John Lees (Barclay James Harvest)

Infobox musical artist

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Name = John Lees
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = John Lees
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Born = birth date and age|1947|1|13
Died =
Origin = Oldham, Lancashire, England
Instrument = guitar
Voice_type =
Genre = rock
classic rock
progressive rock
Occupation = musician
Years_active = 1960's – present
Label = Harvest, Polydor
Associated_acts = Barclay James Harvest
URL =
Notable_instruments =

John Lees (born 13 January 1947, Oldham, Lancashire) is an English musician who founded the rock band, Barclay James Harvest. [http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2765 JOHN LEES music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews ] ] [ [http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=655 BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews ] ] [ [http://www.bjharvest.co.uk/bjh-biog.htm Barclay James Harvest Biography ] ]

Career

Educated at Robin Hill Secondary Modern and Breeze Hill School, Lees had no formal musical education, but took up playing the guitar when he was fourteen. Lees went on to study at Oldham School Of Art, where he met Stuart Woolly Wolstenholme in 1964. They played together in "The Sorcerers", playing Eddie Cochran-style rock and roll, and in "The Blues Keepers", before forming Barclay James Harvest in 1967. He recorded a solo album, "A Major Fancy", in 1972, but the release of this was tied up when the band changed record label. It was not released until 1977. He also recorded a solo single for Polydor in 1974, a cover of The Eagles track Best of My Love

Lees' musical influences include Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh and The Eagles.

In 1998, musical differences saw the members of Barclay James Harvest agree to take a sabbatical. John Lees met up again with Wooly Wolstenholme and formed Barclay James Harvest Through The Eyes of John Lees. This subsequently became John Lees` Barclay James Harvest.

Lees is now working as a Music Technician at Crompton House Church of England High School, inspiring the aspiring musicians of the school. He is currently involved with the production of the GCSE and A Level students' Music and Music Technology coursework.

olo discography

"A Major Fancy" (recorded 1972, released 1977)

"Best of My Love/You Can't Get it" (solo single released 1974)

Other interests

Lees also enjoys reading, his favourite books being Graham Greene’s "A Burnt Out Case", science fiction novels (especially those of Ray Bradbury) and poetry. His hobbies include photography and amateur radio.He is also a property developer, which he has done for over 25 years.

Family

Lees currently lives in Saddleworth, a civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham with his wife, Olwen, and they have two children, Esther Jane (born 28 July 1980) and John Joseph (who shares his father’s birthday, being born on 13 January 1986), plus various pets including an African Grey Parrot called Fritz. [ [http://www.bjharvest.co.uk/bjh-biog.htm#john Barclay James Harvest Biography ] ]

References