ROCK HISTORY - GUY FLETCHER

Guy Fletcher (born Mervyn Guy Fletcher, 21 April 1944, St Albans, England) is an English songwriter, singer, producer, and music-industry executive, best known for his work with lyricist Doug Flett as the duo Fletcher & Flett.

They were among the first British songwriting teams recorded by Elvis Presley, whose 1969 recording “The Fair’s Movin’ On” marked a major breakthrough. The partnership went on to write successful songs for a wide range of artists, including The Hollies (“I Can’t Tell the Bottom from the Top”), Cliff Richard (“With the Eyes of a Child,” “Baby You’re Dynamite,” and “Power to All Our Friends,” the UK’s 1973 Eurovision entry), Joe Cocker (“Lady Put the Light Out”), Ray Charles, and the Bay City Rollers (“Dedication”). Their song “Save Me” became an international hit in several versions.

Fletcher also had a performing career. In 1971 he scored a European hit with “Mary in the Morning”. In the mid-1970s he formed the soft-rock group Rogue, whose song “Fallen Angel” later gained renewed popularity through the musical Jersey Boys.

Beyond writing and performing, Fletcher became an influential figure in music administration. He served as Chairman of PRS for Music from 2011 to 2016, playing a key role in royalty collection and composers’ rights in the UK. His contributions to songwriting and the music industry have been recognised with major honours, including an Ivor Novello Award and an OBE in 2005.

Fletcher’s legacy lies in his versatile, artist-friendly songwriting and his long-standing advocacy for songwriters’ rights.