Smith started lessons in classical piano, and at age 13 passed the entrance exams at Trinity Music College in London.

[3] Smith's singing showed the strong influence of Elvis Presley during the period of "The Girl of My Best Friend", "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame", and "Little Sister".

Having moved to Spain, Smith had met four musicians who shared his dedication to playing for fun above all else: lead guitarist Doug Lean; bassist Curt Sandell; drummer Paul Skelton; and saxophone player Frank Mead.

[6] After rehearsing at each other's houses on the Costa del Sol, the group made their concert debut in August 2002, when they played a benefit for a charity of abused children and raised $100,000.

In October 2001 Mike married "Charlie" (real name: Arlene Gorek), with whom he had re-established contact in 1999, having dated 35 years earlier.

Smith established a memorial to his son at Egypt's Blue Hole, a popular diving location, with a plaque reading, "Don't let fear stand in the way of your dreams.

"[3][8] Three months later, on 13 September 2003, nearing his 60th birthday, Smith was injured in an accident in his home in Spain which severely damaged his spinal cord.

On 19 December 2007, Bruce Springsteen, a longtime friend and fan, dedicated "Born to Run" to Smith and his wife, Charlie, who were attending his concert at the O2 in London.

Smith died on 28 February 2008 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital[10] in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, at the age of 64, of pneumonia,[11] a complication from his earlier accident.

Smith also produced recordings for Shirley Bassey and four gold albums for one of Europe's top male vocalists, Michael Ball.

The Dave Clark Five are known as one of the most influential of the British groups and, as Steve Van Zandt points out, "they actually made the most powerful records of anybody...