Melvyn Gale

Melvyn Gale (born 15 January 1952 in London) is an English cellist.

Career

Gale attended the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He played his first professional concert with the London Palladium Orchestra in 1970. He also played with the Bolshoi and Rambert Ballet companies, the London Youth Symphony Orchestra, and various West End shows.

He was a cellist for the Electric Light Orchestra from 1975 replacing Mike Edwards. He is also an accomplished pianist performing piano on "Wild West Hero" as well as occasionally live on "Roll Over Beethoven".

In 1979 he appeared in the Discovery music video playing alongside the rest of the classic line-up (Mik Kaminski on violin and Hugh McDowell on cello) for the last time. He remained with the group until Jeff Lynne removed the string players from the line-up.

Gale and his friend Frank Wilson built a recording studio in 1979. On 12 April 1980 their first album was released, under the name Wilson Gale & Co., and was entitled Gift Wrapped Set. The album was recorded at Ramport Studios and was released on Jet Records.

Personal life

Gale is a father of three children. He lives in Kent, teaching Cello and Piano.