Peter and Gordon

Peter Asher (brother of English actress Jane Asher) and Gordon Waller met when they were pupils at London's famous Westminster School. As a singing duo strumming acoustic guitars, they topped the UK chart first time out in 1964, courtesy of one Paul McCartney (who was dating Peter's sister, Jane, at the time). When he presented them with an unreleased Lennon/McCartney song called World Without Love international success was assured.

Despite more Beatles songs they never made it quite that high again, but accumulated ten hits by 1967, many appealing more to the American market, which they exploited until parting company in 1968. While Gordon drifted into the unknown, Peter Asher used his show biz know-how to become a respected manager and producer, orchestrating the rise of Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor.