The man with the golden touch

Three years ago during a meeting with 1960’s teen idol Johnny Tillotson and his wife Nancy, I happened to mention that of all the mega-superstars who had been brought to play in Bangkok in recent years, Barry Manilow had been noticeable by his absence.

Tillotson laughed at my comment and was quick to reassure me that if I ever came to Las Vegas, where Manilow was performing on a long-term contract with the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, they would arrange for me to go backstage for an interview with the singer.

As luck would have it, Manilow’s gig had finished by the time I made it to Las Vegas but Tillotson had remembered his promise and invited me to chat with the man who is not only the major force behind Manilow but also hundreds of recording stars.  

One of the most prolific and creative producers in today’s music and entertainment industry today, Michael Lloyd looks far younger than his 65 years. His career spans more than four decades and in that time he has accumulated more than 100 gold and platinum records and most of the 72 albums and 34 singles have headed straight to the number 1 spot in the charts.

Referred to as a boy genius at the start of his career, Lloyd has produced hit records ranging from pop, rock and R&B to country, jazz and gospel. He has provided scores, musical supervision and production for numerous television specials, TV movies and series more than 100 motion pictures, including “Dirty Dancing” – which is the all time best-selling multi-artist soundtrack.

The living room of his sprawling home in upscale Beverly Hills, which is also the location of his studio, boasts some 100 gold records, all of which have surpassed a million unit marks.

His production roster is packed with remarkable artists. Aside from Manilow, they include Lou Rawls, Kimberly Locke, Natalie Grant, the Righteous Brothers, Shaun Cassidy, the Monkees, Frank Sinatra, Donny & Marie, Debby Boone, Sammy Davis Jr, Air Supply, the Pointer Sisters and  Dionne Warwick, Belinda Carlisle, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.

Speaking of the changes in recording techniques during the last decades, Lloyd says that to him the change is really all about a different way of delivering the music.

“I don’t really mind the change because I like to try new technology. Personally though, I prefer vinyl because the sound is much warmer. But more important is the look. With vinyl you have this big thing that you actually hold in your hand. Some people used to hang up the album covers on their wall because it is art”.

Lloyd is one of those rare producers comfortable working with music of any genres. He is currently working on Barry Manilow’s “Live in London” album, as well as with a French female vocalist, a country artist in Nashville and also some rock and pop musicians.

“There’s no secret recipe to making a gold record. You must have a wonderful team of people – great artists, songs, engineers, musicians, record promoters. It’s like a sports team. You have to do your best. You can’t think that you’re making a gold record.”

He is not keen on the latest big things in the music business, streaming and subscription, saying he misses the “tangible result”.

“With vinyl, it’s big. It’s something that you can hold in your hand. It’s got smaller and smaller and now you have nothing at all in your hand”.

A keen supporter of music and arts education for children, Lloyd regularly travels round the country visiting young people in hospitals and hoping the patients will benefit from a little musical therapy. 

And like Manilow, he has yet to visit Thailand. “It’s on my list of things to do,” he smiles.