Background
Ratledge was born in Maidstone, Kent.
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Mike Ratledge
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As a child he was educated in classical music, the only kind of music played in his parents" home. Unlike his friends, Ratledge wanted to further his education, and studied at University College, Oxford, where he earned a degree in psychology and philosophy.
Career
Ratledge also met Brian"s younger brother Hugh, and Robert Wyatt. In 1961 he met Daevid Allen, who interested them in playing jazz. Through Cecil Taylor"s piano pieces Ratledge became familiar with the music of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
In 1963 he played in the Daevid Allen Trio.
At the same time he attended music lessons, and was educated by avant-garde musicians Mal Dean and Rab Spall. After his graduation Ratledge intended to go to a university in the United States, but his application for a scholarship was filed too late.
In 1966 his friends were forming a new band and asked Ratledge to join. Soft Machine featured among others Robert Wyatt, Daevid Allen and Kevin Ayers.
In November 1973, Ratledge participated in a live performance of Mike Oldfield"s Tubular Bells for the British Broadcasting Corporation. In 1976 Ratledge decided to leave Soft Machine to build a solo career, leaving the band under Karl Jenkins" management.
Ratledge built himself a studio, but a solo album was never released. He provided film scores for Riddles of the Sphinx (1977), "Crystal Gazing" (1982). and "The Bad Sister" (1983). for director Laura Mulvey. As Soft Machine"s longest-lasting member, he was a part of the band"s changes in musical direction from psychedelic music to jazz-rock.
In the 1980s Ratledge was active as a composer and musical producer for commercials and the theatre.
In 1995, Adiemus (Ratledge, Karl Jenkins and Miriam Stockley) released Songs of Sanctuary, which Ratledge co-produced with Karl Jenkins and for which he programmed the electronic percussion. In 2010, Mike Ratledge and Karl Jenkins reunited to make stock music library albums called "Some Shufflin"" and "Movement".
Both of the albums were released and available for commercial sales.
Membership
He was part of the Canterbury scene and a long-time member of Soft Machine. In the years to follow there were many personnel changes and by 1973 Ratledge was the only remaining member of the original lineup.
