwriters, whose melodic and sincere styles profoundly shaped his tastes. As a teenager, Murray explored , culminating in a memorable 1958 encounter with jazz legend during a local event. These experiences fostered his creative inclinations amid the era's austerity and emerging .

Entry into the music industry

Born Lionel Michael Stitcher in , , in 1940, Mitch Murray moved to in the early to pursue a career in songwriting, turning down a permanent role in the family handbag business after initially working there. While establishing himself, he supported himself through odd jobs, including working as a travelling salesman selling handbags for his father. Murray's early musical influences stemmed from the scene and the British movement, as well as the 1930s songs from his father's record collection, which emphasized melodic and sincere compositions. Entirely self-taught without formal musical training, he learned basic chords on the from and composed his first song at age 22 while on holiday in . His initial forays into professional songwriting involved persistent attempts to pitch demos to music publishers in , where he encountered numerous rejections before gaining traction. By collaborating with figures like publisher and producer , Murray secured his first releases within a year of dedicating himself fully to the craft. In 1968, Murray's rising prominence in the industry led to his appointment as the youngest director of the , a role that underscored his early recognition among music professionals.

Musical career

Songwriting achievements

Mitch Murray's songwriting career gained momentum in the early 1960s with his breakthrough hit , composed while he was experimenting with chords during a casual learning session. The tune, characterized by its catchy melody and playful lyrics, was demoed by and brought to , where producer selected it as the ideal debut single for . The band recorded a version on September 4, 1962, but expressed strong dissatisfaction, insisting on releasing their own composition instead; Martin subsequently offered the song to fellow act , whose energetic rendition propelled it to number one on the UK Singles Chart in March 1963, marking Murray's first major success and contributing to the Merseybeat wave. Building on this triumph, Murray quickly followed with "I Like It" for , another upbeat track that captured the era's youthful exuberance and also reached number one in the later in 1963. He then supplied material to Manchester's , including the romantic "You Were Made for Me" in 1964, which climbed to number three on the chart, and "" in 1965, a declaration of devotion that peaked at number two in the while topping the Hot 100. Collaborating with lyricist Peter Callander from the late 1960s onward, Murray co-wrote "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde," a narrative-driven song inspired by the infamous outlaws, which took to number one in the in 1968, blending pop accessibility with storytelling flair. Murray's compositions as a whole achieved remarkable commercial impact, yielding five number one singles and three number ones over his career, underscoring his pivotal role in shaping British pop during the and . In , he founded the Society of Distinguished Songwriters (SODS), an invitation-only group dedicated to fostering camaraderie among elite songwriters through regular gatherings and performances, which continues to honor the craft today. His contributions were formally recognized with multiple , including for "" and the Jimmy Kennedy Award in 2000 for lifetime achievement in British songwriting, affirming his enduring influence on the industry.

Record production and labels

In the early 1970s, Mitch Murray co-founded Records with fellow songwriter Peter Callander, establishing a label focused on pop and novelty acts through their Intune music publishing company. The label's operations were supported by a distribution deal with , enabling releases of middle-of-the-road pop singles that capitalized on Murray and Callander's songwriting expertise. This venture marked Murray's transition from primarily songwriting to active record production and artist development, allowing greater control over the recording process and market placement. A pivotal success for Bus Stop Records came with the launch of the band , whom Murray produced and managed. Their 1974 single "," co-written by Murray and , topped the UK Singles Chart; a by also reached number one on the , selling over a million copies and establishing the label's commercial viability. The follow-up "" also achieved US number one status later that year, further solidifying Paper Lace's profile under Murray's production oversight. These hits exemplified Murray's approach to crafting accessible, narrative-driven pop with strong hooks, often recorded with session musicians to enhance orchestral elements. Murray's production work extended beyond Bus Stop to collaborations with established artists, notably . He co-produced Christie's 1971 hit "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo," which peaked at number one in the and saw a significant revival in 2005 as a charity single featuring , becoming the year's best-selling single with over 1.5 million copies sold. Additional Christie productions under Murray included "I Did What I Did for Maria" ( number two, 1971) and "(Avenues & Alleyways)" ( number one, 1972), both emphasizing lush arrangements and Christie's delivery. These efforts highlighted Murray's skill in blending session musicians with lead vocals for radio-friendly results. Murray's contributions to record production were recognized with the Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors in 1986, honoring his impact on the industry through innovative label management and hit-making productions. By the late 1970s, shifts in the music business prompted him to scale back, though his Bus Stop era left a lasting legacy in British pop.

