Albert Hammond

Born May 18, 1942 in London, England

Best remembered for his 1972 smash "It Never Rains in Southern California," pop singer/songwriter Albert Hammond was born May 18, 1942, in London but raised in Gibraltar. During the mid-'60s, he fronted the local band Diamond Boys, but upon relocating to Britain in 1966 formed Family Dogg with friend Steve Rowland. Although the group's 1969 debut LP A Way of Life generated a hit title track, subsequent releases flopped and Hammond eventually exited the lineup. After a brief tenure with the Magic Lanterns, he mounted a solo career; "It Never Rains in Southern California" reached the U.S. Top Five in late 1972, followed early the next year by an album of the same name. The Free Electric Band appeared in 1973 as well, and with his self-titled follow-up Hammond returned to the Top 40 with the single "I'm a Train." Though he continued his prolific recording pace throughout the remainder of the decade, he eventually became best known for his songwriting, co-authoring Leo Sayer's 1977 chart-topper "When I Need You." With frequent collaborator Diane Warren, Hammond also wrote the Starship hit "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" and Chicago's "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love"; while with the great Hal David, he penned the Julio Iglesias/Willie Nelson duet "To All the Girls I've Loved Before." Hammond's son, Albert Hammond Jr., found success as well as guitarist for the early-2000s breakthrough group the Strokes.

Discography:

Album
1996 Coplas and Songs
1982 Somewhere in America
1981 Comprenderte
1980 Your World & My World
1979 Al Otro Lado del Sol
1978 Mi Album De Recuerdos
1978 Albert Louis Hammond
1977 When I Need You
1976 My Spanish Album [Spanish Lyrics]
1975 99 Miles from LA
1974 Albert Hammond
1973 It Never Rains in Southern California [Mums]
1973 The Free Electric Band