Biografia
This singer, songwriter, and producer, who penned million-sellers for Nancy Sinatra such as "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," for Dean Martin with "Houston" and "Shades," and for Frank Sinatra with "This Town," was the son of an oilman. Drafted during the Korean War, he became a country DJ in Phoenix in 1953. He began experimenting with session guitarist Al Casey by adding echo effects to country songs. His first success was the song "The Fool," which he wrote and produced under the name of his first wife, Naomi Ford (actually Naomi Shackleford). This song was recorded by Sanford Clark with backing from Al Casey and became a top 10 hit in the USA in 1956. His innovative electronic techniques influenced another renowned producer, Phil Spector.
In 1957, Lee Hazlewood co-founded Jamie Records in Philadelphia with Lester Sill and Dick Clark, using Clark's TV show to promote hits by guitarist Duane Eddy. In 1961 and 1962, after establishing the Gregmark Company with Lester Sill, he scored hits with the Paris Sisters, a trio from San Francisco. He considered quitting the music business when the US was overwhelmed by the British Invasion. Instead, at Jimmy Bowen's request, he produced hits in 1965 for film-star offspring Dino, Desi, and Billy on Frank Sinatra's Reprise label.
He achieved major success in 1966 with his composition "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," a number one hit for Nancy Sinatra. Together, they created several hits including "Jackson," "Summer Wine," and "Lady Bird." In the 1970s, he moved to Sweden, where he recorded several albums and collaborated on television projects with Swedish director Torbjörn Axelmann. The duo also produced a TV show that won "The Golden Rose of Montreux," an award for best television program.
In 1993, the British pop group Tindersticks released a 7-inch single, "A Marriage Made in Heaven," based on Hazlewood's composition "Sand," considered a tribute to him, with his portrait featured on the cover. That same year, after a 13-year hiatus, Hazlewood appeared on the Finnish album "Gypsies and Indians" alongside Finnish singer Anna Hanski. In 1995, he toured the US, Canada, and Scandinavia with Nancy Sinatra.
In 1999, after two decades, he released a new solo album titled "Farmisht, Flatulence, Origami, ARF!!! and Me...," a fresh collaboration with Al Casey. Unexpectedly, Hazlewood also gave his first solo performances since 1974 in London’s Royal Festival Hall and in Stockholm, supported by lifelong friend Al Casey and his band.
