Hugh Cornwell is an English musician & songwriter, best known for being the vocalist, guitarist and original founder of the British punk/new wave group The Stranglers, 1974–90. Cornwell was born in London, England in 1949 - growing up in Tufnell Park and Kentish Town - and attended William Ellis School in Highgate, where he was friends with Richard Thompson, later a member of Fairport Convention.