PETER SINFIELD
Peter Sinfield (born 27 December 1943) is an English poet and songwriter, most famously known as the lyricist and co-founding member of early incarnations of King Crimson, whose debut album In the Court of the Crimson King has been regarded as one of the most influential progressive rock albums ever released. As a lyricist, Sinfield has a distinctive approach to the sounds of words, filled with surreal imagery, and a special facility with water-images and ideas involving the sea. Later on in his career, he adapted his writing for pop music, and co-wrote a succession of hits that were to be sung by artists such as Celine Dion, Cher, Cliff Richard, Leo Sayer, Five Star, and Bucks Fizz. (More from Wikipedia)
I cannot talk about progressive rock without bringing up one of my favorite albums: King Crimson’s In the Court of the Crimson King. The dense lyrics were also a revelation; printing out the lyrics in an album was comparatively rare until Sgt. Pepper came along, and the fact that many of the lyrics were written by someone having the sinister name of Peter Sinfield (who was not numbered among the musicians) only heightened the notion that I was hearing something brand new.
(October 2012)
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After releasing their album, The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp in 1968, Giles, Giles and Fripp added Ian McDonald – who played saxophone, clarinet and flute – and vocalist Judy Dyble, the original lead singer of the legendary British folk-rock band Fairport Convention. After Peter Giles left the band, Michael Giles, Ian McDonald and Robert Fripp formed the original line-up of King Crimson with vocalist Greg Lake and lyricist Peter Sinfield. Peter Giles later returned as a bass guitarist on the band’s second album in 1970, In the Wake of Poseidon; though both of the Giles brothers left the fold by the time of King Crimson’s third album, Lizard.
(March 2013)
