Renaissance (band)

Renaissance

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1969
Founder	Keith Relf, Jim McCarty, John Hawken, Louis Cennamo, Jane Relf
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Progressive rock music

Renaissance is a British progressive rock ensemble recognized for their 1978 UK top 10 single "Northern Lights" and timeless tracks such as "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia", and "Ashes Are Burning". Their unique musical identity arose from combining a female lead vocalist with elements drawn from classical, folk, rock, and jazz genres. Signature features of their sound include Annie Haslam's expansive vocal range, dominant piano lines, orchestral textures, and intricate vocal harmonies.

The band was established by vocalist Keith Relf and drummer Jim McCarty, both formerly of the Yardbirds, along with John Hawken, Louis Cennamo, and Relf's sister Jane Relf. Their goal was to fuse classical music influences into their work. Lyricist Betty Thatcher attributed the group’s stylistic direction largely to Keith Relf’s enthusiasm for classical compositions, particularly Pachelbel’s Canon. Their eponymous debut album appeared in 1969; however, lineup instability delayed completion of the follow-up Illusion (1971). By 1972, a consistent formation had emerged featuring Annie Haslam, Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp, and Terry Sullivan, supported by Thatcher-Newsinger’s lyricism.

Between 1972 and 1979, Renaissance produced seven studio albums, embarked on extensive tours, and achieved sold-out performances over three consecutive nights at Carnegie Hall with Tony Cox conducting the New York Philharmonic. Their popularity was especially strong in the United States, where they cultivated a loyal fan base.

The 1980s brought challenges including personnel turnover and two commercially weaker albums, culminating in the group's breakup in 1987. During the mid-1990s, two separate offshoot bands operated concurrently. Renaissance reunited in 1998 to record Tuscany, released in 2001, but disbanded again by 2002. A new lineup led by Haslam and Dunford formed in 2009, continuing to tour and record until Dunford’s passing in November 2012. Haslam affirmed the band's continuation; they issued Grandine il Vento in 2013, later re-released as Symphony of Light in 2014.

The band concluded a final tour in October 2024.

Original formation (1969–1970)

Following the transformation of the Yardbirds into the New Yardbirds with Jimmy Page in 1968, which soon evolved into Led Zeppelin, original members Keith Relf and Jim McCarty initiated an acoustic duo named Together. They released the single "Henry's Coming Home" backed with "Love Mum and Dad" through Columbia Records in November 1968; however, it failed to chart.

In January 1969, Relf and McCarty founded a new group aimed at merging rock, folk, and classical music styles. McCarty described their vision as pursuing a more poetic and folk-oriented path distinct from heavy rock. This five-piece lineup—Relf (guitar/vocals), McCarty (drums/vocals), bassist Louis Cennamo, pianist John Hawken, and vocalist Jane Relf—issued two albums under Elektra (US) and Island Records (UK). Their debut release, Renaissance (1969), was produced by former Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith.

The band began live performances in May 1969 primarily across the UK with appearances at festivals in Belgium and France. In February 1970 they toured North America; yet this month-long tour met with limited commercial success. Despite their Yardbirds heritage securing them spots alongside rock acts like the Kinks, their classical-influenced approach often conflicted with audiences expecting blues-based rock.

By late spring of 1970, mounting touring demands led to the original personnel disbanding. Relf and McCarty withdrew from performing while Cennamo joined Colosseum. Hawken then gathered a new group to honor Island Records’ contract requirements and to complete the band's second album, Illusion (1971), which had remained unfinished.

Transition period (1970–71)

Besides Jane Relf, the revamped group featured former members of Hawken's earlier band, the Nashville Teens – including guitarist Michael Dunford, bassist Neil Korner, vocalist Terry Crowe, and drummer Terry Slade. This ensemble recorded a single track, "Mr Pine," penned by Dunford, and performed several shows during the summer of 1970. A concluding session brought back the original members except for Hawken, with Don Shin taking over keyboards, resulting in the track "Past Orbits of Dust." The finalized Illusion album was initially launched in Germany in 1971 but did not see a UK release until 1976. This record marked the beginning of Renaissance's enduring collaboration with lyricist Betty Thatcher-Newsinger, who co-authored two tracks alongside Relf and McCarty.

