Kris Ife

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Kris Ife
Kris Ife
Background information
Website	www.krisife.co.uk Kris Ife on Myspace

Most known for recording a version of "Hush" that inspired Deep Purple's hit cover of the same tune, Kris Ife was active on the British pop scene in various guises from the mid-'60s to the mid-'70s

Kris Ife was born in Aylesbury Bucks, his father was at RAF Halton near Tring.

Kris has traced the Ife family-tree back to the 1500's , Ife is an old Suffolk word for Yew tree.

Kris moved to London and attended St. Clement Danes Grammer School in Acton, it was whilst at school that he formed a skiffle group called the Gravediggers.

After leaving school he started a group called the Vikings with John Howell and Ray Hailey. The Vikings recorded "Space Walk"- produced by Curly Clayton which wasn't released under their name, but turned up some years later- under the name of "Gemini"- with a different producer listed, though the recording was the same.

In 1964, The Vikings manager, John Smith, amalgamated them with The Quiet 5, taking their lead vocalist- Patrick Dane, & bassist- Richard Barnes, along with the name.

Dane left some time later, before the Q5 had recorded anything. Despite their name there we six members, John Howell -organ/vocals , Kris Ife - guitar/vocals, Richard Barnes -bass guitar/vocals, Roger McKew -lead guitar, Ray Hailey - drums and John "Satch" Goswell - sax.

During their time together the Quiet Five released a handful of singles and managed to get into the Top 50 in 1965 with a song written by Kris Ife "When the Morning Sun Dries the Dew" and then in 1966 with a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound".

The Quiet Five played at Windsor Castle at a party for Prince Charles' 18th birthday in December 1966 subsequently, they played on the "Society Circuit", including The Royal Hunt Ball & the Venice Film Festival.

Kris Ife 1965 Gene Pitney tour

Kris Ife left The Quiet Five in 1967 and went solo , it was at this time that he recorded a cover of Joe South's "Hush" which later inspired Deep Purple's Top Five hit in 1968.

Ife was asked to sing a track "Imagination" for British producer Mark Wirtz and was also writing songs with J Vincent Edwards and Michael Derrick under the pseudonym of Miki Anthony.

Ife put together a session band which developed into the Matchmakers, to record material for Wirtz.

Mark Wirtz recorded and produced the Judd album co-written by Ife. Many of the Judd recordings have a swamp pop feel about them.

Ife also recorded a few obscure, early-'70s Righteous Brothers style singles with J.Vincent Edwards, under the name Jackson & Jones.

Most of Ife's recordings were released as "Hush - Definitive Collection 1967-1973" on RPM Records, which included late-'60s solo singles Hush, the Judd LP, Jackson & Jones singles and an unreleased track from his American history concept album.

You can find his Quiet Five recordings on the "When the Morning Sun Dries the Dew" CD also on RPM Records.