Name	Bill Oddie
Other names	William Edgar Oddie
Birth date	July 07, 1941
Birth place	Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Known for	''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'', ''The Goodies'', Ornithology
Occupation	Actor, writer, composer, musician, comedian, artist, ornithologist, conservationist, television presenter
Yearsactive	1960s-present
Spouse	Jean Hart (divorced) Laura Beaumont
Children	Bonnie, Kate and Rosie
Website	}}

William "Bill" Edgar Oddie OBE (born 7 July 1941, Rochdale, England) is an English author, actor, comedian, artist, naturalist and musician, who became famous as one of ''The Goodies''.

A birdwatcher since childhood, Oddie has now established a reputation for himself as an ornithologist, conservationist and television presenter on wildlife issues. Some of his books are illustrated with his own paintings and drawings.

Oddie's wildlife programmes for the BBC include: ''Springwatch''/''Autumnwatch'', ''How to Watch Wildlife'', ''Wild In Your Garden'', ''Birding with Bill Oddie'', ''Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie'' and ''Bill Oddie Goes Wild''.

Career

Comedy

After attending Lapal Primary School, Halesowen Grammar School (now The Earls High School, Halesowen) then King Edward's School, Birmingham, Oddie studied English Literature at Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge, where he appeared in several Cambridge University Footlights Club productions.

One of these, a revue called ''A Clump of Plinths'', was so successful at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that it was renamed ''Cambridge Circus'' and transferred to the West End in London, then New Zealand and Broadway in September 1964. Meanwhile, still at Cambridge, Oddie wrote scripts for TV's ''That Was The Week That Was''.

His first television appearance was in Bernard Braden's ''On The Braden Beat'' in 1964. Subsequently, he was a key member of the performers in the BBC radio series ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'' (ISIRTA; 1965), where many of his musical compositions were featured. Some were released on the album ''Distinctly Oddie'' (Polydor, 1967). He was possibly one of the first performers to parody a rock song, arranging the traditional Yorkshire folk song "On Ilkla Moor Baht'at" in the style of Joe Cocker's hit rendition of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" (released on John Peel's Dandelion Records in 1970 and featured in Peel's special box of most-treasured singles), and singing "Andy Pandy" in the style of a brassy soul number such as Wilson Pickett or Geno Washington might perform. In many shows he would do short impressions of Hughie Green.

In one song on ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'', Oddie performed "What a Wonderful World" with a voice fully reminiscent of Louis Armstrong. During the course of the song, the rest of the cast attributed the gravelly quality of his voice to a sore throat. In the background, during the rest of the song, it is possible to hear the cast dispense cough medicine, then call for a doctor, the arrival of the doctor and his decision that Oddie should go into hospital, the trip to hospital in an ambulance, and the operation extracting his tonsils. After this, the sound of his voice changed to a sound closer to that of Harry Secombe. He thanked the cast for curing him. On television Oddie was co-writer and performer in the comedy series ''Twice a Fortnight'' with Graeme Garden, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Jonathan Lynn. Later, he was co-writer and performer in the comedy series ''Broaden Your Mind'' with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, for which Oddie became a cast member for the second series.

Oddie, Brooke-Taylor and Garden then co-wrote and appeared in their television comedy series ''The Goodies''. The Goodies also released records, including "Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me"/"The In-Betweenies", "Funky Gibbon", and "Black Pudding Bertha", which were hit singles in 1974–75. They reformed, briefly, in 2005, for a successful 13-date tour of Australia.

Oddie, Brooke-Taylor and Garden voiced characters on the 1983 animated children's programme ''Bananaman''.

In the Amnesty International show ''A Poke in the Eye (With a Sharp Stick)'', Oddie, Brooke-Taylor and Garden sang their hit song "Funky Gibbon". They also appeared on ''Top of the Pops'' with the song. Together with Garden (who is a qualified doctor), Oddie co-wrote many episodes of the television comedy series ''Doctor in the House'', including most of the first season and all of the second season. He has occasionally appeared on the BBC Radio 4 panel game ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'', on which Garden and Brooke-Taylor are regular panellists. In 1982 Garden and Oddie wrote, but did not perform in, a 6-part science fiction sitcom called ''Astronauts'' for Central and ITV. The show was set in an international space station in the near future.

Natural history

Oddie's first published work was an article about the birdlife of Birmingham's Bartley Reservoir in the West Midland Bird Club's 1962 Annual Report. He has since written a number of books about birds and birdwatching, as well as articles for many specialist publications including ''British Birds'', ''Birdwatching Magazine'' and ''Birdwatch''.

One of Oddie's first forays in the world of television natural history was on 30 July 1985, as the subject of a ''Nature Watch Special: Bill Oddie - Bird Watcher'', in which he was interviewed by Julian Pettifer.

Oddie has since hosted a number of successful nature programmes for the BBC, many produced by Stephen Moss, including:

''The Great Bird Race'' (1983; Channel 4)

''The Great Kenyan Bird Safari'' (BBC)

''Favourite Walks'': "A Bird Walk" (1985; BBC)

''Worldwise'': "The Bird Business" (1985; Channel 4)

''Oddie in Paradise'' (1985; BBC)

''Wild Weekends'' (TV AM)

''Flight to Eilat'' (Channel 4)

''Bird in the Nest'' (two series, 1994 and 1995)

''Birding with Bill Oddie'' (three series, 1997, 1998 and 2000)

''Bill Oddie Goes Wild'' (three series, 2001, 2002 and 2003)

''Wild In Your Garden'' (2003)

''Britain Goes Wild'' (2004)

"Bill Oddie In Tiger Country" (2004)

''Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife'' (two series, 2005 and 2006; also on DVD)

''Seven Natural Wonders'' (London edition) (2005)

''The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs'' (2005; also on DVD)

''Springwatch'' (2005–2008)

''Autumnwatch'' (2006–2008)

''Bill Oddie Back in the USA'' (2007)

"Bill Oddie's Top Ten Birds" (2007; BBC Four)

"100 Years of Wildlife" (2007)

''Bill Oddie's Wild Side'' (2008)

"Bill Oddie's Top 10" (2008)

On its first evening of broadcast in 2004, ''Britain Goes Wild'' set a record for its timeslot of 8 pm on BBC Two of 3.4 million viewers, one million more than the Channel 4 programme showing at that time. ''Britain Goes Wild'', renamed ''Springwatch'' the following year, became a wildlife broadcasting phenomenon, attracting up to 5 million viewers.

He became president of the West Midland Bird Club in 1999, having been Vice-President since 1991, and is a former member of the council of the RSPB. Oddie is also a vice-president of the League Against Cruel Sports and a vice-president of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

In 2003 Oddie set up a half-marathon to raise money for various wildlife charities in his birth-town of Rochdale. Celebrities who have participated in the event include Ray Mears, Catherine Jenkins and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

In 2011, Oddie featured as an investigator in ''Snares Uncovered: killers in the countryside''. The film carried out an expose of snaring in Scotland and was commissioned by animal protection charity OneKind. During the investigation, Oddie discovered over 70 snare traps and several stink pits.

Music

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Oddie released a number of singles and at least one album. One of the former, issued in 1970 on John Peel's Dandelion Records label (Catalogue No: 4786), was ''On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at'', performed in the style of Joe Cocker's ''With a Little Help from my Friends''. The B-side, ''Harry Krishna'', featured the Hare Krishna chant, substituting the names of contemporary famous people called Harry, including Harry Secombe, Harry Worth, Harry Lauder, and Harry Corbett, as well as puns such as "Harry [Hurry] along now", "Harrystotle [Aristotle]" and ending with "Harry-ly [I really] must go now". Both tracks appear on the compilation CD ''Life Too, Has Surface Noise: The Complete Dandelion Records Singles Collection 1969–1972'' (2007).

He played the drums and saxophone and appeared as Cousin Kevin in a production of The Who's rock opera ''Tommy'' at the Rainbow Theatre, Finsbury Park, London on 9 December 1972. He has also contributed vocals to a Rick Wakeman album, ''Criminal Record''.

Oddie took part in the English National Opera production of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera ''The Mikado'', in which he appeared in the role of the "Lord High Executioner", taking over the role from Eric Idle. During the early 1990s, Oddie was a DJ for London-based jazz radio station 102.2 Jazz FM, but was dismissed after criticising the management on air after they told him he was playing too much jazz on his show.

In 2007 Oddie appeared on the BBC series ''Play It Again''. In the episode he attempts to realise his dream of becoming a rock guitarist. Initially teacher Bridget Mermikides tries to teach him using traditional methods but he rebels: instead he turns to old friends Albert Lee, Dave Davies (of The Kinks) and Mark Knopfler for advice and strikes out on his own. He succeeds in the target of playing lead guitar for his daughter Rosie's band at her 21st birthday party, and even manages to impress his erstwhile teacher.

In November 2010, he agreed, along with fellow members of The Goodies, to re-release their 1970s hit The Funky Gibbon to raise funds for the International Primate Protection League's Save the Gibbon appeal.

Other television and audio appearances

Oddie appeared as the hapless window cleaner in the Eric Sykes' comedy story ''The Plank'' in 1967. He also presented the live children's Saturday morning entertainment show ''Saturday Banana'' (ITV/Southern Television) during the late 1970s. In the late 1980s he was a presenter of the BBC TV show ''Fax'' (a show about 'facts').

