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Posted by DK | Sep 21, 2013 | PRESS |




Mike Craft Lead singer Mike Craft is the unmistakable voice of Smokie. When he joined the band in 1995 it was a tall order to follow in the footsteps of Alan Barton, who was so tragically killed in a road accident while the band were on tour in Germany. Yet Mike has achieved what many Smokie fans described as mission impossible. He has stamped his own voice and character on the band’s unique stage and studio sound.
He quickly established himself as a gifted front man, building an instant rapport with audiences and developing a distinctive style.
Like Smokie itself, Mike’s own origins are in Bradford. He was actually born 60 miles to the east in Hull but moved to West Yorkshire and has remained there ever since. He has worked for most of his adult life in the world of music and the entertainment industry. He had worked for a travel agent, a radio station and a record company whilst developing his own career as a performer. In addition to his undoubted singing talent he is also a gifted mimic and a natural comic. When the band and their crew are on tour Mike is the one most likely to bring a smile to everyone’s face with an impression or a gag. He loves to entertain but anyone who knows him will also tell you that he is a deep thinker, with a lively interest in anything and everything. “Six years ago I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined how many wonderful things were going to happen with Smokie. I’ve lost count of the number of different countries we’ve been to and I love seeing the world and enjoying the different cultures,” he said. “I’ve loved the emotional roller-coaster of performing live on stage. The feedback we get from our fans is magnificent. We’ve had some incredibly happy times and I don’t mind admitting that on occasions I’ve cried for joy.
“One of the most emotional moments came in Beijing. We’d had lots of problems with the concert venue and organisers in China and we didn’t know for sure that it would go ahead until a few hours before hand. There was also uncertainty about how a Chinese audience would react to us. We needn’t have worried. They gave us a fantastic reception and when some young girls presented us with flowers on the stage I have to admit I was close to tears.
“When I joined the band I realised what a difficult task I faced, but from the outset I had absolutely total support, dedication and love from the rest of the guys, their friends and contacts around the world and of course the fans. “Enthusiasm, dedication and, above all, a genuine love of what we do are the key factors behind our success. We love nothing more than playing live on stage to an audience full of Smokie fans, old and new. It’s difficult to put into words the sort of buzz we get from that. It’s something really special and it makes it so worthwhile. “I honestly believe we get better and better with each performance. Yes we’ve got bags of experience and we’ve played hundreds of concerts but each one is a new experience and a different audience and we never give anything less than 100 per-cent.
“In a way we’re a bit like a football team. We’ve got a great set of people behind us making sure everything is right when we’re on stage. We’re all great friends and it really is a team effort. It’s not often we get the opportunity to thank all those people publicly for the fabulous job they do, so I’d like to place that on record right here and now.” Off stage Mike loves his gadgets and his sport. When he is on tour he combines those obsessions. Wherever he is around the world you can guarantee his hotel bedroom will be festooned with an array of computer and electrical equipment, much of which he takes on tour to help him keep in touch with his beloved football team Bradford City.
He is currently recovering from the disappointment of seeing City relegated from the Premiership but admits the two years the Bantams have been in the top flight have been a great experience. “We’ll bounce back,” he said. “We’ve got some great players and I think the experience they’ve had in the Premiership and their thirst to get back there will give the club a great chance to get promoted from Division One at the first attempt.”
Mike says he sometimes pinches himself when he thinks what Smokie have achieved in the last couple of years. “We’ve been to more new countries, had a fantastic UK tour, seen the Uncovered album do incredibly well and been on loads of TV shows. The momentum of Smokie seems to getting faster all the time. “Thanks to everyone we’re busier than ever. My heart goes out to all our fabulous fans.”
Terry Uttley It’s been another fabulous year for Smokie and the future looks great’, says the man who was a founder member of the band back in the 1970’s.
Terry was a pupil at St. Bede’s School in Bradford when the group was first formed under a different name. Originally they were called The Elizabethans, and then became known as Kindness, before the name Smokie was finally adopted. The other founder members left the band in a variety of circumstances over the years but Terry remains as the ‘daddy’ of the band, having been a professional musician now for over 30 years. He has spent all that time with Smokie, apart from a short spell in the 1980’s when the band was briefly disbanded.
Understandably he has been a major influence on Smokie’s remarkable progress over the years and remains the figurehead of the group as they continue to break new ground. ‘If someone had said to me when I was at St. Bede’s that I’d still be playing with Smokie, touring the world and recording new albums in the new millennium, I would have said they must be mad!’ he says. ‘But I can honestly say that I still get that same buzz on stage from playing live in front of a huge audience that I’ve always had. I suppose if that ever went, it would be time to call it a day. However, I don’t see that happening. We’ve had some real highs recently, and when we came off stage in Beijing last September, it was one of the greatest highs of the lot.’ ‘You can’t put into words really how it feels to get a reception like that from an audience. It’s a unique feeling and one that makes everything worthwhile’.
‘I’ve had a real buzz too from the work we’ve done in the recording studio. Uncovered was an album I was very proud of. We took a long time selecting the tracks and I was delighted by the sound, and of course by the fantastic sales across Europe’. ‘Another major plus for Smokie this year has been the opportunity to get back out on the road in the UK. We’ve been so busy touring the world for the last few years that we haven’t had time to do anything other than the odd concert here and there back home. ‘Again the audiences were tremendous and we enjoyed it so much that we’re now planning to ensure we do a short UK tour each year from now on. So, all things considered it has been a hectic, but highly enjoyable time for us and I know there is more to come.
‘We’re about to bring out Uncovered 2 and I believe both our studio sound, and live sound is stronger than it’s ever been. I’m a very lucky man. I am able to do something that I really enjoy and earn a living along the way.
‘All of us in Smokie are genuinely grateful to our thousands of fans all over the world. They are the folk we do it for. Without their brilliant support we wouldn’t be here, it’s as simple as that. ‘Smokie has been a complete way of life for me. I’ve had the joy of working with a great bunch of people and we still have time for a lot of fun along the way even when the workload is heavy. ‘Even though the band has changed at times over the years Smokie has continually got stronger. The band as a whole is greater than any individual and that includes me, even though I’ve been in the band from the very start.
‘I owe the fans a huge debt of gratitude – the support we’ve had over the years from fans old and new has been unbelievable. It hasn’t all been plain sailing, we’ve had our difficult times and our tragic times, but Smokie’s ability to bounce back never ceases to amaze me.’
Away from the spotlight Terry is equally proud of his family. He still lives near Bradford with his wife Shirley. They have two daughters, Lisa and Holly. DK EXPRESSIONS™ Founder / Editor / International Photographer / Social Media Management / Content Creator. Avid Lover of Sport / Music / Gaming / All things Entertainment. Easy Going / Motivated a 100% Positive Thinker always looking to make new connections.
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