Mike Vernon (record producer)


Michael William Hugh "Mike" Vernon is an English music executive studio owner, and record producer from Harrow, Middlesex. He produced albums for British blues artists and groups in the 1960s, working with the Bluesbreakers, David Bowie, Duster Bennett, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, Climax Blues Band, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, John Mayall, Christine McVie and Ten Years After amongst others.

Biography

Vernon is best known as founder of the blues record label, Blue Horizon. He worked at Decca Records starting in 1963. He served as producer for the Mayall-Clapton collaboration Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton.
In 1971 Mike Vernon released an album on Blue Horizon called Bring It Back Home featuring Paul Kossoff, and Rory Gallagher on one track each.
In 1973 Sire Records, Vernon released a solo album, Moment of Madness. He was also a member of Olympic Runners and acted as producer for them. He was a producer and member of Rocky Sharpe and the Replays. With the Replays he sang bass under the psudonym of Eric Rondo. He founded the Indigo and Code Blue record labels in the 1990s.
Vernon came out of retirement to produce Dani Wilde's album Shine, and the second album by the British blues prodigy, Oli Brown. Brown's album entitled Heads I Win, Tails You Lose was released in March 2010.
In October 2013, Vernon was rewarded with a BASCA Gold Badge Award, in recognition of his unique contribution to music.
On 7 September 2018, Vernon's first album on Manhaton Records, Beyond The Blues Horizon, was released. It featured twelve tracks, including nine new self-penned originals, and three covers from the catalogues of Brook Benton, Mose Allison and Clarence "Frogman" Henry. The release was supported by a European tour under the billing of 'Mike Vernon & The Mighty Combo'. Vernon's band, The Mighty Combo, consisted of Kid Carlos, Ian Jennings, Matt Little, Paul Tasker and Mike Hellier.

Production discography