In the 1990s he became better known as a presenter of birdwatching, and later wildlife-related, programmes such as ''Springwatch''. Although he remains almost unknown to US audiences, in 1992 he was a guest star in the US comedy television series ''Married with Children'' for a 3-part episode set in England.

In 1997-98 he appeared on the Channel 4 archaeological programme ''Time Team'', as the team excavated a Roman villa site in Turkdean, Gloucestershire.

He was the compère of a daytime BBC gameshow, ''History Hunt'' (in 2003); and has appeared in the ''Doctor Who'' audio drama ''Doctor Who and the Pirates''. In 2004, he appeared in the BBC show ''Who Do You Think You Are?'', in which he looked into his ancestry – he was visibly moved by its revelations. In 2005, he took part in ''Rolf on Art'' – the big event at Trafalgar Square.

In 2006 Oddie appeared in the BBC show ''Never Mind The Buzzcocks'', and also appeared on the topical quiz show ''8 out of 10 Cats''. Bill also is the voice behind many ''B&Q;'' adverts throughout 2006/2007. On 25 May 2007, Oddie made a cameo appearance on Ronni Ancona's new comedy sketch show, ''Ronni Ancona & Co''.

He hosted the genealogy-based series ''My Famous Family'', broadcast on UKTV History in 2007. In 2008, Oddie was a guest on Jamie Oliver's television special ''Jamie's Fowl Dinners'', talking about free-range chickens. He also recorded a voice for Lionhead Studios' ''Fable II''.

Private life

Family

Oddie is married to Laura Beaumont (Beaumont-Gilles), with whom he has worked on a variety of projects for children, including film scripts, drama and comedy series, puppet shows and books. They have a daughter, Rosie, and live in Hampstead, London.

Oddie also has two daughters from his first marriage (1967 to Jean Hart): Bonnie, and the actress Kate Hardie, plus three grandchildren, Lyle, Ella and Gracie.

Depression

Oddie has suffered from depression for most of his life, being diagnosed with clinical depression in 2001. On 11 March 2009, it was reported that he had been admitted to Capio Nightingale psychiatric hospital to deal with his depression. His agent David Foster said: "Bill gets these bouts every two or three years where he gets down for about two weeks and recovers. He sometimes goes into hospital or takes a break or has a change of scenery to recharge his batteries." In January 2010, Oddie spoke to the media, revealing that he had in fact had two separate stays in different hospitals, only being released "in time for Christmas". He said that he was dealing with depression and bipolar disorder, describing the period as "probably the worst 12 months of my life". Oddie stated that he was planning to meet with BBC executives to discuss his return to television work.

His illness meant that he did not appear in the 2009 and 2010 series of ''Springwatch'', although he made a guest appearance in the penultimate episode of the latter.

Honours

In 2001, Oddie became the third person to decline to appear on ''This Is Your Life''. He changed his mind a few hours later and agreed to appear on the show. On 16 October 2003, Oddie was made an OBE for his service to Wildlife Conservation in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. He played down the event, choosing to wear a camouflage shirt and crumpled jacket to receive his medal. In June 2004, Oddie and Johnny Morris were jointly profiled in the first of a three part BBC Two series, ''The Way We Went Wild'', about television wildlife presenters. In May 2005, he received the British Naturalists' Association's Peter Scott Memorial Award, from BNA president David Bellamy, "in recognition of his great contribution to our understanding of natural history and conservation."

On 30 June 2009, he was proposed for inclusion in the Birmingham Walk of Stars, with the public invited to vote.

Bibliography

(incomplete list)

''Bill Oddie's Introduction to Birdwatching'' (Subbuteo Books, 2002)

''Bill Oddie's Colouring Guide to Birds'' (Piccolo, 1991)

''Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book''

''Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book'' (paperback with additional material)

''Bill Oddie's Gone Birding''

''The Big Bird Race'' (with David Tomlinson; Collins, 1983)

''Follow That Bird!''

''Gripping Yarns''

''Bird in the Nest''

''Bill Oddie's How to Watch Wildlife''

''One Flew into the Cuckoos Egg'' (Autobiography)

Bill Oddie also co-wrote the Springwatch & Autumnwatch book with Kate Humble and Simon King.

Co-written with the other members of The Goodies:

''The Goodies File''

''The Goodies Book of Criminal Records''

''The Goodies Disaster Movie''

Co-written with Laura Beaumont:

''The Toilet Book (or 11 & 1/2 minutes a day and how not to waste them)'' (Methuen, 1984, ISBN 9780413569103)

Contributions

''Confessions of a Scilly Birdman'', David Hunt; Croom Helm, 1985. ISBN 0-7099-3724-5 (foreword and postscript)

''Bird in the Yorkshire Museum'', Michael Denton; North Yorkshire County Council, 1995. ISBN 0-905807-10-3 (foreword)

''Bird Brain of Britain'', Charles Gallimore & Tim Appleton; Christopher Helm, 2004. ISBN 0-7136-7036-3 (foreword)

''Blokes and Birds'', Stephen Moss; New Holland Publishers. ISBN 1-84330-484-8 (foreword)

''The New Birds of the West Midlands'', Graham and Janet Harrison (West Midland Bird Club, 2005) ISBN 0-9507881-2-0 (foreword)

In popular culture

In the fictional world of comedy character Alan Partridge, Oddie is an unseen presence in Alan's life.

He has also been referenced, often humorously, by the hosts of ''Top Gear''. Jeremy Clarkson even used a mask with Bill Oddie's face to escape speed cameras while racing the Nissan GT-R against the Bullet train in Japan in the 4th episode of Top Gear's 11th series. James May also raced in Finland against a Bill Oddie lookalike, who won the race.

References

External links

Official website

Bill Oddie's family history at the BBC website for the programme ''Who Do You Think You Are?''

Bill Oddie Goes Wild – on BBC's Science and Nature website

In-depth interview, ''The Telegraph'', 28 April 2005

Gigrin Farm chapter from ''Gripping Yarns''

Oddie on UKTV

Category:1941 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge Category:British ornithologists Category:English television presenters Category:English comedians Category:English comedy writers Category:English illustrators Category:English nature writers Category:English naturalists Category:English radio actors Category:English radio writers Category:English television actors Category:English television writers Category:English voice actors Category:Gilbert and Sullivan performers Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:People educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham Category:People from Birmingham, West Midlands Category:People from Rochdale Category:People with bipolar disorder Category:Royal Society for the Protection of Birds people Category:Birdwatchers Category:British bird artists Category:Comedians from Birmingham, West Midlands

it:Bill Oddie simple:Bill Oddie fi:Bill Oddie sv:Bill Oddie

name	Tim Brooke-Taylor
birth name	Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor
birth date	July 17, 1940
birth place	Buxton, Derbyshire, England
nationality	English
active	1964–present
spouse	Christine Weadon (1968–present)
notable work	''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'' (1964–1973) ''At Last the 1948 Show'' (1967) ''How to Irritate People'' (1968) ''Marty'' (1968) ''Broaden Your Mind'' (1968–1969) ''The Goodies'' (1970–1982) ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' (1972–)
footnotes	}}

Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE (born 17 July 1940) is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964. Becoming wider known to the public for his work on BBC Radio with ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'', he moved into television with ''At Last the 1948 Show'' working together with old Cambridge friends John Cleese and Graham Chapman. He is most well known as one member of The Goodies, starring in the TV series throughout the 1970s and picking up international recognition in Australia and New Zealand. He has also appeared as an actor in various sitcoms, and has been a panellist on ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' for nearly 40 years.

Early life and education

Brooke-Taylor was born in Buxton, Derbyshire, England, the grandson of Francis Pawson, a parson who played centre-forward for England's football team in the 1880s. His mother was an international lacrosse player and his father a solicitor. He was expelled from primary school at the early age of five and a half. Brooke-Taylor was schooled at Winchester College and studied at Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge. There he read Economics and Politics before changing to read Law, and mixed with other budding comedians, including John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Bill Oddie and Jonathan Lynn in the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club (of which Brooke-Taylor became President in 1963).

The Footlights Club revue, ''A Clump of Plinths'' was so successful during its Edinburgh Festival Fringe run, that the show was renamed as ''Cambridge Circus'' and the revue transferred to the West End in London, and then later taken to both New Zealand and to Broadway in the United States in September 1964. He was also active in the Pembroke College drama society, the Pembroke Players.

Career

Brooke-Taylor moved swiftly into BBC Radio with the fast-paced comedy show ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'' in which he performed and co-wrote. As the screeching eccentric Lady Constance de Coverlet, he could be relied upon to generate the loudest audience response of many programmes in this long-running series merely with her unlikely catchphrase "did somebody call?" uttered after a comic and transparent feed-line, as their adventure story reached its climax or cliffhanger ending. Other members of ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'' were John Cleese, Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden, David Hatch and Jo Kendall.

In the mid-'60s, Brooke-Taylor performed in the TV series ''On the Braden Beat'' with Canadian Bernard Braden, taking over the slot then-recently vacated by Peter Cook in his guise as E L Wisty. Brooke-Taylor played a reactionary right-wing city gent who believed he was the soul of tolerance.

