Kevin Parrot And Mick Coleman are better known as which 1978 u k chart toppers?

Answer 1

Brian and Michael. They did Matchstalk Cats and Dogs ...

Kevin Parrott & Mick Coleman
(AKA Bryan & Michael - The Matchstalk Men)
Kevin Parrott and Mick Coleman first met at The Albion Hotel at Stalybridge in 1965. Mick joined Kevin's band 'The Big Sound' as bass player/singer, while Kevin played lead guitar. They were augmented with trumpet, tenor & baritone saxophones, and during the 1960's they were based mostly in Denmark, from where they regularly toured Europe and Israel. Mick Coleman was born in the district of Ancoats where he went to St Anne's school.
When eventually The Big Sound split up, Mick left the music business for a while, and Kevin joined Manchester rock group, 'Oscar', who eventually signed with DJM records, and continued touring the UK and Europe. They were also one of the few UK bands to play in Tehran, Iran.
Meantime, Mick joined a folk group and began to write what he called 'traditional' songs for the group to perform. Then during the early 1970s, just near to Johnny Roadhouse's music shop in the Manchester's All Saints district, (where he had bought his first guitar), he saw several L.S. Lowry paintings in a shop window, which reflected his own Manchester childhood, filled him with nostalgia and gave him the idea to write a tribute song to Lowry. He had just begun to make progress with the song when Lowry died in 1976.
He first sang the finished song at a folk club near Mosley Street bus station in Manchester. In the audience that night was Trevor Hyatt from Granada TV, with Anna Ford, who complimented him on the song and asked for several encores. During this time he had formed a comedy duo with work colleague Brian Burke, and they began performing as Burke & Jerk.
Kevin and Mick had remained friends throughout, and eventually borrowed £1000 to produce a record of the Lowry song at Pluto Studio in Stockport (upstairs from 10CC's Strawberry Studios). Peter Tattersall of Strawberry suggested a children's backing choir and they approached St Winifred's School in nearby Heaton Mersey. They also recruited Tintwistle Brass Band. The final song, "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" was recorded over three sessions in September 1977. After being rejected several times, the song was eventually picked up by Pye Records and was released on 25th November 1977. By February 1978 the record made number 45 in the charts and Kevin and Mick made their first 'Top of the Pops' appearance.
'Matchstalk Men' went to number 1 in the UK charts in April, and stayed at the top for three weeks. The record soon went gold, and Mick was awarded the Ivor Novello award, one of highest accolades a songwriter can receive.
They continued working together as B&M (Bryan & Michael) until 1980, having made two albums for Pye, but without another substantial single hit. Despite this, Kevin produced "The Sparrow", a number 11 hit for The Ramblers in 1979. Mick wrote the Ken Dodd hit "Hold my Hand" in 1981. Together in their roles as writer/producer, they were responsible for "It's Horrible being in love when you're 8½" with Claire & Friends during 1986.
There was a stage reunion of the Matchstalk Men in 2002, when they appeared at the Plaza Theatre Stockport in April, and most appropriately at the new Lowry Centre at Salford Quays during October of that year. A month later, on the 2nd November, they were back at the Lowry at the Choir of the Year Competition, being reunited with the original children from the St Winifred's Choir.

Mick & Kevin are planning to start recording again with a view to more live performances sometime in 2005.

Answer 2

Brian and Michael... my father was Kevins Parrot's music teacher at Hyde Grammar School.

Answer 3

I think mancunian covered all the bases with his answer ,the 10 points are well deserved.

Answer 4

Chas and Dave