Mick Simpson

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{{Infobox person

| name = Mick Simpson

| image = Mick_Simpson_live_in_Sassari.jpg

| caption = Simpson live in Sassari

| birth_name = Michael Andrew Simpson

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1965|11|14}}

| birth_place = Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

| occupation = {{hlist|guitarist|Singer|Songwriter}}

| years_active = 1980–present

| module = {{Infobox musical artist

| embed = yes

| genre = {{hlist|Blues|Rock}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Guitar|vocals}}

| label = {{hlist|Mad Ears Productions}}

| website = {{URL|micksimpson.co.uk/}}

}}

Michael Andrew Simpson (born 14 November 1965) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was born in Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Career

In the early 1980s, Simpson found work as a session guitarist in London, after receiving airplay of his track's on BBC Radio 1's "Friday Night Rock Show". {{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}

In the mid 1990s, Simpson was a guitarist on John Parr's album Man with a Vision.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} He was also a musician for the films The Running Man and Three Men and a Baby.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}

Throughout the 1990s, Simpson worked with the UK session drummer and producer Graham Broad, and recorded sessions for Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Tina Turner, Bryan Adams, and Go West.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}

In 2004, his original track "A Father's Son" won an International Songwriters Award, sponsored by the Brits Trust.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} It received TV and radio airplay, along with Simpson's song "Looking Through My Eyes" which was released to raise money and awareness for autism. {{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}

In June 2005, Simpson was asked to guest at the 80th birthday celebration of B.B. King at his Blues club in New York. He has also played alongside other guitarists such as Gary Moore, Snowy White, and Alvin Lee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lanuovasardegna.it/tempo-libero/2017/04/19/news/in-sardegna-il-rock-di-mick-simpson-1.15218085|title=In Sardegna il rock di Mick Simpson|website=La Nuova Sardegna}} In the same month Simpson released his debut solo album Hard Road, on his own Mad Ears Productions label. The album received support from Paul Jones (BBC Radio 2),{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b040lfz7|title=BBC Radio 2 - The Blues Show with Paul Jones, Blues Train|website=BBC}} and was playlisted on the US Blue's Radio Network.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} One of the tracks from the album, "Sometimes I Get So Lonely", was nominated for best original song at The Kevin Thorpe Memorial Award.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} Simpson recorded his second studio album Cruel World with Andy Littlewood.{{cite web|url=http://www.madearsproductions.com/#/shop/4559734035/mick-simpson---cruel-world-cd/882944|title=Cruel World|publisher=Madearsproductions.com|accessdate=23 July 2017}} The album was released in March 2012 and featured guest female artist Malaya, on the track, "Find Another You". The instrumental, "Road To Memphis", was licensed for the soundtrack of the short film, Road To Hell, and was also used in the award-winning{{which|date=August 2024}} indie documentary A Message To Myself.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 2014, Simpson released his third album Unfinished Business{{cite web|url=http://www.madearsproductions.com/#/unfinished-business/4582493986|title=Unfinished Business|publisher=Madearsproductions.com|accessdate=23 July 2017}} with 14 tracks of blues guitar, rock anthems, and country blues guitar. Album highlights include "Playing The Losing Hand", "Trouble Brewing", and the jazzy blues title track "Unfinished Business". The album includes a nine-minute tribute to Gary Moore, titled "Drowning in My Tears". The album received airplay on BBC Radio 2 with tracks played by both Paul Jones and Alex Lester,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/542fa823-b368-44c5-8f26-5c9b611b9d93 |title=Mick Simpson – New Songs, Playlists & Latest News – BBC Music |publisher=BBC |date=14 April 2014 |accessdate=23 July 2017}}{{dead link|fix-attempted=yes|date=August 2024}} and the single "Playing The Losing Hand" reached the number one spot in the Dutch Hit Tracks 100 Music chart.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Simpson has recorded as a session Musician for Starship,{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} Mockingbird Hill, Dave Hunt, co-wrote the title track "Bourbon Street", and played guitar on the Malaya Blue's debut album. Simpson has been active on the UK blues scene, also working with the UK session drummer Sam Kelly, and bassist Andy Hodge.

On 27 March 2017, Simpson released his fourth studio album,{{cite web|url=http://www.madearsproductions.com/#/mick-simpson-black-rain/4593674208|title=Black Rain|publisher=Madearsproductions.com|accessdate=23 July 2017}} teaming up once again, with long time producer Andy Littlewood, which features Italian female artist Eva Carboni, who guests on vocals for the track "River of Life". The album also featured the Ray Charles-inspired track "Sweet Lorraine", and the Celtic rock influenced title track "Black Rain". The album featured a wide range of guitar influences in the style of Gary Moore, B.B. King, Django Reinhardt, Peter Green, Jeff Beck, and Robert Johnson. There are plans{{when|date=August 2024}} for a tour with Simpson and the original members of the Gary Moore band; Vic Martin (keyboards), Pete Rees (bass), and Graham Walker (drums).{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Discography

class="wikitable sortable" \|+
Year ! Title ! Label
2010 \|Hard Road \| Mad Ears Productions\|Mad Ears Productions
2012 \|Cruel World \| Mad Ears Productions\|Mad Ears Productions
2014 \|Unfinished Business \| Mad Ears Productions\|Mad Ears Productions
2017 \|Black Rain \| Mad Ears Productions\|Mad Ears Productions
2022 \|The Slow Blues Sessions \| Mad Ears Productions\|Mad Ears Productions

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Label

2010

|Hard Road