By late 1970, the two remaining founding members departed; Jane Relf was succeeded by American folk artist Anne-Marie "Binky" Cullom, followed by John Hawken's exit to join Spooky Tooth, with pianist John Tout stepping in as his replacement. A video included on the "Kings & Queens" DVD (2010) captures this lineup performing on German television. Relf and McCarty intended to stay involved behind the scenes—Relf as producer and McCarty as songwriter. Both were present when singer Annie Haslam successfully auditioned in January 1971 to take over from Cullom (who later wed drummer Terry Slade and retired). While McCarty continued contributing compositions for the band, Relf’s role ceased shortly thereafter. Dunford emerged as a prolific composer, sustaining his partnership with Thatcher, who provided most lyrics for Renaissance’s albums throughout the 1970s.

Second formation (1971–1980)

In 1971, new manager Miles Copeland III restructured Renaissance to emphasize Haslam’s vocals and Tout’s piano work. Up to that point, Haslam had shared lead singing duties with Terry Crowe. Both Crowe and Korner left; Korner’s bass role was filled by various musicians including John Wetton (later associated with King Crimson, U.K., Asia), Frank Farrell (formerly of Supertramp), and Danny McCulloch (ex-the Animals). Eventually, Jon Camp secured the position permanently. Dunford concentrated on songwriting while Mick Parsons joined as the live guitarist. In 1972, Terence Sullivan replaced Ginger Dixon on drums following a European tour; after Parsons tragically died in a car crash, Rob Hendry took over guitar duties. This lineup entered the studio after performing only around a dozen concerts.

The album Prologue was released in 1972 via EMI-Sovereign in the UK and Capitol-Sovereign in North America. Dunford composed most tracks except for two written by McCarty; all lyrics were authored by Thatcher-Newsinger. The song "Spare Some Love" received notable airplay on US rock stations, particularly across the northeastern United States and Cleveland, drawing listeners who favored bands like Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Francis Monkman of Curved Air, also under Copeland’s management, contributed VCS3 synthesizer parts on "Rajah Khan."

After Hendry’s departure in 1974, Peter Finberg temporarily took over guitar duties for tours but did not remain permanently. Jon Camp handled most guitar parts on Ashes are Burning (1973). Although the band shifted towards acoustic textures, Andy Powell from Wishbone Ash delivered an electric guitar solo on the title track—a piece that became a live staple often extended during performances. The album reached number 171 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Shortly after its release, Dunford returned as acoustic guitarist, completing what is widely regarded by fans as Renaissance’s classic five-member lineup that recorded five studio albums. During this era, the band began touring the United States with a focus on East Coast venues, highlighted by orchestral concerts such as their May 1974 performance at New York’s Academy of Music. Renaissance prioritized breaking into the US market due to limited attention from British media.

Affiliation with BTM label

After departing from Sovereign Records, the group signed with Miles Copeland's BTM label. Their initial release under this new partnership was Turn of the Cards (1974), which marked a transition to a darker, more intricate orchestral rock sound supported by a larger production budget. The track "Things I Don't Understand," lasting nine and a half minutes, represented Jim McCarty’s final songwriting contribution with Renaissance. The album concluded with "Mother Russia," a piece inspired by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Initially issued in the United States through Sire Records in August 1974, the album reached No. 94 on the Billboard chart and remained there for 21 weeks before its UK release in March 1975. Renaissance maintained a relatively small but dedicated fanbase concentrated mainly in northeastern American cities.

In September 1975, Scheherazade and Other Stories was released simultaneously in the US and UK. The album’s second half showcased the expansive tone-poem "Song of Scheherazade," drawing inspiration from One Thousand and One Nights, which achieved a peak position of No. 48 in the US charts. Although it bore no direct musical resemblance to Rimsky-Korsakov’s classical piece of the same title, it incorporated a recurring theme that subtly referenced the original work.

The 1976 double live album Live at Carnegie Hall climbed to No. 55 in the US despite critiques that it closely mirrored previously released studio tracks. Notably, Renaissance became the first British band to sell out three consecutive nights at Carnegie Hall, performing alongside the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. During this concert, Haslam referred to "Ashes Are Burning" as part of their second album, highlighting how this incarnation of the band viewed itself as distinct from Keith Relf’s original lineup.

Their subsequent studio effort, Novella, reached No. 46 on US charts in 1977 but experienced a delayed release in the UK due to changes within their record label. Music historian Will Romano observed that Renaissance enjoyed their highest popularity during this era, especially within northeastern US regions such as Pennsylvania and New York.

Mainstream UK single success

Despite generally limited commercial achievements, Renaissance attained a UK chart hit with "Northern Lights," which climbed to No. 10 during the summer of 1978. This track was featured on A Song for All Seasons, an album that peaked at No. 58 in the US and No. 45 in Canada. The single garnered considerable airplay on American AOR stations as well as emerging soft rock and adult contemporary formats. Supporting both A Song for All Seasons and earlier works, the band embarked on a modest tour east of the Mississippi River during spring and summer 1979, drawing notably strong audiences in locations such as State College, Pennsylvania and Cleveland. Additionally, they gained television exposure performing "Carpet of the Sun" on The Midnight Special (1977) and appearing on The Mike Douglas Show on May 4, 1978.

Following their 1979 release Azure d'Or, which leaned heavily into synthesizer sounds, many longtime fans became disenchanted due to its departure from their signature folk-classical fusion style; it reached only No. 125 in the US charts. At this point, Dunford and Camp assumed primary responsibility for songwriting.

Throughout the 1970s, Renaissance skillfully fused folk rock elements with classical influences, drawing inspiration from composers such as Jehan Alain, Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich among others. Their albums—particularly Ashes Are Burning—were frequently featured on American progressive rock radio stations including WNEW-FM and WHFS-FM.

Critical reception of the "classic line-up"

Opinions among critics about Renaissance’s hallmark period (1974–1983) were notably diverse. Some reviewers were dismissive, with Wayne King criticizing the band's absence of improvisational elements, suggesting this limited their appeal primarily to a niche following in the United States and resulted in commercial setbacks after their releases on Sire Records.

On the other hand, enthusiasts of progressive rock lauded the group: Charles Snider emphasized Annie Haslam’s remarkable five-octave vocal range, complemented by the exceptional skills of pianist John Tout and Jon Camp’s unique bass style, all enhanced by Tony Cox’s sophisticated orchestral arrangements featured on Scheherazade and Other Stories.

1980–1998

Following the Azure d'Or tour, John Tout departed due to personal circumstances, soon followed by Terry Sullivan. The albums Camera Camera (1981) and Time-Line (1983) marked a stylistic transition toward synthpop and new wave influences but did not achieve commercial success; only Camera Camera briefly appeared on the US charts at position 196. Jon Camp exited in 1985; subsequently, Haslam and Dunford led a stripped-down acoustic ensemble that performed sporadically until their dissolution in August 1987.

In 1988, Sire Records released a two-volume compilation highlighting their most successful period (1972–79). Throughout the 1990s, much of Renaissance’s discography was reissued on CD by labels such as Germany’s Repertoire Records, which remastered significant albums including Ashes are Burning, Turn of the Cards, and Scheherazade and Other Stories.

During the mid-1990s, both Haslam—who had released a solo album in 1989—and Dunford formed separate bands under the Renaissance name, each featuring different members.

Third incarnation

In 1998, Renaissance reunited partially around core members Haslam, Dunford, Sullivan, and Tout, joined by new contributors like Roy Wood and Mickey Simmonds to produce Tuscany. In 1999, Haslam, Dunford, and Simmonds performed as a trio supporting Caravan (band) at London’s Astoria venue.

After delays in releasing Tuscany, a full-band tour took place in March 2001 with Haslam, Dunford, Sullivan, Simmonds, Rave Tesar on keyboards, and David J. Keyes handling bass and vocals. Performances included London and three concerts in Japan; the Tokyo show was recorded and issued as In the Land of the Rising Sun: Live in Japan 2001. Although John Tout attended these events, he did not participate on stage. Haslam mentioned logistical challenges that hindered further touring or recording efforts; consequently, this third lineup disbanded shortly thereafter.

Drummer Terry Sullivan released an album titled South of Winter in 2004 under his project Renaissant, featuring lyrics by Betty Thatcher-Newsinger and keyboard contributions from John Tout.

John Tout made his first American performance since the mid-1980s alongside Haslam and the Jann Klose Band at Pennsylvania’s Sellersville Theatre in September 2008 but suffered a heart attack in 2009.

In August 2009, Haslam announced a new formation called Renaissance 2009—lacking other classic-era members but including musicians from the 2001 lineup—and embarked on a commemorative tour.

Touring persisted through Eastern North America and Japan into 2010, accompanied by an EP release and an updated online presence. Renaissance also headlined the NEARfest Apocalypse festival in June 2012.

In 2024, they revealed plans for their final "In Gratitude" tour.

Passings of Former Members

The original lead vocalist, Keith Relf, passed away on May 12, 1976, as a result of electrocution caused by improper guitar grounding.

Lyricist Betty Thatcher died on August 15, 2011.

Co-founder and composer Michael Dunford succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage at his Surrey residence on November 20, 2012. Despite this loss, Haslam confirmed intentions to keep touring, referring to Dunford as “her guiding light.” Guitarist Ryche Chlanda was brought in for their 2013 tour.

Keyboard player John Tout died from lung failure on May 1, 2015. The band honored him for his significant contributions during the decade spanning 1970 to 1980.

Bassist and vocalist David J. Keyes passed away in July 2019 due to leiomyosarcoma.

Original keyboardist John Hawken died on May 15, 2024, aged 84.

Bassist Jon Camp died on December 13, 2024, aged 75; Haslam paid homage highlighting his vital role as bassist, songwriter, and vocalist during the band’s most successful era.

Symphony of Light

In April 2013, Renaissance released a new album entitled Grandine il Vento, dedicated to Michael Dunford. This work was reissued in April 2014 under the title Symphony of Light, featuring additional bonus tracks.

The record featured a blend of shorter compositions alongside progressive pieces such as the title track and "The Mystic and the Muse." Notable guest artists included Ian Anderson on flute for "Cry to the World" and John Wetton performing a duet with Haslam on "Blood Silver Like Moonlight." All compositions were penned by Dunford except for "Renaissance Man," written by Rave Tesar; lyrics were authored by Haslam, who also created the album's cover painting titled 'Symphony of Light.'

Critics lauded the album for its rich production quality, expressive lyrics, and proficient musicianship, particularly emphasizing Haslam’s distinctive vocal performance.

The current ensemble primarily consists of American musicians, marking a shift from the earlier English-based lineup.

Personnel

Current lineup

• Annie Haslam – vocals, percussion (1971–1987, 1998–2002, 2009–present)
• Rave Tesar – keyboards, piano (2001–2002, 2009–present)
• Mark Lambert – guitar, backing vocals (2015–present); bass (1985–1987)
• Frank Pagano – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2009–2017, 2018–present)
• Leo Traversa – bass, backing vocals (2015–2018, 2022–present)
• Geoffrey Langley – keyboards, backing vocals (2016–present)

Studio albums

Year	Title	UK	US	NL	CAN	Notes

Live albums

Year	Title	UK	US	CAN	Remarks

Other releases

This category encompasses compilations such as Innocents and Illusions, archival concert recordings including ‘‘Live at Royal Albert Hall,’’ remastered editions issued by Repertoire Records Germany, as well as fresh EPs like ‘‘The Mystic and the Muse.’’

Singles

A prominent single is "Northern Lights," which reached number 10 on the UK charts from the 1978 album A Song for All Seasons and achieved Silver certification by the BPI.

Michael Dunford's Renaissance

Albums mainly featuring collaborations between Michael Dunford and Stephanie Adlington:

• The Other Woman (1994)
• Ocean Gypsy (1997)
• Compilation: ‘‘Trip to the Fair’’ (1998)

Annie Haslam's Renaissance

• Solo-oriented release: ‘‘Blessing In Disguise’’ (1994)

Renaissant

A project led by Terry Sullivan incorporating lyrics by Betty Thatcher-Newsinger and keyboards by John Tout:

• ‘‘South of Winter’’ (2005)

Major television appearances

Noteworthy TV performances include syndicated American programs such as ‘‘Don Kirshner's Rock Concert’’ (1974), ‘‘The Midnight Special’’ (1976), BBC’s ‘‘Sight And Sound In Concert’’ (1977), USA’s ‘‘The Mike Douglas Show’’ (1978), and an MTV interview in 1983.

Illusion

Following Keith Relf’s passing in May 1976, remaining members formed Illusion, releasing two albums before disbanding due to record label disinterest in later demos:

• ‘‘Out Of The Mist’’ (1977)
• ‘‘Illusion’’ (1978)
• Posthumous compilation of unreleased tracks

Renaissance-Illusion

• ‘‘Through The Fire’’ (2001), produced by Jim McCarty

Covers of Renaissance songs

Significant cover versions include “Ashes Are Burning” by Faith & Disease (1995/96), “Ocean Gypsy” performed by Blackmore’s Night (1997), “Northern Lights” covered by Judith Durham (1996), along with a Brazilian tribute album titled ‘‘In The Mists Of Time’’ released in 2020.

External links

• Official band website www.RenaissanceTouring.com
• Annie Haslam's official site www.AnnieHaslam.com
• Renaissance biography by Bruce Eder, discography, album reviews, credits & releases at AllMusic
• Renaissance biography, discography, album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com