In 1967, Brooke-Taylor became a writer/performer on the television comedy series ''At Last the 1948 Show'', with John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman. The famous "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch was co-written by the four writers/performers of the series. The sketch was one of the few sketches which survived the destruction of the series (by the tapes being wiped), by David Frost's Paradine Productions (which produced the series), and the sketch appears on the DVD of ''At Last the 1948 Show''. The "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch has also been performed during Amnesty concert performances (by members of Monty Python – occasionally including other comedians and actors in place of Monty Python regulars – notably Rowan Atkinson and Alan Rickman), as well as being performed during ''Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl'' and on other Monty Python shows. Footage of Tim Brooke-Taylor and John Cleese, from ''At Last the 1948 Show'', was shown on the documentary special ''Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyers Cut)''.

Brooke-Taylor also took part in Frost's pilot programme ''How to Irritate People'' in 1968, designed to sell what would later be recognised as the Monty Python style of comedy to the American market. Many of the sketches were later revived in the Monty Python TV series, notably the job interview sketch where Brooke-Taylor played a nervous interviewee tormented by interviewer John Cleese. The programme was also notable as the first collaboration of John Cleese and Michael Palin.

In 1968–1969, Brooke-Taylor was also a cast member and writer on the television comedy series ''Marty'' starring Marty Feldman, with John Junkin and Roland MacLeod. A compilation of the two series of ''Marty'' has been released on a BBC DVD with the title of ''The Best of Marty Feldman''.

At around the same time, Brooke-Taylor made two series of ''Broaden Your Mind'' with Graeme Garden (and Bill Oddie joining the series for the second season). Describing itself as "An Encyclopedia of the Air", this series was a string of comedy sketches (often lifted from ''I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again''), linked (loosely) by a weekly running theme. Unfortunately, nothing but a few minutes of film inserts exist for this programme, though home-made off-air audio recordings survive for both seasons. Its success led to the commissioning of ''The Goodies'', also with Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden. First transmitted on BBC2 in November 1970, ''The Goodies'' was a huge television success, running for over a decade on both BBC TV and (in its final year) UK commercial channel London Weekend Television, spawning many spin-off books and successful records.

During the run of The Goodies, Brooke-Taylor took part in the BBC radio series ''Hello, Cheeky!'', a bawdy stand up comedy show also starring Barry Cryer and John Junkin. The series transferred to television briefly, produced by the UK commercial franchise Yorkshire Television.

He also appeared on television in British sitcoms, including ''You Must Be the Husband'' with Diane Keen, ''His and Hers'' with Madeline Smith, and ''Me and My Girl'' with Richard O'Sullivan.

Brooke-Taylor also appeared regularly in advertisements, including the Christmas commercials for the Brentford Nylons chain of fabric stores, and in a public information film for the now-defunct E111 form.

In 1971, he played the short, uncredited role of a computer scientist in the film ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory''. After the end of ''The Goodies'' on UK television, Brooke-Taylor also worked again with Garden and Oddie on the animated television comedy series ''Bananaman'', in which Brooke-Taylor was the narrator, as well as voicing the characters of King Zorg of the Nurks, Eddie the Gent, Auntie, and Appleman. He also lent his voice to the children's TV series ''Gideon''.

Tim appeared, with Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden, in the Amnesty International show ''A Poke in the Eye (With a Sharp Stick)'' (during which they sang their hit song "Funky Gibbon"), and also appeared in the Amnesty International show ''The Secret Policeman's Other Ball'' in the sketches "Top of the Form" (with John Cleese, Graham Chapman, John Bird, John Fortune, Rowan Atkinson and Griff Rhys Jones), and "Cha Cha Cha" (with John Cleese and Graham Chapman).

Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, and Bill Oddie also appeared on ''Top of the Pops'' with their song "Funky Gibbon". Brooke-Taylor also appeared with Graeme Garden in the theatre production of ''The Unvarnished Truth''.

Other BBC radio programmes in which Brooke-Taylor played a part include the self-styled "antidote to panel games" ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' which started in 1972, and Tim still appears regularly. On 18 February 1981 Brooke-Taylor was the subject of Thames Television's ''This Is Your Life''.

Graeme Garden was a regular team captain on the political satire game show ''If I Ruled the World''. Tim Brooke-Taylor appeared as a guest in one episode, and, during the game "I Couldn't Disagree More" he proposed that it was high time ''The Goodies'' episodes were repeated. Garden was obliged by the rules of the game to rebut this statement, and replied "I couldn't disagree more... it was time to repeat them ten, fifteen years ago." This was followed by uproarious applause from the studio audience.

In 2004, Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden were co-presenters of Channel 4's daytime game show, ''Beat the Nation'', in which they indulged in usual game show "banter", but took the quiz itself seriously. He has appeared on stage in Australia and England, usually as a middle-class Englishman. Around 1982, he branched out into pantomime as the Dame in ''Dick Whittington''. He is also the author (and co-author) of several humorous books based mainly around his radio and television work and the sports of golf and cricket. He also took part in the ''Pro-Celebrity Golf'' television series (opposite Bruce Forsyth). Brooke-Taylor appeared on the premiere episode of the BBC golf-based game show ''Full Swing''.

Brooke-Taylor was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours.

Filmography

Year	Show/Film	Role	Notes
1964-73	''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again''	Various Characters	Also a writer
1967-68	''At Last the 1948 Show''	Various Characters	Also a writer
1968	''How to Irritate People''	Various Characters
1968		Various Characters
1968-69	''Broaden Your Mind''	Various Characters	Also a writer
1970-82		Tim	Also a writer
1971	''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory''	Computer Scientist
1972 -	''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue''	Himself
1973-79	''Hello Cheeky''	Himself	Also a writer
1981		Tracy
1987-88	''You Must Be The Husband''	Tom Hammond
2010	''Tangled''	Old Man

Personal life

Brooke-Taylor married Christine Weadon in 1968 and they have two sons, Ben and Edward. He lives in Berkshire.

Brooke-Taylor was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to light entertainment.

Bibliography

As sole author :*''Rule Britannia'' :*''Tim Brooke-Taylor's Golf Bag'' :*''Tim Brooke-Taylor's Cricket Box''

As co-author

Tim Brooke-Taylor also co-wrote the following books with the other members of The Goodies:

:*''The Goodies File'' :*''The Goodies Book of Criminal Records'' :*''The Making of The Goodies Disaster Movie''

Footlights presidency

Other information

Tim Brooke-Taylor served the University of St Andrews as Rector between 1979 and 1982.

He is an honorary Vice-President of Derby County FC.

References

External links

Tim Brooke-Taylor – BBC Guide to Comedy

Tim Brooke-Taylor – The Museum of Broadcast Communication

Tim Brooke-Taylor – London Speaker Bureau

Tim Brooke-Taylor biography – Personally Speaking – Norman Phillips Organisation

Tim Brooke-Taylor – BBC – I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue

Tim Brooke-Taylor – TV Comedy People

Tim Brooke-Taylor Interview Web Wombat Theatre

ISIHAC interviews – with Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, and Barry Cryer

The Origin of Monty Python – mentions Tim, ISIRTA and "At Last the 1948 Show"

''Radio Ha Ha'' interview – Tim discusses his career in Episode 1 of Australian comedy podcast ''Radio Ha Ha''

"A Clump of Plinths" – the 1963 Cambridge Footlights Club revue – later renamed "''Cambridge Circus''" (this was the Footlights revue during the time when Tim Brooke-Taylor was President of the Footlights. Tim was also a member of the revue cast.

OBEs all round - Goodies pair honoured

Graeme Garden thought that OBE letter was a bill

Birthday Honours List 2011 in pictures

Goodies pair "thrilled" with OBEs

Category:1940 births Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge Category:English comedians Category:English comedy writers Category:English film actors Category:English humorists Category:English radio actors Category:English radio writers Category:English television actors Category:English television writers Category:English voice actors Category:Living people Category:Old Wykehamists Category:People from Buxton Category:Rectors of the University of St Andrews Category:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire

de:Tim Brooke-Taylor it:Tim Brooke-Taylor hu:Tim Brooke-Taylor ja:ティム・ブルック＝テイラー fi:Tim Brooke-Taylor

{{infobox comedian | name

Graeme Garden | image You'll Have Had Your Tea - Graeme Garden.jpg | imagesize 200px | caption Graeme Garden in 2006, during a recording of ''You'll Have Had Your Tea'' | birth_name David Graeme Garden | birth_date February 18, 1943 | birth_place Aberdeen, Scotland | death_date | death_place | active 1964–present | medium Stand-up, radio, stage, television | nationality British (Scottish) | notable_work ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'' (1965-1973) ''Twice a Fortnight'' (1967) ''Broaden Your Mind'' (1968-1969) ''The Goodies'' (1970-1982) ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' (1972-) | website | footnotes }}

David Graeme Garden OBE (born 18 February 1943) is a Scottish author, actor, comedian, artist and television presenter, who first became known as a member of ''The Goodies''.

Early life and beginnings in comedy

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, he grew up in Preston. Garden was educated at Repton School, and studied medicine at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he joined the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club (of which he became President in 1964), and performed with the 1964 Footlights revue, ''Stuff What Dreams Are Made Of'' at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Garden qualified in medicine at King's College London, but has never practised. Asked how he justified making jokes rather than saving lives, he answered, "''I don't think I would have done it as well. It's an interesting question – whether you've contributed more to the vast store of human enjoyment by doing comedy or by being a doctor, but the answer for me is that I don't think I would have been as successful or as happy being a doctor.''"

