Albert Hammond

Albert Hammond

Albert Hammond (born May 18, 1944) is a British-born Gibraltarian singer-songwriter. He is best known for his 1972 hit singles "It Never Rains in Southern California" and "The Air That I Breathe", and for writing the 1974 hit "When I Need You" for Leo Sayer. Hammond has also written songs for a wide range of other artists, including Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and Joe Cocker.

Early life

Hammond was born in London, England, to Gibraltarian parents. He showed an interest in music from an early age, and began writing songs while still in his teens. After graduating from high school, Hammond moved to Spain, where he worked as a musician and songwriter.

Career

In 1969, Hammond released his first solo album, "Albert Hammond". The album was a commercial failure, but it did help to raise his profile as a songwriter. In 1972, Hammond released his second album, "It Never Rains in Southern California". The album was a commercial success, and it spawned two hit singles, "It Never Rains in Southern California" and "The Air That I Breathe".

Following the success of "It Never Rains in Southern California", Hammond released a number of other successful albums, including "The Free Electric Band" (1973), "99 Miles from L.A." (1975), and "Albert Hammond" (1976). He also continued to write songs for other artists, including Leo Sayer, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin.

In the 1980s, Hammond's career began to decline. He released a number of albums, but none of them were commercially successful. He also stopped writing songs for other artists.

In the 1990s, Hammond's career began to revive. He released a number of successful albums, including "The Very Best of Albert Hammond" (1998) and "Songs of My Life" (2003). He also began writing songs for other artists again, including Joe Cocker and Bonnie Tyler.

In recent years, Hammond has continued to release new albums and tour. He has also written songs for a number of new artists, including Joss Stone and Ronan Keating.

Personal life

Hammond has been married twice. His first marriage, to Eleanor Rose, ended in divorce in 1984. He has two children from this marriage, Albert Hammond Jr. and Holly Hammond. In 1988, Hammond married his second wife, Rosa Maria Rodríguez. They have one child together, Albert Hammond III.

Hammond is a British citizen and a resident of Spain. He also holds a Gibraltarian passport.