All biographies kindly provided by Simon Mclean.
Please click on an artist name to show all of the tracks they have written!
Saxophonist/flautist, worked with many artists as a sessionman,
including the Beatles. Now retired, he hit the headlines a couple of years
ago when a panther was found in his back garden!
Musical director for many light entertainment shows, regularly
appeared on screen in 'Name That Tune'.
Former trumpet player, later respected big-band arranger
for Joe Loss and his own groups. Died 1977.
AKA Alan Moor.
Session guitarist and member of Blue Mink. TV theme credits
include Angels and Make It Count. Now composes for films.
Musical director for Cat Stevens' early recordings, also worked
with Tammy Jones and Anita Harris. Best known for The Hanged Man OST, of course!
Born 1930, started out as a trombonist, spent four years as a
staff arranger at the BBC, and regularly conducted the BBC house orchestras in the 70s and 80s.
Pseudonym of Heinz Herschmann
Classically trained musician, formerly with psychedelic
group The Syn, later arranged for The Goodies.
Wrote songs for psych-era Status Quo, appeared regularly on
Radio 2 in the 70s with his synthesiser group The Tony King Sound.
Composed for virtually every major library from the 1950s
onwards. Died in 1998.
Born 1939, started out arranging for the Val Doonican TV
series and plaing trombone with the Syd Lawrence orchestra, now leads the BBC Big Band.
Member of Blue Mink, started out as a latin percussionist,
later moved on to drums. Founded Morgan Studios and the short-lived Morgan record label. Now retired from the music business.
Born 1927, trombonist and arranger. Wrote the theme
for the TV series 'The Human Jungle', played by John Barry, and the film 'Invasion'.
Bass trombonist, born 1929, played with Ted Heath, Jack
Parnell and Eric Winstone among others.
Former drummer with the Shadows, now composes for film and TV.
Born 1936, session keyboard player, co-wrote the theme tune to 'Return Of The Saint' with Irving Martin.
AKA Albert Mayer.
Guitarist, played on many disco hits as part of Gerry Shury's
regular crew of musicians.
Film and TV composer, best known works include the theme from the Poirot TV series, and the Martini 'The Right One' jingle.
Made numerous orchestral LPs under the name Caravelli.
Wrote the music for the Borsalino movies.
Arranged for Jack Parnell, composed incidental music for 'The Persuaders!'. Died in the 1980s.
Son of legendary harmonica player Tommy Reilly.
For many years Britain's top session harpist, now composes and
conducts film scores.
Former member of 1950s vocal group The King Brothers, TV scores include Dick Turpin, Lovejoy and The Fosters.
Composer/MD for many BBC sitcoms including Steptoe and Son
and Till Death Us Do Part, was also resident pianist in the BBC light entertainment department, auditioning prospective theme tunes for producers.
Keyboard player, briefly a member of Caravan.
Percussionist, was Johnny Pearson's musical associate on Top Of The Pops in the 70s, composed with John Shakespeare.
Pseudonym of Harry Stoneham.
Pianist, born 1928. Played with Eric Delaney, Cyril Stapleton
and the BBC orchestras.
Britain's leading session trombonist, born 1923, played with virtually every bandleader of the last sixty years, still leading his own line-up.
One of the leading session guitarist of the 60s, along with Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page. Also played bass on many KPM sessions.
Like Chris Rae, one of Gerry Shury's regular musicians,
with appearances on many hit records.
AKA Stuart Crombie & Dennis Berry.
French trumpeter, recorded several solo LPs.
Arranger/keyboard player with Bob Miller and the Millermen,
later arranged hit singles for 5,000 Volts and First Class.
Highly respected arranger in the disco era, worked extensively
with Biddu, died in a car crash in the late 70s on his way to a session having worked on the arrangements overnight.
Organist, resident band leader on Parkinson, Wogan and the
Clive James Show. Still playing and touring.
Started out as organist in London clubs in the 1960s, now
writes film music. Best known for 'Walking In The Air' from The Snowman.
Born 1929, bandleader, MD for the Rank Organisation, A&R man
for EMI and Pye, producer for Alshire records.
AKA James Kenelm Clarke, worked as a TV producer for That's
Life and Man Alive, writing music as a sideline. Later produced a number of films, including The 39 Steps, Hardcore for which he also wrote the music) and The Music Machine.
Born 1935, one of Britain's busiest session percussionists
until his retirement in 1998.
Born 1926, led his own orchestra which was a fixture on BBC Radio
and the US 'beautiful music' networks. Married to the late singer Joy Devon. Still composing and performing.
AKA David Bell
Arranger, the man behind the Lord Sitar LP.
Britain's leading cymbalom player, worked with John Barry, Jeff Wayne and George Fenton, wrote the theme tune for 'Ask The Family'.
AKA Janos Lehar.
Former jazz/session flautist, now Emmy-award winning film
composer.
Percussionist, played on sessions for many artists, including
The Beatles.
Bassist with the Ted Heath band, composed themes for 'Man About The House', 'And Mother Makes Three', 'Roobarb' and the Thames Television fanfare. Now lives in Australia, and still composing.
First came to prominence as pianist with Sounds Orchestral,
later musical director on Top Of The Pops. Other TV/film credits include All Creatures Great and Small, Triangle, News at Ten and The Jokers.
Organist, worked with Ken Woodman, Les Reed and Harry Pitch.
Jazz pianist, born 1929, married to the late Marian
Montgomery. Many TV credits, including Game For A Laugh, Blind Date and Play Your Cards Right.
Pseudonym for Pete Moore.
Composer/arranger/producer, founder of the Regency Line
library.
MD on the Hot Hits cover versions LPs.
Bass player with the Mohawks, later worked with Giorgio Moroder
in Munich.
Respected classical keyboard player, also played on many
sessions for Doctor Who incidental music with Dudley Simpson in the 70s.
Wrote several film scores, and released several LPs as an
orchestra leader. Died 1976.
AKA Howard Shaw.
Guitarist with Jack Parnell, among others.
Pianist/percussionist. Arranged for the Vernons Girls, wrote
film scores, played with Stan Butcher's Birds and Brass.
Real name - Carlos Diernhammer
Real name - Clifford Twemlow
Rudolf Tomsits is a Hungarian jazz musician who plays the trumpet and the flugelhorn.