Garden and Bill Oddie co-wrote many episodes of the television comedy series ''Doctor in the House'', including most of the first season episodes of the series and all of the second season episodes, as well as co-writing episodes of the subsequent ''Doctor at Large'' and ''Doctor in Charge'' series. Later, Garden also wrote for ''Surgical Spirit'' (1994). Graeme Garden has also presented three series of the BBC's health magazine ''Bodymatters''.

Garden was co-writer and performer in the classic BBC radio comedy show, ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'' (ISIRTA) (1965–1970, and 1973). Garden was studying medicine during the early seasons of ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'', and this commitment made it difficult for him to be a member of the cast during the third season because of a midwifery medical course in Plymouth. However, he kept on sending scripts for the radio show by mail – and rejoined the cast of ISIRTA upon his return to his medical studies in London. On several occasions his medical qualifications are lampooned; in the 25th Anniversary Show, David Hatch asks him if he's still a writer. Garden: "''Here's something I wrote this morning''". Hatch: "''It's a prescription''". "''Yes,''" says Garden, "''but it's a funny one...''".

On television Graeme Garden was co-writer and performer in the comedy series ''Twice a Fortnight'' with Bill Oddie, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Jonathan Lynn.

Later, he was co-writer and performer in the comedy series ''Broaden Your Mind'' with Tim Brooke-Taylor (Bill Oddie joined the series for the second season).

1970s and ''The Goodies''

Garden, along with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie, became a co-writer and performer in the comedy series ''The Goodies'' (1970–1982). Later, he was the voice of the title character of ''"Bananaman"'', as well as ''"General Blight"'' and ''"Maurice of the Heavy Mob"'' in the children's animated television comedy series called ''Bananaman'' (1983), which also featured his fellow Goodies, Tim and Bill, and which parodied comic book super-heroes.

Graeme appeared, with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie, in the Amnesty International show ''A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick)'' (during which they sang their hit song "Funky Gibbon"). The trio also appeared on "''Top of the Pops''" with the song.

In 1982 Garden and Oddie wrote, but did not perform in, a 6-part science fiction sitcom called ''Astronauts'' for Central and ITV. The show was set in an international space station in the near future.

"I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue"

Graeme Garden is a permanent panellist on the long-running BBC Radio improvisation show ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' (ISIHAC) in a cast which includes Tim Brooke-Taylor. He also stars in and co-writes ''You'll Have Had Your Tea'', a direct spin-off of ISIHAC, and has contributed to several books from the series including guides to the game Mornington Crescent.

Stage appearances

Garden has a successful stage career, and has acted in several National Theatre productions, as well as London's West End. He has also acted in several BBC Radio 4 comedy drama series, and television drama including ''Peak Practice'' and ''Holby City''. He appeared in ''Bang-Bang-a-Boom!'', a spin off audio drama based on the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' by Big Finish Productions. Garden appeared with Tim Brooke-Taylor in the theatre production ''The Unvarnished Truth''.

Garden wrote a play called The Pocket Orchestra which ran in London from 26 April 2006 till 20 May 2006.

Other roles

Garden appeared in the political sitcom, ''Yes Minister'' in the role of Commander Forrest of the Special Branch in the episode ''The Death List'', as well as appearing as a Television Presenter in the ''Doctor in the House'' episode, ''Doctor on the Box''.

He was a regular team captain on the political satire game show ''If I Ruled the World''. Brooke-Taylor appeared as a guest in one episode, and during the game "I Couldn't Disagree More" he proposed that it was high time ''The Goodies'' episodes were repeated. Garden was obliged by the rules of the game to refute this statement, and replied, "I couldn't disagree more... it was time to repeat them ten, fifteen years ago."

Garden wrote for and appeared with Barry Cryer and Alison Steadman in the 1989 BBC radio comedy sketch show ''The Long Hot Satsuma''. In 2001 and 2002, Garden wrote for and appeared in the BBC radio comedy sketch show The Right Time, along with Eleanor Bron, Paula Wilcox, Clive Swift, Roger Blake, and Neil Innes. He was also script editor for ''The Hudson and Pepperdine Show''.

In 2004, Garden and Brooke-Taylor were co-presenters of Channel 4's daytime game show ''Beat the Nation'', in which they indulged in usual game show "banter", but took the quiz itself seriously. It was notable for its use of a "laugh track" instead of a studio audience, unusual for a quiz show.

Graeme Garden also writes and directs for the corporate video company Video Arts, famous for its training films starring John Cleese.

Garden is chair of the spoof radio game show ''Beat The Kids''. He has also appeared on the UK version of the television series ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?'', which has a similar format. He was a co-writer of the BBC Radio 4 comedy ''Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off''.

Recent appearances

Garden has hosted the quiz game ''Tell the Truth'' and presented a series of history programmes, ''A Sense of the Past'' for Yorkshire Television.

Graeme Garden's voice was featured in the irreverent animated comedy series about a horrifically bad London comprehensive high school, ''Bromwell High'' beginning in 2006.

In June 2006, Garden became a panellist on the new BBC Radio 4 comedy quiz show, The Unbelievable Truth (which he co-devised), starring, among others, Jeremy Hardy and Andy Hamilton.

In August 2006, Garden and Brooke-Taylor joined up to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe in a show which looked back with some nostalgia to their work with the Goodies and in light entertainment.

He also appeared on the comedy quiz show ''QI'' in November 2006.

In 2003, Garden wrote the Radio 4 series ''About a Dog'', based on an original idea by Debbie Barham, with a second series in 2007.

Garden has also played a minor role in the 2007 television adaptation of Agatha Christie's 'Nemesis'.

Garden has appeared in two of Big Finish's ''Doctor Who'' audio dramas playing a parodic character. In ''Bang-Bang-a-Boom!'' he plays Professor Fassbinder, a parody of Victor Bergman in ''Space: 1999''. In ''Max Warp'' he plays TV presenter Geoffrey Vantage, parodying ''Top Gear'' presenter Jeremy Clarkson (this episode broadcast on BBC Radio 7 on 26 October 2008). He also plays Abbot Thelonious in the Eighth Doctor audio play The Book of Kells in 2010, and subsequently returns as a recurring antagonist to the Eighth Doctor.

Personal life and family

Graeme Garden is married to Emma and they have a son, Tom. Garden also has a daughter, Sally, and a son, John, from his previous marriage to Mary Elizabeth Wheatley Grice. His son John Garden is the keyboardist for the music group Scissor Sisters, and shares songwriting credit on their 2006 album. His daughter Sally is an assistant headteacher.. His father was the famous orthopaedic surgeon R S Garden, who is noted for his work on the classification of hip fracture.

Graeme Garden lives in Oxfordshire with his family; his leisure interests include painting and playing the banjo. He played the banjo in the Goodies episodes, "Gender Education" and "Bunfight at the O.K. Tea Rooms".

Garden was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to light entertainment.

Bibliography

An incomplete list includes:

''The Best Medicine: Graeme Garden's Book of Medical Humour'' compiled and illustrated by Graeme Garden, published by Robson Books Ltd., London (1984), ISBN 0-86501-295-9

''The Skylighters''

''The Seventh Man''

''Graeme Garden's Compendium of Very Silly Games''

''Stolvold's Mornington Crescent Almanac''

Co-written with the other members of ''The Goodies'':

''The Goodies File''

''The Goodies Book of Criminal Records''

''The Making of The Goodies Disaster Movie''

References

; Sources consulted

; Endnotes

Footlights presidency

External links

"I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" homepage at BBC.co.uk

Graeme Garden – BBC Guide to Comedy

Graeme Garden – Comedy Zone

Graeme Garden interview

Graeme Garden – The Gazetteer for Scotland

Graeme Garden – at TV.com

ISIHAC interviews with Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, and Barry Cryer at BBC.co.uk

Graeme Garden Interview Web Wombat Theatre

The Origin of Monty Python – mentions Graeme and ISIRTA

"Stuff What Dreams Are Made Of" – the 1964 Cambridge Footlights Club revue during the time when Graeme Garden was President of the Footlights, as well as being a member of the revue cast

OBEs all round - Goodies pair honoured

Graeme Garden thought that OBE letter was a bill

Birthday Honours List 2011 in pictures

Goodies pair "thrilled" with OBEs

Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:Old Reptonians Category:Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:People from Aberdeen Category:Scottish cartoonists Category:Scottish comedians Category:Scottish comedy writers Category:Scottish humorists Category:Scottish illustrators Category:Scottish radio actors Category:Scottish radio writers Category:Scottish stage actors Category:Scottish television actors Category:Scottish television directors Category:Scottish television writers Category:Scottish voice actors Category:Scottish medical doctors Category:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire

it:Graeme Garden ja:グレアム・ガーデン fi:Graeme Garden

name	Mark Knopfler
background	solo_singer
birth name	Mark Freuder Knopfler
born	August 12, 1949Glasgow, Scotland
origin	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
instrument	Vocals, guitar
genre	RockRoots rockCeltic rockCountry rockBlues-rock
occupation	Musician, Songwriter, Record producer, Film score composer
years active	1965–present
label	Vertigo, Mercury, Warner
associated acts	Dire StraitsThe Notting HillbilliesChet AtkinsEmmylou HarrisBob DylanEric ClaptonSonny Landreth
website	MarkKnopfler.com
notable instruments	Mark Knopfler StratocasterFender TelecasterGibson Les PaulPensa Custom MKIISteinberger GL-2 }}

Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977. After Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler went on to record and produce six solo albums, including ''Golden Heart'' (1996), ''Sailing to Philadelphia'' (2000), and ''Get Lucky'' (2009). He has composed and produced film scores for eight films, including ''Local Hero'' (1983), ''Cal'' (1984), and ''The Princess Bride'' (1987). In addition to his work with Dire Straits and as a solo artist and composer, Knopfler has recorded and performed with many prominant musical artists, including Chet Atkins, The Chieftains, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Jools Holland, Sonny Landreth, and Van Morrison. He has produced albums for such artists as Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Randy Newman.