Comedy and entertainment

Television and stage work

In the mid-1980s, Murray transitioned into comedy through television, presenting and starring in The Telefun Show, a series of interactive comedy programs available via British Telecom hotlines, featuring jokes, sketches, and a continuing storyline about a character named Reggie Chainsaw McPickles. Sponsored by the Daily Mirror, the show aired late on Sunday nights following BBC's That's Life? and gained brief popularity for its humorous content before shifting to premium-rate numbers. This marked Murray's shift from songwriting to on-screen entertainment, blending his witty persona with variety elements. Murray's stage work emerged alongside his television efforts, particularly as an after-dinner speaker delivering satirical commentary on the music industry, drawing from decades of insider experiences to entertain corporate and social audiences. He hosted events like the Society of Distinguished Songwriters' in 2022, where his hosting incorporated humorous anecdotes from his career. These live performances evolved from his earlier appearances, such as performing the comedic "Down Came the Rain" on ITV's Thank Your Lucky Stars in 1965, where a doused him with water for effect. Murray also made guest appearances on UK television panels and radio programs, often infusing music industry stories with humor; for instance, in a 2020 Isle of Man TV interview, he shared lighthearted recollections of turning down the Beatles. His 1964 hosting of a songwriting segment on Southern TV's Three Go Round, where he taught viewers about lyrics and melodies, foreshadowed this blend of education and entertainment. Murray's musical background frequently supplied the raw material for these routines, transforming hit-making tales into comedic gold.

Speaking engagements

Murray developed a successful career as an after-dinner speaker starting in the , leveraging his extensive experiences in the music industry to deliver engaging and humorous talks at corporate events and awards ceremonies across the . His performances often blended anecdotes from his songwriting and production days with witty observations, establishing him as one of Britain's prominent professional humorous speakers. By the , this role had evolved into a primary focus, with Murray authoring like Mitch Murray's for the Terrified Speaker to guide others in crafting effective after-dinner addresses, complete with strategies for overcoming and incorporating humor. In addition to live engagements, Murray contributed to comedy through recordings that showcased his musical knowledge and satirical bent. Notable examples include his 1965 novelty single "Down Came the Rain," a comedic track performed with theatrical flair on ITV's Thank Your Lucky Stars, where he endured a bucket of water being poured over him mid-performance. He also penned and produced humorous songs such as "My Brother" for , a staple on BBC's that highlighted his talent for lighthearted, character-driven comedy tied to pop culture. These efforts extended to , where his comedic style featured in spots and shows like the telephone-based Telefun Show, an early platform for his entertaining persona. Following the peak of his music career in the 1960s and 1970s, Murray transitioned into full-time , emphasizing speaking and comedy while residing on the since 1978. This shift allowed him to maintain a busy schedule of performances in the UK and locally, including founding the Society of Distinguished Songwriters (SODS) in 1971, which hosted events combining music discussions with humorous . His enduring appeal in these formats has been recognized through honors like the CBE and a 2020 stamp set commemorating his multifaceted contributions to .

Writing and speechwriting

Authorship of books

Mitch Murray's debut book, Mitch Murray's Complete Book of One-Liners for Weddings: And How to Use Them in Your Speech, was published in by Foulsham & Co Ltd and became a best-seller, offering hundreds of original wedding-themed quips, gags, and jokes tailored for speeches by the bride's father, groom, and best man, along with guidance on speech structure and delivery. Murray expanded his literary output into a series of humorous books featuring concise one-liners for various occasions, including Mitch Murray's One-Liners for Business: How to Use Them in Your Speech (1997, Foulsham), which provides witty material for professional settings, and Mitch Murray's One-Liners for Speeches on Special Occasions (1997, Foulsham), a cross-referenced collection of gags suitable for events like birthdays and retirements, emphasizing audience engagement techniques. He has authored at least five such books in total, including Mitch Murray's Handbook for the Terrified Speaker (2005, Foulsham) and Mitch Murray's One-Liners for Wedding Speeches (2004, Foulsham), all recognized as best-sellers in the genre of humorous speechwriting. His writing style emphasizes sharp, succinct humor rooted in his extensive experience in music and , delivering punchy lines that blend observational wit with practical advice for . Murray's books were published through established houses like Foulsham, reflecting traditional deals that capitalized on his reputation as a professional .

Professional speechwriting

In the 1990s, Mitch Murray established himself as one of Britain's leading professional humorous speechwriters, building on his extensive experience in . He transitioned into this niche from his earlier comedy work, applying his renowned expertise in crafting sharp one-liners to produce engaging, tailored scripts for high-profile clients. This shift allowed him to serve celebrities such as and various politicians, delivering speeches that blended wit with relevance to the occasion. Murray's process focused on customizing humorous content for diverse events, including weddings, awards ceremonies, conferences, corporate functions, social gatherings, and political engagements. He emphasized laughter-inducing narratives while maintaining strict confidentiality, often guaranteeing entertaining results through his signature style of concise, punchy humor derived from decades in songwriting and . His services were prominently advertised in Private Eye magazine, where he promoted himself as the go-to expert for such commissions. These assignments highlighted his ability to adapt light-hearted commentary to formal settings, further solidifying his reputation in the field.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Mitch Murray married actress and singer on December 5, 1966, during the height of his songwriting success in the British pop scene. The couple shared a life intertwined with the music industry, as Frame pursued her own career in television and voice work while supporting Murray's professional endeavors, including joint musical releases under the name Mr. & Mrs. Murray. Their marriage produced two daughters, Gina Elizabeth Murray (born 6 November 1973) and (born 26 November 1974). Gina has established herself as a stage and screen actress and singer, notably forming the in 2010 and performing in West End productions. Mazz, trained at , has built a prominent career in musical theater, with roles in films like Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) and West End shows such as , while also venturing into music. Murray and Frame divorced in 1980, but maintained a close friendship and prioritized co-parenting their daughters, with Frame remaining involved in their upbringing amid her acting commitments. No further marriages for Murray are recorded, and he has emphasized ongoing family support, including close bonds with his grandchildren. The daughters continued the family's entertainment legacy, collaborating in 2020 as part of the supergroup —alongside and —with Queen's on guitar for the charity single "I'm a ," benefiting organizations. Murray's residence on the Isle of Man since the 1970s has shaped his family dynamics, allowing him to balance time there with visits to his in .

