Mike Ratledge

Michael Roland "Mike" Ratledge (born 6 May 1943) is a British musician. He was part of the Canterbury scene and a long-time member of Soft Machine.^[2]

Biography and career

Ratledge was born in Maidstone, Kent. As a child he was educated in classical music, the only kind of music played in his parents' home. He learned to play the piano, and with his friend Brian Hopper, whom he had met at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury, played classical piano and clarinet pieces.^[1]

Ratledge also met Brian's younger brother Hugh, and Robert Wyatt. In 1961 he met Daevid Allen, who interested them in playing jazz. Through Cecil Taylor's piano pieces Ratledge became familiar with the music of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. In 1963 he played in the Daevid Allen Trio. Unlike his friends, Ratledge wanted to further his education, and studied at University College, Oxford, where he earned a degree in psychology and philosophy.^{[1] [3]}

At the same time he attended music lessons, and was educated by avant-garde musicians Mal Dean and Rab Spall. After his graduation Ratledge intended to go to a university in the United States, but his application for a scholarship was filed too late.^[3]

In 1966 his friends were forming a new band and asked Ratledge to join. Soft Machine featured among others Robert Wyatt, Daevid Allen and Kevin Ayers. In the years to follow there were many personnel changes and by 1973 Ratledge was the only remaining member of the original lineup.^[3]

In November 1973, Ratledge participated in a live performance of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells for the BBC.^[4] In 1976 Ratledge decided to leave Soft Machine to build a solo career, leaving the band under Karl Jenkins' management. Ratledge built himself a studio, but a solo album was never released. He provided film scores for Riddles of the Sphinx (1977),^[5] "Crystal Gazing" (1982).^[6] and "The Bad Sister" (1983).^[7] for director Laura Mulvey.

As Soft Machine's longest-lasting member, he was a part of the band's changes in musical direction from psychedelic music to jazz-rock. In the 1980s Ratledge was active as a composer and musical producer for commercials and the theatre. In 1995, Adiemus (Ratledge, Karl Jenkins and Miriam Stockley) released Songs of Sanctuary, which Ratledge co-produced with Karl Jenkins and for which he programmed the electronic percussion.^[1]

In 2010, Mike Ratledge and Karl Jenkins reunited to make stock music library albums called "Some Shufflin'" and "Movement". Both of the albums were released and available for commercial sales.

Personal life

Ratledge married Marsha Hunt on 15 April 1967.^[3]

References