Ian Samwell's most enduring contribution to rock history is probably as the composer of "Move It," Cliff Richard's first British hit, and probably the best of the few classic British rock singles of the 1950s. Samwell also wrote played in Richard's first backup groups, and wrote some more of Richard's best late-1950s sides, including the hits "Mean Streak," "Never Mind," and "High Class Baby." Samwell remained active as a songwriter and producer in the 1960s and 1970s, penning the early Small Faces hit "What'cha Gonna Do About It," and producing early releases by America. Ian Samwell joined Richard's backing group, then called the Drifters rather than the Shadows, as a guitarist in 1958. "Move It," which he wrote on top of a bus on the way to Richard's house, was really the first British rock tune with a bona fide rock'n'roll swagger, launched by a distinctive descending riff. Samwell, however, did not get to play that riff on the recording, which was handled by Ernie Shear. Furthermore, Samwell was demoted to the bass position in the band, and then replaced in a matter of weeks by Jet Harris. Samwell, however, remained important to Cliff and his band for a while, as author of several of his early tunes. None of those approached the magnificence of "Move It," but "High Class Baby" and "Mean Streak" were still leagues above the usual British competition, with a genuine rockabilly feel and distinctly British briskness. Samwell also got to travel with Richard and the group as their manager during their first tour of the United States, in 1960. In the first half of the 1960s, Samwell continued to work in the business as a songwriter. He placed material with the Isley Brothers, Chubby Checker, and Johnny Tillotson, who had a hit with Samwell and Jean Slater's ""You Can Never Stop Me Loving You" (which was also a British hit for Kenny Lynch, and a big German one as "Das Kannst Du Mir Nicht Verbieten" by Bend Spier).He cowrote a fine girl-group-styled tune with Kenny Lynch, "He's Got Something," that Dusty Springfield recorded as an EP track in 1964. He was also commissioned by the Small Faces' manager, Don Arden, to write the first single (and hit) for the band in 1965, "What'cha Gonna Do About It," with Brian Potter. (Small Faces singer Steve Marriott and others have pointed out that the riff bears a great similarity to the one driving Solomon Burke's "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.") In the late 1960s, Samwell worked for Warner Brothers in London, and did some producing for acts like Aynsley Dunbar, as well as producing America's first hit single, "A Horse with No Name." According to an article in ecord Convention News, he also introduced Rod Stewart and the Faces, and cult folksinger Meic Stevens, to the label. In the 1980s he moved to Los Angeles to manage and produce Bourgeois-Tagg. His professional activities diminished with heart problems that culminated in a heart transplant in 1991. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide