Biography
Mungo Jerry are an eclectic British folk/jug/rock/blues band that was formed by singer/guitarist Ray Dorset in 1970. The other original members were: Mike Cole (upright bass), Paul King (guitar/kazoo/jug), Joe Rush (washboard), Colin Earl (keyboards), and Alan Johnson (guitar/banjo). The group got their name from a T.S. Eliot poem. Mungo Jerry scored a massive international smash success in 1970 with the supremely catchy, mellow and soothing "In the Summertime;" the delightfully frothy and upbeat song was a #1 British chart hit for seven weeks straight, cracked the Top 10 in America, and has reportedly sold over 16 million copies worldwide. ("In the Summertime" has been featured on the soundtracks to such films as "Wedding Crashers," "Mr. Deeds," "Stolen Summer," "Drowning Mona," "Twin Town," and "29th Street.") The group was named the best new band of 1970 by the British music newspaper "Melody Maker." Their follow-up song "Baby Jump" was also a #1 chart hit in England, but alas didn't fare too well overseas. However, Mungo Jerry enjoyed a steady succession of 70's British radio hits that include "Maggie," "Johnny Be Badde," "Mighty Man," "Lady Rose," "You Don't Have to Be in the Army to Fight in the War," "Open Up," "Alright Alright Alright," "Wild Love," "Long Legged Woman Dressed in Black," "Hello Nadine," and "It's A Secret." The band had a couple of international hits in the early 80's with "On a Night Like This" and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Although the group has experienced numerous line-up changes throughout the years, Mungo Jerry nonetheless continue to perform live and record new albums with Ray Dorset remaining as the lead singer for the band.
