Biography
Manfred Sepse Lubowitz (born 21 October 1940), professionally known as Manfred Mann, is a South African-born musician who has lived in the UK since 1961. He is renowned as a founding member of the bands Manfred Mann, Manfred Mann Chapter Three, and Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
Born to David Lubowitz and Alma Cohen, Lubowitz grew up in a Lithuanian Jewish family in Johannesburg. He pursued music studies at the University of the Witwatersrand and performed as a jazz pianist in various Johannesburg clubs.
Opposed to apartheid in South Africa, Lubowitz relocated to the United Kingdom in 1961. He began writing for Jazz News under the pseudonym Manfred Manne, inspired by jazz drummer Shelly Manne, which he later shortened to Manfred Mann.
In 1962, he met drummer and keyboardist Mike Hugg at Clacton Butlins Holiday Camp. Together, they formed the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers, a large blues-jazz band that eventually evolved into a five-piece group named Manfred Mann. They signed with EMI in 1963 under the His Master's Voice label.
The band was a key part of the Swinging London scene in the 1960s and frequently appeared in the UK Singles Chart. Their hits "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," "Pretty Flamingo," and "Mighty Quinn" all reached number one in the UK. Their 1964 single "5-4-3-2-1" served as the theme for the ITV pop show Ready Steady Go!. They were also the first group based in southern England to top the US Billboard Hot 100 during the British Invasion.
The band disbanded in 1969.
Following the breakup, Mann and Hugg formed Manfred Mann Chapter Three. Their debut performance took place on 24 October 1969 at Newcastle's Mayfair Ballroom, featuring Mann and Hugg on keyboards and organ, alongside Bernie Living (alto sax), Steve York (bass), and Craig Collinge (drums).
They were supported by a five-piece brass section including Clive Stevens (tenor sax), Carl Griffiths (tenor sax), Dave Coxhill (baritone sax), Gerald Drewett (trombone), and Sonny Corbett (trumpet).
Manfred Mann Chapter Three released two albums: their self-titled debut in 1969 and Volume Two in 1970. Despite their efforts, the group did not achieve commercial success and disbanded in late 1970.
In 1971, Mann formed Manfred Mann's Earth Band. They scored a number one hit in 1976 with a cover of Bruce Springsteen's 1973 song "Blinded by the Light," which topped the charts in Canada and the U.S.
Though they never matched the success of "Blinded by the Light," the band remains active as of 2025, with Mann continuing to tour alongside founding member Mick Rogers.
Manfred Mann appeared as a jazz pianist in the 1969 film Venus in Furs by Jesús Franco and composed the film's score. He also released solo works under the names Manfred Mann's Plain Music and Manfred Mann '06.
Additionally, Mann performed a Minimoog solo on Uriah Heep's track "July Morning" and played keyboards on Trevor Rabin's album Wolf.
