Vicki Wickham, the legendary music producer behind the iconic British TV show Ready, Steady, Go!, has passed away at 87. Born on March 23, 1939, in Newbury, Berkshire, England, Wickham played a pivotal role in shaping pop music in the 1960s and beyond.
Ready, Steady, Go!: A Turning Point in Music History
Airing on ITV from 1963-66, Ready, Steady, Go! was an influential showcase of the British beat boom, and as talent booker and later producer, Wickham helped introduce The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Cilla Black, Marianne Faithful, Donovan, The Kinks, The Animals, and The Yardbirds to viewers. The Beatles appeared three times on the show in 1963 and '64 as Beatlemania swept the world. This exposure often provided their earliest, most significant national exposure.
Wickham also played a key role in bringing Motown to Britain. Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, credited her with exposing artists including The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, and Martha and the Vandellas to U.K. viewers. "The wonderful Vicki Wickham had convinced her boss to do a one-hour TV special," Berry recalled in Andy Neill's 2020 book, Ready, Steady, Go!: The Weekend Starts Here. "The Sound of Motown was a big moment for us because it brought our music and our artists to the U.K. national television audience for the first time."
A Trailblazer in More Ways Than One
Wickham produced the first hourlong live U.K. TV show featuring a Black music artist, James Brown, with subsequent Ready, Steady, Go! installments showcasing Ike and Tina Turner, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles, later to become Labelle. She was a trailblazer in more ways than one, breaking down barriers for women in the music industry and paving the way for future generations of female producers and managers.
A Legacy That Continues to Inspire
Throughout her illustrious career, Wickham collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Dusty Springfield and Labelle. She wrote the English lyrics to Springfield's hit "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," adapted from the Italian song "Lo che non vivo (senza te)." Wickham also encouraged Labelle's Glam Rock Afro-futuristic image and under her guidance, the group recorded their 1974 album Nightbirds and the No. 1 hit "Lady Marmalade."
Wickham's impact on the music industry extends far beyond her work on Ready, Steady, Go! She was a true innovator, always pushing the boundaries of what was possible. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of musicians, producers, and industry professionals. As Berry Gordy so aptly put it, "The Sound of Motown was a big moment for us because it brought our music and our artists to the U.K. national television audience for the first time." This moment marked the beginning of a new era in music history, and Vicki Wickham played a pivotal role in shaping that era.
A Life Well-Lived and Remembered
Wickham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2013 for her services to music. She and her wife, Labelle singer Nona Hendryx, married in 2011. Survivors also include her cousins, Ellis John, David, and Sam; and godchildren Issac, Tim, and Nova. Private family gatherings in remembrance of her will be held in New York and London, followed by a larger celebration of life. Donations in her honor can be made to Black Women Rock and/or to Nordoff Robbins charities. As we remember Vicki Wickham's incredible life and legacy, we honor her contributions to the music industry and the countless lives she touched along the way.
Source: Hollywood Reporter