Knopfler is one of the most respected fingerstyle guitarists of the modern rock era, and was ranked 27th on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Knopfler and Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million albums to date. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Knopfler is the recipient of the Edison Award and the Steiger Award, and holds three honorary doctorate degrees in music from universities in the United Kingdom.

Early life (1949–1976)

Mark Freuder Knopfler was born on 12 August 1949 in Glasgow, Scotland, to an English mother and Hungarian Jewish father—an architect whose anti-fascist sympathies forced him to flee from his native Hungary. The family settled in Knopfler's mother's home town of Blyth, Northumberland in North East England when he was 7 years old. He and his younger brother David attended Gosforth Grammar School. Inspired by his uncle Kingsley's harmonica and boogie-woogie piano playing, he wanted to buy an expensive Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster just like Hank Marvin's, but had to settle for a £50 twin-pick-up Höfner Super Solid. During the 1960s, he formed and joined schoolboy bands and listened to singers like Elvis Presley and guitarists Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, B.B King, Django Reinhardt, Hank Marvin, and James Burton. At 16, he made a local TV appearance as part of a harmony duo, with his classmate Sue Hercombe.

In 1968, after studying journalism for a year at Harlow Technical College, Knopfler was hired as a junior reporter in Leeds for the ''Yorkshire Evening Post''. Two years later, he decided to further his studies, and went on to graduate with a degree in English at the University of Leeds. In April 1970, while living in Leeds, Knopfler recorded a demo disk of an original song he'd written, "Summer's Coming My Way". The recording included Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), Steve Phillips (second guitar), Dave Johnson (bass), and Paul Granger (percussion). Johnson, Granger, and vocalist Mick Dewhirst played with Mark in the band Silverheels.

Upon graduation in 1973, Knopfler moved to London and joined a High Wycombe-based band called Brewers Droop, appearing on the album ''The Booze Brothers''. One night while spending some time with friends, the only guitar available was an old acoustic with a badly warped neck that had been strung with extra-light strings to make it playable. Even so, he found it impossible to play unless he finger-picked it. He said in a later interview, "That was where I found my 'voice' on guitar." After a brief stint with Brewers Droop, Knopfler took a job as a lecturer at Loughton College in Essex—a position he held for three years. Throughout this time, he continued performing with local pub bands, including the Café Racers. He also formed a duo with long-time associate bluesman Steve Phillips called The Duolian String Pickers.

By the mid-1970s, Knopfler devoted much of his musical energies to his group, the Café Racers. His brother David moved to London, where he shared a flat with John Illsley—a guitarist who changed over to bass guitar. In April 1977, Mark gave up his flat in Buckhurst Hill and moved in with David and John. The three began playing music together, and soon Mark invited John to join the Café Racers.

Dire Straits (1977–1995)

Dire Straits' first demos were done in three sessions during 1977, with Pick Withers as drummer, David Knopfler as rhythm guitarist and John Illsley on bass guitar. On 27 July 1977 they recorded the now famous demo tapes of five songs: "Wild West End", "Sultans of Swing", "Down To The Waterline", "Sacred Loving" (a David Knopfler song) and "Water of Love". In what was probably October they recorded "Southbound Again", "In The Gallery" and "Six Blade Knife" for BBC Radio London and, finally, on 9 November demo tapes were made of "Setting Me Up", "Eastbound Train" and "Real Girl". Many of these songs reflected Mark's experiences in Newcastle, Leeds and London, and were to be featured on their first album, the self-titled ''Dire Straits'' which was released in the following year: "Down To The Waterline" recalled images of life in Newcastle; "In The Gallery" is a tribute to a Leeds sculptor/artist named Harry Phillips, (father of Steve Phillips); and "Lions", "Wild West End" and "Eastbound Train" were all drawn from Mark's early days in the capital.

Initially on its release, ''Dire Straits'' received little fanfare in the UK, but when "Sultans of Swing" was released as a single it became a chart hit in The Netherlands and album sales took off across Europe and then in the United States and Canada, and finally the UK. The group's second album, ''Communiqué'', produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett, followed in 1979, reaching number one in France while the first album was still at number three.

There were frequent personnel changes within Dire Straits after the release of their third album ''Making Movies'', with Mark Knopfler increasingly becoming the driving force behind the group. Released in 1980, ''Making Movies'' marked a move towards more complex arrangements and production which continued for the remainder of the group's career. The album included many of Mark Knopfler's most personal compositions, most notably "Romeo and Juliet" and "Tunnel of Love". ''Love over Gold'' followed in 1982 and included the UK #2 hit "Private Investigations", "Telegraph Road", "Industrial Disease" and "It Never Rains" as well as the title track to that album.

With ''Love Over Gold'' still in the albums charts, the band released a four-song EP titled ''ExtendedancEPlay'' in early 1983. Featuring the hit single "Twisting By the Pool", this was the first output by the band that featured new drummer Terry Williams, (formerly of Rockpile), who had replaced Pick Withers in November 1982. A world tour followed later in 1983, and in March 1984 the double album ''Alchemy Live'' was released. ''Alchemy Live'' documented the recordings of two live shows in Hammersmith Odeon in London in July 1983, and reached number three in the UK Albums Chart.

During 1983 and 1984 Knopfler was involved with other projects as well, including writing and producing the music score to the film ''Local Hero'' which was a large success, and it was followed in 1984 by his scores for the films ''Cal'' and ''Comfort and Joy''. Also during this time Knopfler produced Bob Dylan's ''Infidels'' album, as well as Aztec Camera and Willy DeVille; he also wrote ''Private Dancer'' for Tina Turner's comeback album of the same name. Dire Straits' biggest studio album by far was their fifth, ''Brothers in Arms,'' recorded at Air Studios Montserrat and released in May 1985. It became an international blockbuster which has now sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and is the fourth best selling album in UK chart history. ''Brothers In Arms'' spawned several chart singles including the US # 1 hit "Money for Nothing", which was the first video ever to be played on MTV in Britain. It was also the first compact disc to sell a million copies and is largely credited for launching the CD format as it was also one of the first DDD CDs ever released. Other successful singles were "So Far Away", "Walk of Life", and the album's title track. The band's 1985–86 world tour of over 230 shows was immensely successful.

After the ''Brothers in Arms'' tour Dire Straits ceased to work together for some time, Knopfler concentrating mainly on film soundtracks. Knopfler joined the charity ensemble Ferry Aid on "Let It Be" in the wake of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster. The song reached #1 on the UK singles chart in March 1987. Knopfler wrote the music score for the film ''The Princess Bride'' which was released at the end of 1987.

Mark Knopfler also took part in a comedy skit (featured on the French and Saunders Show) titled "The Easy Guitar Book Sketch" with comedian Rowland Rivron and fellow British musicians David Gilmour, Lemmy from Motorhead, Mark King from Level 42, and Gary Moore. Phil Taylor explained in an interview that Knopfler used Gilmour's guitar rig and managed to sound like himself when performing in the skit.

Dire Straits regrouped for the 11 June 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium, in which they were the headline act, and were accompanied by Elton John and Eric Clapton, who by this time had developed a strong friendship with Knopfler. Shortly after this, drummer Terry Williams left the band. In September 1988 Mark Knopfler announced the official dissolution of Dire Straits, saying that he "needed a rest", and in October 1988, a "best of" album, ''Money for Nothing'', was released and reached number one in the United Kingdom.

In 1989 Knopfler formed The Notting Hillbillies, a band at the other end of the commercial spectrum. It leaned heavily towards American roots music - folk, blues and country music. The band members included keyboardist Guy Fletcher, with Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. For both the album and the tour Paul Franklin was added to the line-up on pedal steel. The Notting Hillbillies sole studio album, ''Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time'' was released in 1990, and Knopfler then toured with the Notting Hillbillies for the remainder of that year. He further emphasized his country music influences with his 1990s collaboration with Chet Atkins, ''Neck and Neck''. The Hillbillies toured the UK in early 1990 with a limited number of shows, it was strictly low key, packing out smaller venues, such as Newcastle University.

In 1990 Knopfler, John Illsley, and Alan Clark performed as Dire Straits at the Knebworth gig, joined by Eric Clapton, Ray Cooper, and guitarist Phil Palmer (who was at that time part of Eric Clapton's touring band), and in January the following year, Knopfler, John Illsley and manager Ed Bicknell decided to reform Dire Straits. Knopfler, Illsley, Alan Clark, and Guy Fletcher set about recording what turned out to be their final studio album accompanied by several part-time sidemen, including Phil Palmer, Paul Franklin, percussionist Danny Cummings and Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro.