Residence and later years

In 1978, Murray relocated to the Isle of Man, seeking lower rates amid the high fiscal pressures of the era in the UK, and he has made the island his permanent home since then. This move followed a brief period in the , allowing him to maintain a more private life away from the intensity of London's music scene. Murray's contributions to music were formally recognized in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours, when he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the industry. The honor, which acknowledged his lifelong work as a songwriter, producer, and author, was presented to him by the Prince of Wales later that year. Entering his later years, Murray, born on 30 January 1940 and now aged 85 as of 2025, has embraced semi-retirement on the Isle of Man, shifting his focus from active songwriting—which he largely ceased around 1976 due to evolving industry dynamics—to authoring books on comedy and speechwriting, as well as occasional interviews reflecting on his six-decade career. He leads a quiet life centered on family ties. In a 2025 interview, he highlighted enduring pride in hits like "" while noting the music world's transformation toward artist-driven control. His daughters, Gina and , continue the family legacy in musical theater, recently appearing at the .

References

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  2. https://www.thejc.com/life/music/mitch-murray-songster-who-turned-down-the-beatles-ybn37gmv
  3. https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/national/18082923.songwriter-mitch-murray-awarded-cbe/
  4. https://www.iompost.com/media-centre/isle-of-man-stamps-coins-imagery/2020-collections/songwriter-composer-producer-and-author-mitch-murray-cbe-commemorated-on-a-colourful-and-vibrant-set-of-ten-stamps/
  5. https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/how-did-he-do-it
  6. https://www.discogs.com/artist/271549-Mitch-Murray
  7. https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/how-do-you-do-it/
  8. https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/news/mitch-murray-cbe-commemorated-on-with-set-of-ten-stamps
  9. https://www.discogs.com/label/132579-Bus-Stop
  10. https://www.7tt77.co.uk/BUS_STOP.html
  11. https://www.discogs.com/master/163264-Paper-Lace-Billy-Dont-Be-A-Hero
  12. https://stereogum.com/2044576/the-number-ones-bo-donaldson-and-the-heywoods-billy-dont-be-a-hero/columns/the-number-ones
  13. https://www.whosampled.com/Tony-Christie/%28Is-This-the-Way-To%29-Amarillo/
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  17. https://ivorsacademy.com/news/gold-badge-awards-1986-recipients/
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  20. https://www.manxradio.com/on-air/blogs/women-today/post/conister-rock-listen-again-mitch-murray/
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  24. https://www.iompost.com/our-news/isle-of-man-stamps/singer-songwriter-and-lyricist-mitch-murray-cbe-commemorated-on-a-colourful-and-vibrant-set-of-ten-stamps/
  25. https://www.amazon.com/Mitch-Murrays-Complete-One-Liners-Weddings/dp/0572018967
  26. https://books.google.com/books/about/Mitch_Murray_s_One_liners_for_Speeches_o.html?id=ii68AQAACAAJ
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  30. https://www.cix.co.uk/~stevemann/departments/smalls.htm
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  32. https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/songwriter-mitch-murray-smiles-while-embracing-his-wife-news-photo/2193239523
  33. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0289735/bio/
  34. http://www.hotvinyl.jp/beatbox/mitchanswers.htm
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  36. https://www.discogs.com/artist/3676868-Mazz-Murray
  37. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1605525-Gina-Murray
  38. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1166533/
  39. https://www.thejc.com/life/mazz-murray-the-secret-superstar-wabwfz4w
  40. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/tv/eastenders-joel-star-max-murrays-famous-family-unveiled-including-doctor-who-actress/ar-AA1HTHj5
  41. https://www.queenonline.com/news/im-a-woman-by-woman-feat-brian-may-out-now
  42. https://targetovariancancer.org.uk/news/brian-may-woman-charity-single
  43. https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/awarded-a-cbe-and-mitch-likes-it-228574
  44. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48543826
  45. https://ivorsacademy.com/news/music-creators-celebrated-as-part-of-queens-birthday-honours-list/
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  47. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1098920/bio/
  48. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/gina-murray.html
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