Mike Sammes Singers
Prolific British backing vocal group on 1950s–1970s pop hits.
The Mike Sammes Singers were a British vocal group formed in 1957 by musician and arranger Mike Sammes. They provided backing vocals on numerous pop music tracks recorded in the UK into the 1970s, and according to Spencer Leigh, Sammes sang on more chart successes than any other performer.
- formed
- 1957
- founder
- Mike Sammes
- field
- Backing vocals, session singing
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- Backing vocals on many UK hit singles, including Beatles' 'I Am the Walrus' and 'Good Night', and title themes for Gerry Anderson shows
Lore & Background
The group was assembled by Mike Sammes by 1957, including Sammes, John O'Neill, Irene King, Enid Heard, Mike Redway, Ross Gilmour, Valerie Bain, Marion Gay, and Mel Todd. They worked on film soundtracks, television and radio jingles, sometimes doing up to four sessions a day and six days a week. They appeared on the Morecambe and Wise Show in 1966 in the sketch 'The Ernie Wise Male Voice Choir'.
The Mike Sammes Singers performed title themes for three Gerry Anderson shows: Supercar, Stingray, and The Secret Service. They recorded many albums under their own name or with orchestras, including studio versions of West End musicals and albums for Disneyland Records. They featured on UK hit singles with Ronnie Hilton, Tommy Steele, Anthony Newley, Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdinck, and others.
Notably, they provided backing vocals for the Beatles' 'I Am the Walrus', making 'all sorts of swoops and phonetic noises' and chanting phrases like 'ho ho ho, he he he, ha ha ha'. They also sang on the Beatles' 'Good Night'.
Reader's Guide
The Mike Sammes Singers were a cornerstone of British session singing from the late 1950s into the 1970s, appearing on an extraordinary number of chart hits. Their versatility ranged from mainstream pop and film soundtracks to children's television themes and advertising jingles. Despite their prolific output, they have only one entry in The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, for 'Somewhere My Love' in July 1967. Their work on the Beatles' experimental track 'I Am the Walrus' demonstrates their adaptability to unconventional vocal demands. The group's decline in the mid-1970s reflected the rise of multi-tracking and synthesizers, which reduced the need for live backing vocalists. Their legacy endures through recovered recordings like Music for Biscuits, a compilation of 1960s/1970s advertising jingles. The Mike Sammes Singers represent the often-uncredited but essential contribution of session musicians to the sound of British popular music.
Did You Know?
- Mike Sammes sang on more chart successes than any other performer, according to Spencer Leigh.
- The group provided backing vocals for the Beatles' 'I Am the Walrus', chanting 'ho ho ho, he he he, ha ha ha' and 'oompah, oompah, stick it up your jumper'.
- They performed the title themes for Gerry Anderson's Supercar, Stingray, and The Secret Service.
- The group has only one entry in The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, for 'Somewhere My Love' in July 1967.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Mike Sammes Singers?
They were a British vocal ensemble established in 1957 by arranger and musician Mike Sammes. The group operated as a session backing-vocal unit for UK pop recordings from the late 1950s through the 1970s.
What role did the Mike Sammes Singers play in pop music?
They supplied layered backing vocals on a vast number of British hit singles rather than performing as a front-facing act. Their work was done behind the scenes in recording studios, adding vocal texture to other artists' tracks throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Which famous songs feature the Mike Sammes Singers?
Their voices appear on Beatles recordings such as "I Am the Walrus" and "Good Night," as well as on title themes for Gerry Anderson television shows. Over roughly two decades they were credited on a wide range of UK charting singles.
Why are the Mike Sammes Singers considered important in music history?
Writer Spencer Leigh noted that Sammes personally sang on more chart successes than any other performer in the UK during that period. Their prolific, largely invisible studio work shaped the vocal sound of an entire generation of British pop records.
When and by whom were the Mike Sammes Singers formed?
The group was put together in 1957 by British musician and arranger Mike Sammes. It went on to become one of the most in-demand backing-vocal ensembles in the UK studio scene for the next two decades.
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