The follow-up to ''Brothers In Arms'' was finally released in September 1991. ''On Every Street'' was nowhere near as popular as its predecessor, and met with a mixed critical reaction, with some reviewers regarding the album as an underwhelming comeback after a six year break. Nonetheless, the album sold well and reached #1 in the UK. A gruelling world tour to accompany the album followed, which lasted until the end of 1992. This was to be Dire Straits' final world tour; it was not as well received as the previous ''Brothers In Arms'' tour, and by this time Mark Knopfler had had enough of such massive operations. This drove the band into the ground, and ultimately led to the group's final dissolution in 1995.

Following the tour, Knopfler took some time off from the music business. In 1993, he received an honorary music doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Two more Dire Straits albums were released, both live albums. ''On the Night'', released in May 1993, documented Dire Straits' final world tour. In 1995, following the release of ''Live at the BBC'', Mark Knopfler quietly dissolved Dire Straits and launched his career as a solo artist.

Since the break-up of Dire Straits, Knopfler has shown no interest in reforming the group. However, keyboardist Guy Fletcher has been associated with almost every piece of Knopfler's solo material to date, while Danny Cummings has also contributed frequently, including Knopfler's last three solo album releases ''All the Roadrunning'' (with Emmylou Harris), ''Kill to Get Crimson'' and ''Get Lucky''. In October 2008 Knopfler declined a suggestion by John Illsley that the band should reform. Illsley said that a reunion would be "entirely up to Mark", however he also suggested that Knopfler was enjoying his continued success as a solo artist, saying that "He's doing incredibly well as a solo artist, so hats off to him. He's having a perfectly good time doing what he's doing". Knopfler meanwhile is quoted as saying "Oh, I don't know whether to start getting all that stuff back together again", and that the global fame that came his way in the 1980s "just got too big".

Solo career (1996–present)

Mark Knopfler's first solo album, ''Golden Heart'', featuring the UK single "Darling Pretty", was released in March 1996. During the recording sessions for the album the main line-up of Knopfler's backing band, also known as "The 96ers," was formed, featuring Knopfler's old bandmate Guy Fletcher on keyboards, and has lasted much longer than any Dire Straits line-up.

Also in 1996, Mark Knopfler recorded guitar for Ted Christopher's Dunblane massacre tribute cover of Knocking on Heaven's Door

In 1997 Knopfler recorded the soundtrack for the movie ''Wag the Dog''. During that same year ''Rolling Stone'' magazine listed "Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll", which included "Sultans of Swing", Dire Straits' first hit. 2000 saw the release of Knopfler's next solo album, ''Sailing to Philadelphia.'' This has been his most successful to date, possibly helped by the number of collaborators to the album like Van Morrison.

In 2002 Mark Knopfler gave four charity concerts with former Dire Straits members John Illsley, Chris White, Danny Cummings and Guy Fletcher, playing old material from the Dire Straits years. The concerts also featured The Notting Hillbillies with Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. At these four concerts (three of the four were at the Shepherd's Bush, the fourth at Beaulieu on the south coast) they were joined by Jimmy Nail, who provided backing vocals for Knopfler's 2002 composition "Why Aye Man".

Also in 2002 Knopfler released his third solo album, ''The Ragpicker's Dream''. However, in March 2003 he was involved in a motorbike crash in Grosvenor Road, Belgravia and suffered a broken collarbone, broken shoulder blade and seven broken ribs. The planned ''Ragpicker's Dream'' tour was subsequently cancelled, but Knopfler recovered and was able to return to the stage in 2004 for his fourth album, ''Shangri-La.''

''Shangri-La'' was recorded at the Shangri-La Studio in Malibu, California in 2004, where The Band made recordings years before for their documentary/movie, ''The Last Waltz.'' In the promo for "Shangri-La" on his official website he said that his current line-up of Glenn Worf (bass), Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Chad Cromwell (drums), Richard Bennett (guitar) and Matt Rollings (piano) "play Dire Straits songs better than Dire Straits did." The "Shangri-La" tour took Knopfler to countries such as India and the United Arab Emirates for the first time. In India, his concerts at Mumbai and Bangalore were very well received, with over 20,000 fans gathering at each concert to listen to a legend many thought would never visit their country.

In November 2005 a compilation, ''The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations'' was released, consisting of material from most of Dire Straits' studio albums and Knopfler's solo and soundtrack material. The album was made available in two editions, as a single CD (with a grey cover) and as a double CD (with the cover in blue), and was well-received. The only previously unreleased track on the album is "All the Roadrunning", a duet with country music singer Emmylou Harris, which was followed in 2006 by an album of duets of the same name.

Released in April 2006, ''All the Roadrunning'' reached #1 in Denmark and Switzerland, #2 in Norway and Sweden, #3 in Germany, Holland and Italy, #8 in Austria and UK, #9 in Spain, #17 in the United States (''Billboard'' Top 200 Chart), #25 in Ireland and #41 in Australia. ''All the Roadrunning'' was nominated for "Best Folk Rock/Americana Album" at the 49th Grammy Awards (11 February 2007) but lost out to Bob Dylan's nomination for ''Modern Times''.

Joined by Emmylou Harris, Knopfler supported ''All the Roadrunning'' with a limited – 15 gigs in Europe, 1 in Canada and 8 in the USA – but highly successful tour of Europe and N America. Selections from the duo's 28 June performance at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, California, were released as a DVD entitled ''Real Live Roadrunning'' on 14 November 2006. In addition to several of the compositions that Harris and Knopfler recorded together in the studio, ''Real Live Roadrunning'' features solo hits from both members of the duo, as well as three tracks from Knopfler's days with Dire Straits.

A charity event in 2007 went wrong. A Fender Stratocaster guitar signed by Knopfler, Clapton, Brian May, and Jimmy Page was to be auctioned for £20,000 to raise the money for a children's hospice, was lost when being shipped. It "vanished after being posted from London to Leicestershire, England". Parcelforce, the company responsible, agreed to pay US$30,000 for its loss.

Knopfler released his fifth solo studio-album ''Kill to Get Crimson'' on 14 September 2007 in Germany, 17 September in the UK and 18 September in the United States. During the autumn of 2007 he played a series of intimate 'showcases' in various European cities to promote the album. A tour of Europe and North America followed in 2008. Many older songs from the early solo days, such as Cannibals (from Golden Heart), were brought back to life. Cannibals opened up shows throughout Europe. Cannibals was received extremely well particularly in Ireland as it was released by an Irish Country Artist David Maguire in 2007. The new version of Cannibals that David Maguire and his Band released was the 7th most requested song on Irish radio that year.

Continuing a pattern of high productivity through his solo career, Knopfler began work on his next studio album, entitled ''Get Lucky'', in September 2008 with long-time band mate Guy Fletcher, who again compiled a pictorial diary of the making of the album on his website. The album was released on September 14 the following year and Knopfler subsequently undertook an extensive tour across Europe and America. The album met with moderate success on the charts (much of it in Europe) reaching #1 only in Norway but peaking in the Top 5 in most major European countries (Germany, Italy, Holland). The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard European Album chart and at #5 on the Billboard Rock Album chart.

Knopfler's solo live performances can be characterized as relaxed—almost workmanlike. He uses very little stage production, other than some lighting effects to enhance the music's dynamics. He has been known to sip tea on stage during live performances. Richard Bennett, who has been playing with him on tour since 1996, has also joined in drinking tea with him on stage. On 31 July 2005, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, BC, the tea was replaced with whisky as a "last show of tour" sort of joke.

In February 2009, Knopfler gave an intimate solo concert at the Garrick Club in London. Knopfler had recently become a member of the exclusive gentlemen's club for men of letters.

In 2010, Knopfler appeared on the newest Thomas Dolby release, the EP ''Amerikana''. Knopfler performed on the track "17 Hills".

In February 2011, Knopfler began work on his next solo album, once again working with Guy Fletcher. A release date is yet to be announced. In July 2011, it was announced that Knopfler would take time out from recording this album in order to take part in a European tour with Bob Dylan during October and November.

Country music

In addition to his work in Dire Straits and solo, Mark Knopfler has made several contributions to country music. In 1988 he formed country-focused band The Notting Hillbillies, with Guy Fletcher, Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips. The Notting Hillbillies sole studio album, ''Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time'' was released in 1990 and featured the minor hit single "Your Own Sweet Way". Knopfler further emphasised his country music influences with his collaboration with Chet Atkins, ''Neck and Neck'', which was also released in 1990. "Poor Boy Blues", taken from that collaboration, peaked at #92.

Knopfler's other contributions include writing and playing guitar on John Anderson's 1992 single "When It Comes to You" (from his album ''Seminole Wind''). In 1993 Mary Chapin Carpenter also released a cover of the Dire Straits song "The Bug". Randy Travis released another of Knopfler's songs, "Are We In Trouble Now", in 1996. In that same year, Knopfler's solo single "Darling Pretty" reached a peak of #87.

Knopfler collaborated with George Jones on the 1994 "The Bradley Barn Sessions" album performing guitar duties on the classic J.P. Richardson composition White Lightnin'.

Knopfler is featured on Kris Kristofferson's album "The Austin Sessions", (on the track "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends") released in 1999 by Atlantic Records.

In 2006 Knopfler and Emmylou Harris made a country album together titled ''All the Roadrunning''. Knopfler also charted two singles on the Canadian country music singles chart.

Again in 2006, Knopfler contributed the song "Whoop De Doo" to Jimmy Buffett's "Gulf and Western" style album "Take the Weather with You".

