An ex-King Crimson member toiled in obscurity for decades…
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An ex-King Crimson member toiled in obscurity for decades before his Christmas hit
Gordon Haskell \(James Emmett\/Redferns\/Getty Images\) https://preview.redd.it/e9eyqx2kvj7h1.png?width=1581&format=png&auto=webp&s=292d0749bddd79e77c7c951e5dcc9a948c83218c
Gordon Haskell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Haskell played in some early bands with Robert Fripp before the latter founded King Crimson. When bassist-vocalist Greg Lake left KC, Haskell joined to sing one song on "In the Wake of Poseidon" (1970) and as bassist-vocalist for all of "Lizard" (1970). But they soon split again, as Haskell preferred a crooner style that Fripp and the gang didn't want for their psychedelic art rock.
Over the next few decades, Haskell released 7 solo albums that never charted. Then his 2001 jazzy ballad single "How Wonderful You Are" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovgy8oCKpnA became the most-requested song of all time on BBC Radio 2 after DJ Johnnie Walker started playing it regularly — incidentally — the day after 9/11.
The song ultimately reached #2 on the UK Singles chart (#1 on the UK Indie chart) and carried Haskell to fame at age 55.
Was the nation simply in the mood for a sentimental jazz ballad after witnessing such a tragedy across the pond? Or was Haskell's style simply misunderstood until his persistence paid off?
**Reporting from the King Crimson Extended Universe.**
#music #rock
Gordon Haskell \(James Emmett\/Redferns\/Getty Images\) https://preview.redd.it/e9eyqx2kvj7h1.png?width=1581&format=png&auto=webp&s=292d0749bddd79e77c7c951e5dcc9a948c83218c
Gordon Haskell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Haskell played in some early bands with Robert Fripp before the latter founded King Crimson. When bassist-vocalist Greg Lake left KC, Haskell joined to sing one song on "In the Wake of Poseidon" (1970) and as bassist-vocalist for all of "Lizard" (1970). But they soon split again, as Haskell preferred a crooner style that Fripp and the gang didn't want for their psychedelic art rock.
Over the next few decades, Haskell released 7 solo albums that never charted. Then his 2001 jazzy ballad single "How Wonderful You Are" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovgy8oCKpnA became the most-requested song of all time on BBC Radio 2 after DJ Johnnie Walker started playing it regularly — incidentally — the day after 9/11.
The song ultimately reached #2 on the UK Singles chart (#1 on the UK Indie chart) and carried Haskell to fame at age 55.
Was the nation simply in the mood for a sentimental jazz ballad after witnessing such a tragedy across the pond? Or was Haskell's style simply misunderstood until his persistence paid off?
**Reporting from the King Crimson Extended Universe.**
#music #rock
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