Mike Vernon, the influential record producer and co-founder of Blue Horizon Records, has died at the age of 81. Vernon's career spanned more than six decades, during which he worked with artists including David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, and Eric Clapton, and played a pivotal role in bringing blues music to British audiences.
Born in Surrey in the mid-1940s, Vernon's passion for blues began in his youth. He published a fanzine, R&B Monthly, with his brother Richard, which became essential reading on the London music scene. In 1962, he joined Decca Records as an A&R assistant, where he produced John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers' landmark album 'Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton', which reached No. 6 in the UK charts and helped establish Clapton as a leading guitarist.
In 1967, Vernon co-founded Blue Horizon Records, which released music by Fleetwood Mac, including the hit singles 'Black Magic Woman' and 'Albatross'. The label also championed African American blues artists such as Champion Jack Dupree and Otis Spann. Vernon later produced David Bowie's debut album and worked with Level 42 and Bloodstone.
After moving to Spain in the early 2000s, Vernon continued to produce and perform. He is remembered as a dedicated enthusiast who turned his love for blues into a hugely impactful career.