Personal life

Mark Knopfler has been married three times. His first marriage was to Kathy White, his long-time girlfriend from school days. They separated before Knopfler moved to London to join Brewers Droop in 1973. In November 1983, Knopfler married his second wife, Lourdes Salomone. Their marriage produced twin sons, Benji and Joseph (born 1987), both of whom are musically talented and aspiring musicians, according to Knopfler. His marriage to Salomone ended in 1993. On Valentine's Day 1997, Knopfler married his third and current wife, British actress and writer Kitty Aldridge on the Caribbean island of Barbados. They had been dating for three years. Their marriage so far has produced two daughters, Isabella (born 1998) and Katya Ruby Rose (born 2003). The family currently lives in Chelsea.

Musical style and equipment

Musical style

Mark Knopfler is left-handed, but plays right-handed, and fingerpicks (using a personal variant of the clawhammer style) instead of using a plectrum (i.e., "pick"). Fingerpicking is usually associated with the acoustic guitar, but Knopfler usually (though not always) plays an electric guitar. He revealed during a French interview that he uses a pick for his rhythm work during recording sessions. He surprised the interviewer by pulling a pick out of his pocket and saying that he usually carries one. He has long favoured Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster style guitars. Fender carries a Mark Knopfler Artist Series Stratocaster. During the 1980s he came to appreciate the tone of the Gibson Les Paul and his original 1958 has been used regularly in the studio and on stage.

Guitars

Knopfler has estimated that he now owns "around 70 guitars". They include:

National Triplate, 1930s National Style O 14 fret

Pensa Custom MKII, a custom Pensa guitar given to Knopfler by his friend Rudy Pensa in 2005 Pensa custom-built solid body guitars, models MK-1, MK-2, and MK-80 are named in Knopfler's honour Red-painted (Stratocaster style) Melancon Pro Artist

Hofner V-2 (Mark's first guitar)

Fender Stratocasters, including a 1962 Fiesta Red and a 1954 Sunburst (one of the first ever produced), which Knopfler named "Jurassic Strat"

Gibson Les Paul Special (used in the 1970s)

National Tricone 1928 model

National Style O Resonator guitar 1937 model ("Romeo and Juliet"), a replica of which is available from National Resophonic Guitars

Fender Telecaster 1952

Burns Baldwin 12-string ("Angel of Mercy" and the ''Get Lucky'' album)

Ovation Acoustic

Schecter Telecaster and Stratocaster models (from 1980 on)

Rickenbacker 425 (Used on Portobello Belle, later on The Ragpicker's Dream session)

Fernandes Stratocaster

Ovation Adamas (''Love Over Gold'' album, ''Brothers in Arms'' tour)

Gibson Chet Atkins (''Love Over Gold'' album)

Erlewine Automatic ("Industrial Disease")

Martin Acoustics, HD-40MK, 000-40S Mark Knopfler, and 00028 ("Brothers in Arms")

Gibson SG (Two Young Lovers, Alchemy tour)

Gibson Les Paul 1958, 1959, and 1984 models

Pensa-Suhr R Custom (Knopfler's first Pensa) (''Brothers in Arms'' album, "Ride Across the River" and "So far Away")

Gretsch Super Chet, 6120 (''Golden Heart'' album)

Steinberger GL2 (''Brothers in Arms'' tour)

Beltona Electro Resonator

Flamed Pensa, 3 models (late 1980s)

Gibson J45 (''On Every Street'' album)

Gibson Super 400 (''On Every Street'' album and tour)

Godin L.R. Baggs (''On Every Street'' tour)

Red Pensa (''On Every Street'' tour)

Ramírez Spanish Guitar (from 1992 on)

Pensa-Suhr, black (''Golden Heart'' album and tour)

Gibson ES-335

Danelectro Silvertone

Gibson Southerner

Fender Jazzmaster

Eko 700

Teisco Spectrum, 2 models

Danelectro 59 DC

Fender Duo Sonic 11 (''Kill to Get Crimson'' album)

Gibson Advanced Jumbo

Gibson ES-330

NS 14, Steve Phillips (''Get Lucky'' album)

Monteleone Isabella

Don Grosh Electrajet

Gibson Dove

Effects

Throughout his career Knopfler has used a wide selection of effect pedals in the studio and during live performances. Here is a list of some of them:

Alesis Quadraverb

Boss BF-2 Flanger

Boss CE-2 Chorus

Boss CE-300 Chorus

Boss CS-2 Compressor

Boss DM-2 Delay

MXR Micro Amp

Boss OC-2 Octaver

Boss PH-2 Phaser

DeltaLab Digital Delay

Ibanez UE 303 Multi Effect

Lexicon 300 Reverb

Mantec Preamp

Master Room Reverb

Morley Volume Pedal

Mic-Mix Dyna-Flanger

MXR Analog Delay

Roland Graphic Equalizer

Roland SRE 555 Chorus/Echo

Yamaha REV 5

Zoom Multieffect 9010

Amplifiers

Knopfler has often used many different combinations of amplifiers and cabinets to create his desired sounds.

Crate VC5212 amplifier

Crate 2x12 cabinet

Fender Concert

Fender Vibrolux

Fender Twin Reverb

Gallien & Krueger amplifier

Jim Kelley combo

Jim Kelley heads

Komet amplifiers

Marshall JTM heads

Marshall 4x12 cabinet

Mesa Boogie heads

Music Man HD 130

Soldano SLO 100

Roland Jazz Chorus

Tone King Imperial

Vox AC30

On the "Get Lucky" tour in 2010, Knopfler used a pair of custom built Reinhardt guitar amp heads with matching cabinets, and a Tone King combo in between that is used on some songs.

Honours and awards

1983 BRIT Award for Best British Group (with Dire Straits)

1986 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal with Dire Straits (for "Money for Nothing")

1986 Grammy Award nomination for Song of the Year (for "Money for Nothing")

1986 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance with Chet Atkins (for "Cosmic Square Dance")

1986 Juno Award for International Album of the Year (for ''Brothers in Arms'' with Dire Straits)

1986 BRIT Award for Best British Group (with Dire Straits)

1987 BRIT Award for Best British Album (for ''Brothers in Arms'' with Dire Straits)

1991 Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Collaboration with Chet Atkins (for "Poor Boy Blues")

1991 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance with Chet Atkins (for "So Soft, Your Goodbye")

1992 Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance with Chet Atkins (for "Neck and Neck")

1993 Honorary Doctor of Music from Newcastle University

1995 Honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Leeds

1999 OBE 2001 Masiakasaurus knopfleri (a species of dinosaur) was named after him by scientists who had listened to his music while digging the fossils. 2003 Edison Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Music Industry, the highest award for musicians in the Netherlands

2006 Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album (for ''Brothers in Arms'' 20th Anniversary Edition with Dire Straits)

2007 Honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Sunderland

2007 Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album with Emmylou Harris (for "All the Roadrunning").

2009 Music Producers Guild Award for Best Studio (for Knopfler's British Grove Studios

2009 PRS for Music Heritage Award (with Dire Straits)

2011 Steiger Award

Knopfler's influence

Played together with Dire Straits' drummer Pick Withers on Bob Dylan's studio album ''Slow Train Coming'', which was recorded in May 1979 and released 20 August; providing Dylan with what Dylan considered his best guitar backing since the days of Mike Bloomfield and Robbie Robertson. Knopfler also played in and co-produced Dylan's 1983 album ''Infidels''.

British author and humorist Douglas Adams said about Knopfler, in his book ''So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish'': "Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink." The dinosaur species ''Masiakasaurus knopfleri'' was named after Knopfler. The palaeontologists were listening to Dire Straits recordings when they discovered the species.

On "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody of "Money for Nothing", "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*", which merges the instrumentals of "Money For Nothing" with the lyrics to the theme song for the American television series ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' ("The Ballad of Jed Clampett"), Knopfler played guitar in the song, recreating the guitar riff from the original song. He would only allow Yankovic to parody the song if he was allowed to play on the recording.

Knopfler's song "Going Home" from the soundtrack to ''Local Hero'' is played before kick-off at Newcastle United's home matches at St James' Park.

"Going Home" is also the theme music for John Stanley on Sydney radio station 2UE.

According to director Rob Reiner, Knopfler agreed to write the music for Reiner's ''The Princess Bride'' on one condition: Reiner had to put the hat that he wore in ''This Is Spinal Tap'' in ''Princess Bride'', "somewhere in evidence", as homage to the rock mockumentary. The hat makes its appearance in ''Princess Bride'' in the Grandson's (Fred Savage) bedroom. Indian cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar is a fan of Mark Knopfler. They once had a joint interview on cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle's show ''Harsha Online''.

The 2008 stage production Celtic Thunder has covers of multiple Mark Knopfler songs. "Brothers in Arms", written by Mark Knopfler and performed originally by Dire Straits, is performed by Ryan Kelly. As well, the song "Irish Boy" (from ''Cal'') and "Going Home" (from ''Local Hero'') are performed together as an instrumental, entitled "Cal/Local Hero".

