Roy Hill is a London singer-songwriter with a distinctive voice, thoughtful lyrics and a vast range of musical style.

Roy Hill was going to be big in the late Seventies. It was a certainty. He had all the trappings of a star, good looks, charm and stage presence, his live shows were great fun and he could belt out a song. He released his solo album in 1978, as well as three singles, all on the Arista record label. It was only a matter of time before one of his singles charted, he'd appear on Top of the Pops and the music world would be at the feet of this British rocker. But it never quite happened.

Hill won a Melody Maker music context in 1977, which prompted him to go into the music business full-time. The Rise and Fall of Popular Music recalled that “There were demo tapes by Roy Hill that sounded good enough to release; tough, spare, inexorable urban laments full of sexual and social grief.”

Hill learned to play the electric guitar from scratch and gigged in local pubs, clubs and dances with friends Brian Morris, Chris Smith and Jim Wilkins in bands called The Upways and The Crestas.

He signed a contract with Arista Records, and they released a single, Marionettes, a slant on the music business, as a warm-up before the debut album, titled Roy Hill, was released on the record-buying public. Joining Hill in the studio for the album sessions were Eric Clapton's bassist Dave Markee, Tim Renwick and Martin Jenner on guitars, Bimbo Acock on saxophone, Dave Mattacks (drums), alongwith Pete Wingfield and Billy Livsey on piano and Ray Cooper (percussion). Legendary producer Gus Dudgeon (best known for his collaborations with Elton John, The Beach Boys, David Bowie, XTC and more) was the man at the helm for the album. The album received some critical praise but was largely dismissed by the critics and the public.

The album includes a diverse range of songs, including “The Boys Would Like You to Know,” about a mob informant who is being targeted for a take down, and “She Sits Alone," about an old maid who is waiting for a particular man bearing a particular bouquet of flowers that never arrives.

Hill continues to write and perform, most recently as the frontman of Cry No More, with gigs in and around London.

This biography courtesy of Andy Brouwer at http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/royhill.html, used with permission.

Roy Hill's music, story and tour dates are listed at http://www.myspace.com/royhillwordsandmusic

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