Justin Hayward

Justin Hayward (born October 14, 1946, Swindon, England) is a British musician best known as the lead guitarist and one of the two main composers in the rock band The Moody Blues.

Related Topics:
England - British - Guitarist - The Moody Blues

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In the mid-1960s Hayward worked with Marty Wilde in the Wilde Cats. Striking out on his own, He signed a recording contract with the skiffle artist and record producer Lonnie Donegan (a move he later regretted as it meant that all his songs were published and owned by Donegan's Tyler Music until 1974). Hayward joined The Moody Blues in 1966, replacing departing guitarist Denny Laine.

Related Topics:
Marty Wilde - Skiffle - Record producer - Lonnie Donegan - Denny Laine

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Hayward's integration into the Moody Blues sparked that band's most successful and commercial period. Hayward's "Nights In White Satin" was one of the first and most influential symphonic rock songs and became the band's biggest success. Hayward also wrote the band's UK number two hit "Question" and many of his songs have been chosen as the group's singles, including "Driftwood", "Your Wildest Dreams" and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere". He occasionally co-wrote songs with other 'Moodies' and as the duo Blue Jays he and John Lodge had a hit with "Blue Guitar" and released an album in 1975.

Related Topics:
Symphonic rock - Blue Jays - John Lodge

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When in 1974 the group decided to take a break from performing and recording, Justin Hayward had solo success appearing on the Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds concept album, which yielded the hit "Forever Autumn". His other solo work was less successful but still sold well, including his single "One Lonely Room" and his three solo albums in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1989, with producer-arranger Mike Batt, Hayward released Classic Blue, an album of standards written by other composers. He has since recorded three other albums: Classic Moody Blues Hits (re-recordings of Moody Blues most famous songs), The View From The Hill, and a live record Live in San Juan Capistrano.

Related Topics:
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds - Concept album - 1970s - 1980s - Classic Blue

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Hayward has received an Ivor Novello Award among other honors. In a recent BBC World Service interview he and John Lodge made it clear they have no plans to stop working and regarded it as "a privilege" to be working in the music business. The Moody Blues also recently toured the UK.

Related Topics:
Ivor Novello Award - BBC

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