Alan Haven – Jazz organist from Prestwich

Image

Alan Haven Through Til Two Full Album

Alan Haven – a brilliant organist, appeared often at the Twisted Wheel, Brazennose Street, Manchester in the early sixties. The track Image was actually a Cover version, originally released by the Hank Levine Orchestra.

As the Wheel crowd favoured originals, cover versions were replaced even if they were the first ones that we heard. So Alan Haven’s version of Image was soon replaced by the Hank Levine version.

It was the Alan Haven version that became the theme tune on Radio Caroline. Later Tony Blackburn also used it to introduce his radio programme. The track became an anthem in discotheques around the world but the Wheel and The Blue Note stuck to Hank Levine’s version. Haven for Sale was released in 1969.

Alan Haven
Alan Haven

Alan Haven is the organist for the score for the film The Knack composed by John Barry in 1965. Alan was a resident organ player at Annie Ross’s London jazz club called Annie’s Room during the 1960s. He did some organ work on the title scores for From Russia with Love and Goldfinger and a black comedy A Jolly Bad Fellow.

Alan Haven went to school in Prestwich Manchester. He was a self taught organist, playing at the The Ritz Ballroom Manchester at one time, for Mecca Leisure. In the 70s and 80s Alan Haven played the organ for Ben Webster, Maynard Ferguson, Ronnie Scott, Stephan Grappelli and many other famous names in jazz. Alan Haven released over 14 albums.

He was married to former Miss World winner, Lesley Langley and they had a daughter and later divorced.

Born: 1 April 1935

Died: 7 January 2016

Alan Haven – Wikipedia