PETER STRAKER

Born in Jamaica, Peter Straker is known to more than one generation of music fans and theatre goers. He first shot to fame in 1968 when he starred as Hud in the original London production of ‘Hair.’ Straker has starred in countless West End productions since, including Pete Townshend’s ‘Tommy’, Ken Hill’s ‘The Original Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘Blues in the Night’, ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, ‘The Rat Pack’, ‘One Love’ and ‘Holding On’; these last two both with Ruby Turner. His classical roles include Cassius in ‘Julius Caesar’, at Bristol Old Vic, and Lucio in ‘Measure for Measure’ at the National Theatre.

Recently he reprised his role in ‘The Wiz’ with Birmingham Rep, and starred in The Hackney Empire’s ‘Cinderella’, The Landor Theatre’s ‘The Glorious One’s’. Lately Straker has performed in The Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, in a concert performance of ‘Piaf’ with The Matthew Jones Orchestra, and his critically acclaimed one man show ‘Peter Straker’s Brel’ returned to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013 after sold out performances earlier that year at the St. James Theatre in London. Peter has made several appearances in film and on TV and became a well-known face playing Dev in the hit series ‘Connie’ with Stephanie Beacham and is known to Doctor Who fans as Commander Sharrel, in ‘Destiny of the Daleks’. Peter Straker’s recording career has been no less notable, with projects for many major record labels including The Alan Parsons Project ‘I Robot’, Freddie Mercury’s memorable ‘Barcelona’ with Montserrat Caballé and backing vocals in The Great Pretender. Straker has an extensive back catalogue of recordings and solo albums, two of which were produced by Freddie Mercury, namely ‘This One’s On Me’, and ‘Changeling’. A discography which Peter Straker actively promoted by headline tours and one-off concerts throughout the UK and Europe.


Peter Straker’s Team

MIKE ALLISON – Music Arranger and Recording Producer Long time collaborator with Peter Straker, Mike’s early career saw him signed to Bruce Welch (of The Shadows) leading to him co-write songs including both title tracks on the albums, ‘I’m Nearly Famous’ and ‘Every Face Tells a Story’ for Cliff Richard. ‘Every Face Tells a Story’ was also recorded by Olivia Newton John, and went on to be a hit in the USA. Mike was later signed to Freddie Mercury’s Publishing Company, co-writing /co-producing three Albums for Peter Straker. For many years he was head of ACM Records.

GERALDINE MENZIES – Producer Theatre management at the Royal Lyceum and Traverse Theatres, Edinburgh, an extensive period as Radio Forth and Radio Scotland broadcaster, covering Current Affairs and the Arts, before joining the production team for the BBC TV Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games and Production Manager Producer for BBC Scotland, also, a long time Edinburgh Festival reviewer for radio and press.

CHARLIE PATON – Lighting Design Inventor of ‘Lightscan’ launched on the final world tour of The Who, and The Precision Automated Lighting System (PALS) subsequently licensed to Strand Lighting, Light Works Ltd, Charlie’s company, is a lighting design and engineering company with an expertise in combining optics, mechanisms, and electronics. The company’s lighting developments feature in theatres, TV studios, museums and galleries around the World.