Gerard Hugh “Leo” Sayer (born 21 May 1948) is an English-Australian singer and songwriter who has been active since 1973.
He began his music career co-writing songs with David Courtney, including “Giving It All Away”, which gave Roger Daltrey of the Who his first solo hit in 1973. The same year, Sayer began his career as a recording artist under the management of Adam Faith, who signed Sayer to the Chrysalis label in the United Kingdom and Warner Bros. Records in the United States.
His debut single, “Why Is Everybody Going Home”, failed to chart, but he achieved national prominence in the United Kingdom with his second single, the music hall-styled song “The Show Must Go On”, which Sayer performed on British television wearing a Pierrot costume and makeup. The single went to No. 2 on the United Kingdom singles chart, as did his debut album, Silverbird, co-written with David Courtney, who also co-produced the album with Adam Faith. Three Dog Night’s cover, the group’s last Billboard Hot 100 top 10 record, reached No. 4 on 25 May 1974.