Born to Jeanette (née Allen[1]) and Cecil Grainge (previously Goldstein[2]) on 4 October 1946 to a Jewish family in North London.
He directly signed Thin Lizzy, 10cc, The Steve Miller Band, and a worldwide license for the successful All Platinum label (hits by Shirley & Co, the Moments, etc.
Ensign also had a constant stream of UK and European hits with Flash and the Pan, Eddy Grant, Light of the World, and Phil Fearon & Galaxy.
After EMI acquired Chrysalis Records in 1991, Grainge felt stifled by the corporate changes and requested to leave the company, and the label was thus folded into its parent.
He also worked as Special Advisor on the HBO drama series Vinyl, centered on a fictional record company in the early-1970s, with the pilot directed by Martin Scorsese.