Ken Lewis

Kenneth Alan James Hawker (3 December 1940 – 2 August 2015) known as Ken Lewis, was an English singer, songwriter and record producer. He is considered one of the more successful songwriters of the 1960s as a result of his collaborations with John Carter. His biggest success was "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat", which was a 1965 US number 2 hit single for Herman's Hermits.

Life and career Early life Kenneth Alan James Hawker was born in Small Heath, Birmingham, England. The band also featured twice as "guests" on the Beatles' 1963 radio show Pop Goes The Beatles.

In 1964 they met Perry Ford, who worked as an engineer in a small recording studio in Denmark Street, London. They noticed their voices blended well and started recording demos together, resulting in a single on Pye Records, "What More Do You Want" as the Ivy League. Their luck changed when Herman's Hermits recorded "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" In the UK it was a smaller hit for Goldie and the Gingerbreads.

They then provided backing vocals on "I Can't Explain", by the Who. In 1965 and 1966, The Ivy League scored four UK chart hits, including "Tossing and Turning", which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart. Other songs were penned for Brenda Lee – "Is It True?", the Music Explosion – "Little Bit O' Soul", and Peter and Gordon – "Sunday for Tea". When the single became a hit, a band was put together to give the "band" faces, as both Carter and Lewis refused to tour again. The vocal quartet that mimed to the records included Tony Burrows and Neil Landon, leaving Perry Ford to carry on The Ivy League. In late 1967 Carter and Lewis formed Sunny Records as their production company. Starting in early 1968 the Carter/Lewis output became more confusing. Songs intended for the Flower Pot Men were released billed as by Friends, Haystack and Dawn Chorus, only to be re-released in this century as the Flower Pot Men. The "touring" Flower Pot Men started recording songs by Roger Greenaway and eventually changed their name to White Plains.

After a minor success billed as Stamford Bridge (UK number 47 with "Chelsea"), Lewis decided to leave the music industry in 1971, suffering from depression. Bob Stanley, liner notes The John Carter Anthology – Measure by Measure (RPM rpmd268), 2003 Melody Maker 1962–1979 New Musical Express 1963–1979 Record Mirror 1964–1967