A creative writing student and local poet is celebrating his 60th birthday with the official release of a song he wrote as a follow up to a seventies hit.
University of Lancashire second year creative writing student John Cheetham has worked with music producer Jack Marchant and singer Neemah Star on a reimaging of Sylvia’s Mother, a chart-topping song by Dr Hook in 1972.
John’s song, Remember My Name (Sylvia's reply), is John’s suggestion of what Sylvia would herself say later in her life and has been released today, 13 January, on John’s 60th birthday.
The local poet, who used his writing skills to share the astonishing story of how he survived a murder attempt by the Bulgarian mafia, is well known in Blackpool as a writer of books, poems and songs, alongside his studies in Preston.
When I heard it recently on the radio, I just thought how would Syliva herself respond to the phone call that takes place in Sylvia’s Mother and that prompted me to write the lyrics.– Creative writing student John Cheetham
Remember My Name came to John after he recently heard the original song on the radio.
“I was only 6 when the song came out but as my mum was called Sylvia, we played it a lot at home,” said John. “When I heard it recently on the radio, I just thought how would Sylvia herself respond to the phone call that takes place in Sylvia’s Mother and that prompted me to write the lyrics.
“I’d worked with Jack Marchant before and he was keen to put the lyrics to music and record it. It’s a very unusual way to mark my 60th birthday and I’m excited to hear it.”
John has enjoyed writing for most of his life but it was only after suffering life changing injuries following his altercation with the Bulgarian Mafia whilst working as an estate agent that he decided to follow his passion and enrol at University.
When he [John] asked me to turn his poems into songs, I didn’t hesitate. He shared the poem and the musical direction, and I took it from there.– music producer Jack Marchant
Since completing a foundation course in 2023, John has enrolled onto the BA(Hons) Creative Writing and English degree at the University of Lancashire with the aim of teaching abroad once he’s graduated. He has written and published several books, poems and songs, including for Les Dawson’s and Ked Dodd’s families.
John said: “I struggle with mobility in the cold so I want to work in sunnier climates in the winter and teach a subject I enjoy. Studying and meeting other creative people on the course has given me so many ideas and encouraged me to write in genres I wouldn’t have otherwise considered. I’m currently writing a children’s book and several short stories, which is a new avenue for me.”
Jack Marchant commented: “I met John through a mutual friend and immediately recognised what a great writer he is.
“When he asked me to turn his poems into songs, I didn’t hesitate. He shared the poem and the musical direction, and I took it from there, writing the music, shaping it through feedback, and eventually bringing in Neemah Star, whose voice brought it all to life.
Studying and meeting other creative people on the course has given me so many ideas and encouraged me to write in genres I wouldn’t have otherwise considered.– Creative writing student John Cheetham
Remember My Name is something we’re all really proud of, and it began with John’s words.”
Remember My Name (Sylvia’s reply) is now available to listen to on all digital platforms, including Spotify and You Tube.