Alan A. Freeman

Alan Albert Freeman, known professionally as Alan A. Freeman (27 September 1920 – 15 March 1985) and Lonnie Donegan, producing UK singles chart number 1 hits by Donegan. and his production career on various other labels lasted into the 1980s.

Early life

Freeman was born in St. John's Wood, north west London, in September 1920, to Aileen (née Marks) and Australian-born Leslie Freeman. His ambition had always been to have a record label and make his own records with it. In 1949, he was working for the Ed Kassner music publishing company as a song plugger, when he inherited some money, and began to go ahead with his project. His friend, pianist Joe Henderson, knew the singer and actress Petula Clark, whose father Leslie was keen to launch her as a recording artist. Henderson introduced Alan to Leslie Clark, who invested some money of his own (or Petula's) in the new label.

The label, Polygon Records, was a brave attempt by Freeman to gain a footing in the British record market, at a time when it was dominated by Decca and EMI (His Master's Voice, Columbia and Parlophone). The earliest recordings were actually made for the Australian market, as Freeman had a contact there, and he wanted to test the water. By 1950, Polygon was active, and during its lifetime, over 180 78 rpm records were released over five years, all of them produced by Freeman, including over 50 titles by Clark.

Freeman continued to produce records, but shared responsibilities with several others. He produced "Gamblin' Man", "Puttin' on the Style" and "My Old Man's a Dustman", which were number 1 hits recorded by the skiffle performer Lonnie Donegan (the first two titles being issued on the same single release). By 1959, the company had dropped the 'Nixa' part and evolved into simply Pye Records. Clark was still recording for Pye, but with little success. Freeman found a song that was to relaunch her British career. The song was "Sailor", written by David West, a pseudonym for Norman Newell. It reached number 1 in February 1961. Freeman was Clark's producer from 1950 until 1963, when his role was taken over by Tony Hatch.

Freeman also produced recordings of London performances by Marlene Dietrich, and records featuring British comedian Tony Hancock; the latter's re-enactments of "The Blood Donor" and "The Radio Ham" for an LP was a best seller in 1961. The following year, Freeman produced Frank Sinatra's only studio album to be recorded outside America, Sinatra Sings Great Songs From Great Britain. For Sammy Davis Jr., Freeman produced the albums Sammy Davis Jr. Salutes the Stars of the London Palladium (1964) and Sammy Davis Jr. Sings the Complete "Dr. Dolittle" (1967). In 1968, Freeman moved to Australia, where he freelanced.

Having already taken part in the 1960s television programme Thank Your Lucky Stars, Freeman became a frequent panellist on ATV's 1970s Saturday night talent programme, New Faces,

Personal life and death

Freeman lived on Cromwell Road in South Kensington, south west London, from the 1940s to the 1960s. He subsequently lived in Park West, part of the Hyde Park Estate. After moving to Australia in the late 1960s, he lived in Willoughby, near Sydney. He was survived by his sister, Patricia, and children, Amanda and Scott.