Singer songwriter Reg Presley was best known for performing with The Troggs and for writing hit songs, such as Take A Girl Like You, and Love Is All Around. 

Reg Presley was born Reginald Maurice Ball on 12 June 1941 in Andover, Hampshire. By the age of 15 he had formed a band and was performed locally. When he was working as a bricklayer he met a guitar player, Dave Wright, who was also a bricklayer. Reg then decided to start form another band.

Reg’s new band, The Troglodytes began performing in 1964 and they were signed up by manager Larry Page. He shortened the name to The Troggs and advised Reg to change his name to Reg Presley, thinking it better to be associated with Elvis than to remain as Reginald Ball.

In 1966 The Troggs  had their first big hit in the UK with Wild Thing. It was also a number one hit in the USA. 

Reg Presley’s  1967 song Love Is All Around was covered by Wet Wet Wet , and it became a world wide hit after being featured in Four Weddings and A Funeral.  Their version was number one in the charts for fifteen weeks in 1994. As songwriter and musician, Reg Presley won three Ivor Novello awards that year.

Reg also became well known for his interest in unexplained phenomena. His investigations into crop circles resulted in a wider interest in conspiracy theories and alien visitations. His book Wild Things They Don't Tell Us was published in October 2002. 

The  Troggs continued touring as a band with Reg as lead singer and Chris Britton on lead guitar. They were joined by Pete Lucas on bass guitar and Dave Maggs on drums. 

Reg suffered a serious stroke in December 2010 but recovered enough to continue touring with The Troggs. His health deteriorated when he was performing in Germany, and tests undertaken at the time revealed that Reg was suffering from lung cancer. He decided that it would be necessary to leave the Troggs, and announced his retirement in February 2012.

Reg Presley sadly died a year later: 5 February 2013

The official Troggs website