Mike Ratledge
| Mike Ratledge | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Michael Roland Ratledge |
| Born | 6 May 1943 |
| Origin | Maidstone, Kent, England, UK |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock, progressive rock, Canterbury scene, jazz, free jazz, jazz fusion, music for commercials, new-age |
| Instruments | piano, organ, electric piano, synthesizers, flute |
| Years active | early 1960s – c. 1995 |
| Labels | ABC Probe, Columbia, Harvest |
| Associated acts | Soft Machine, Karl Jenkins |
| Notable instruments | |
| Lowrey Holiday De Luxe organ, Hohner Pianet, Wurlitzer piano, Fender Rhodes piano | |
Michael Roland "Mike" Ratledge (born 6 May 1943) is a British musician. He was part of the Canterbury scene and a long-time member of Soft Machine.
Ratledge was born in Maidstone, Kent. As a child he was educated in classical music, the only kind of music played in his parents' home. He learned to play the piano, and with his friend Brian Hopper, whom he had met at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury, played classical piano and clarinet pieces.
Ratledge also met Brian's younger brother Hugh, and Robert Wyatt. In 1961 he met Daevid Allen, who interested them in playing jazz. Through Cecil Taylor's piano pieces Ratledge became familiar with the music of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. In 1963 he played in the Daevid Allen Trio. Unlike his friends, Ratledge wanted to further his education, and studied at University College, Oxford, where he earned a degree in psychology and philosophy.
At the same time he attended music lessons, and was educated by avant-garde musicians Mal Dean and Rab Spall. After his graduation Ratledge intended to go to a university in the United States, but his application for a scholarship was filed too late.
In 1966 his friends were forming a new band and asked Ratledge to join. Soft Machine featured among others Robert Wyatt, Daevid Allen and Kevin Ayers. In the years to follow there were many personnel changes and by 1973 Ratledge was the only remaining member of the original lineup.
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