Michael R. "Mike" Ratledge (born April 1943) is a British musician. Ratledge was part of the Canterbury scene and a long-time member of Soft Machine.
Mike Ratledge was born in Maidstone, Kent. As a child he was educated in classical music, the only kind of music played in his parents' home. He learned to play the piano, and with his friend Brian Hopper, whom he had met at Simon Langton School in Canterbury, played classical piano and clarinet pie...
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Michael R. "Mike" Ratledge (born April 1943) is a British musician. Ratledge was part of the Canterbury scene and a long-time member of Soft Machine.
Mike Ratledge was born in Maidstone, Kent. As a child he was educated in classical music, the only kind of music played in his parents' home. He learned to play the piano, and with his friend Brian Hopper, whom he had met at Simon Langton School in Canterbury, played classical piano and clarinet pieces.
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.
Unlike his friends, Ratledge wanted to further his education, and studied at University College, Oxford, where he earned a degree in psychology and philosophy. At the same time he attended music lessons, and was educated by avant-garde...
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