Discography

Dire Straits albums

''Dire Straits'' (1978)

''Communiqué'' (1979)

''Making Movies'' (1980)

''Love over Gold'' (1982)

''Alchemy'' (1984, live)

''Brothers in Arms'' (1985)

''Money for Nothing'' (1988, compilation)

''On Every Street'' (1991)

''On the Night'' (1993, live)

''Live at the BBC'' (1995, live)

''Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits'' (1998, compilation)

''The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations'' (2005, compilation)

Solo albums

''Golden Heart'' (1996)

''Sailing to Philadelphia'' (2000)

''The Ragpicker's Dream'' (2002)

''Shangri-La'' (2004)

''The Trawlerman's Song EP'' (2005, EP)

''One Take Radio Sessions'' (2005, EP live)

''The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations'' (2005, compilation)

''Kill to Get Crimson'' (2007)

''Get Lucky'' (2009)

Soundtrack albums

''Local Hero'' (1983)

''Cal'' (1984)

''Comfort and Joy'' (1984)

''The Princess Bride'' (1987)

''Last Exit to Brooklyn'' (1989)

''Screenplaying'' (1993 compilation)

''Wag the Dog'' (1998)

''Metroland'' (1999)

''A Shot at Glory'' (2002)

Collaborative albums

''Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time'' (with The Notting Hillbillies, 1990)

''Neck and Neck'' (with Chet Atkins, 1990)

''All the Roadrunning'' (with Emmylou Harris, 2006)

''Real Live Roadrunning'' (with Emmylou Harris, 2006)

Produced albums

''Infidels'' (1983) by Bob Dylan. Although Mark disowned the reworked version of the album as released, his production is still noticeable. Left off the album, but later released on The Bootleg Series, is the critically acclaimed "Blind Willie McTell", featuring only Dylan, singing and playing piano, accompanied by Mark Knopfler on acoustic guitar.

''Knife'' (1984) by Aztec Camera. This Scottish indie/new wave band was mostly a vehicle for the work of Roddy Frame, much as Dire Straits only ever recorded Mark Knopfler compositions.

''Miracle'' (1987) by Willy DeVille. The album was dedicated to Mark and his wife "for their support which was nothing short of a Miracle in a time of Dire Straits." The album ends with the ballad "Storybook Love", the theme from The Princess Bride movie.

''Land of Dreams'' (1988) by Randy Newman. The album includes the single "It's Money that Matters", which unabashedly revisits the Dire Straits song "Money for Nothing".

''The Sailor's Revenge'' (2011) by Bap Kennedy. As of October 2011, the album is still unreleased.

Additional albums

The following additional albums contain guitar performances or guest appearances by Mark Knopfler.

''The Booze Brothers'' by Brewers Droop (1973)

''Slow Train Coming'' by Bob Dylan (1979)

''Sandy McLelland & the Backline'' by Sandy McLelland (1979)

''Gaucho'' by Steely Dan (1980)

''Solo in Soho'' by Phil Lynott (1980)

''The Philip Lynott Album'' by Phil Lynott (1982)

''Beautiful Vision'' by Van Morrison (1982)

''Release'' by David Knopfler (1983)

''Phil Everly'' by Phil Everly (1983)

''Love Over and Over'' by Kate and Anna McGarrigle (1983)

''Climate of Hunter'' by Scott Walker (1984)

''Never Told a Soul'' by John Illsley (1984)

''The Rock Connection'' by Cliff Richard (1984)

''Boys and Girls'' by Bryan Ferry (1985)

''Stay Tuned'' BY Chet Atkins (1985)

''Break Every Rule'' by Tina Turner (1986)

''...Nothing Like the Sun'' by Sting (1987)

''Primitive Dance'' by Paul Brady (1987)

''Sails'' by Chet Atkins (1987)

''Soldier of Fortune'' by Thin Lizzy (1987)

''C.G.P.'' by Chet Atkins (1988)

''Down in the Groove'' by Bob Dylan (1988)

''Glass'' by John Illsley (1988)

''Shouting Stage'' by Joan Armatrading (1988)

''Foreign Affair'' by Tina Turner (1989)

''River of Time'' by The Judds (1989)

''Brendan Croker & the Five O'Clock Shadows'' by Brendan Croker (1989)

''Hell to Pay'' by Jeff Healey (1990)

''Knebworth: The Album'' by Various Artists (1990)

''Damn Right, I've Got the Blues'' by Buddy Guy (1991)

''The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991'' by Bob Dylan (1991)

''Honky Tonk Demos'' by Various Artists (1991)

''Country Rockers'' by Various Artists (1992)

''Dulcimer Sessions'' by David Schnaufer (1992)

''Ain't I a Woman'' by Rory Block (1992)

''Cookin' with the Blues'' by Various Artists (1992)

''Citizen Steely Dan'' by Steely Dan (1993)

''Heartbeat'' by Hank Marvin (1993)

''Southwestern Cookin'' by Various Artists (1994)

''Flyer'' by Nanci Griffith (1994)

''Bradley Barn Sessions'' by George Jones (1994)

''Read My Licks'' by Chet Atkins (1994)

''Greatest Hits, Vol. 2'' by Weird Al Yankovic (1994)

''Adios Amigo: A Tribute to Arthur Alexander'' by Various Artists (1994)

''Long Black Veil'' by The Chieftains (1995)

''Confessin' the Blues'' by Various Artists (1995)

''The Way I Should'' by Iris DeMent (1996)

''Paradise'' by John Anderson (1996)

''Twang!: A Tribute to Hank Marvin & the Shadows'' by Various Artists (1996)

''Not Fade Away (Remembering Buddy Holly)'' by Various Artists (1996)

''Pickin' the Hits'' by Chet Atkins (1997)

''Nothin' but the Taillights'' by Clint Black (1997)

''Blues Legends'' by Various Artists (1997)

''Closing In on the Fire'' by Waylon Jennings (1998)

''Guilty: 30 Years of Randy Newman'' by Randy Newman (1998)

''Man to Woman: Men of Note Sing for a Cause'' by Various Artists (1998)

''Celtic Christmas, Vol. 4'' by Various Artists (1998)

''Tribute to Tradition'' by Various Artists (1998)

''Austin Sessions'' by Kris Kristofferson (1999)

''Another World'' by Gerry Rafferty (2000)

''Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story 1972-1980'' by Steely Dan (2000)

''Prince's Trust 10th Anniversary Birthday Party'' by Various Artists (2000)

''Guitar Heroes'' by Various Artists (2001)

''Singles Collection'' by Hank Marvin (2001)

''Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute'' by Various Artists (2001)

''Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records'' by Various Artists (2001)

''Buried Treasures, Vol. 3'' by Lindisfarne (2001)

''Human'' by Rod Stewart (2001)

''Small World Big Band'' by Jools Holland (2001)

''Seminole Wind'' by John Anderson (1992)

''Chet Picks on the Grammys'' by Chet Atkins (2002)

''Jools Holland's Big Band Rhythm & Blues'' by Jools Holland (2002)

''RCA Country Legends'' by John Anderson (2002)

''Vagabonds, Kings, Warriors, Angels'' by Thin Lizzy (2002)

''Parallel Tracks'' by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (2003)

''Double Shot Rocks'' by Alan Merrill (2003)

''Deja Vu (All Over Again)'' by John Fogerty (2004)

''Is It Rolling Bob? A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan'' (2004)

''Very Best of Celtic Christmas'' by Various Artists (2004)

''Guitar Ballads: Over 2 Hours of Relaxing Classics'' by Hank Marvin (2004)

''B. B. King & Friends: 80'' by B.B. King (2005, guest appearance)

''Is It Rolling Bob? Dub Versions'' by Various Artists (2005)

''Just for a Thrill'' by Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings (2005)

''36 Classic Guitar Favourites'' by Hank Marvin (2005)

''Sea Fever'' by William Topley (2005)

''Prairie Home Companion Duets'' by Various Artists (2006)

''East to West'' by Paul Burch (2006)

''Take the Weather with You'' by Jimmy Buffett (2006)

''Uncovered'' by Tony Joe White (2006)

''Timeless'' by Various Artists (2007)

''After Midnight Live'' by Eric Clapton (2007)

''Songbird: Rare Tracks and Forgotten Gems'' by Emmylou Harris (2007)

''...Earth to the Dandy Warhols...'' by The Dandy Warhols (2008, dobro)

''Burning Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets'' by George Jones (2008)

''From the Reach'' by Sonny Landreth (2008, guest appearance)

''Legacy, Vol. 1'' by Jeff Healey (2009, guest appearance)

''Life Goes On'' by Gerry Rafferty (2009)

''Greatest and Latest: Just a Thrill and Live'' by Bill Wyman (2009)

''The Secret Policeman's Balls'' by Various Artists (2009)

''Live At Knebworth'' by Various Artists (2010)

''Streets of Heaven'' by John Illsley (2010)

''Just Across the River'' by Jimmy Webb (2010, guest appearance)

''Mercury'' by Pieta Brown (2011)

''Gathering'' by Diane Schuur (2011)

''Freak Flag'' by Greg Brown (2011)

''Back Pages'' by America (2011)

''A Map Of The Floating City'' by Thomas Dolby (2011, guest appearance)

References

External links

Official website

Webradio PrivateInvestigations dedicated to Dire Straits&Mark; Knopfler

Mark Knopfler Boom Like That

the long road – Mark Knopfler Sessions

Mark Knopfler News

Mark Knopfler "Old News"

Category:1949 births Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds Category:British guitarists Category:English rock guitarists Category:English Jews Category:British Jews Category:British male singers Category:English rock singers Category:British singer-songwriters Category:Dire Straits members Category:Fingerstyle guitarists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Lead guitarists Category:Living people Category:People from Newcastle upon Tyne Category:Resonator guitarists Category:Brit Award winners Category:People educated at Gosforth Academy

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