BIOGRAPHY
I was born into a very musical family.
My Father was involved in Military Music all of his life and achieved the rank of Senior Director of Music of the Band of the Scots Guards. Not surprisingly, I was introduced to many instruments from a very young age. At age 7, I learned the piano. On passing the Grade 1 exam, I searched for a new challenge where upon Dad brought home a cornet for me. I played this, along with a trumpet and trombone for the next three years until a relative of the family gave me a guitar at age 12. That was it as far as I was concerned! I had one year of classical training before discovering the exciting sounds emanating from transistor glory days of Radio Luxembourg.
Rock and Blues became the music of my life! Most of my academic 'career' was underpinned by various rock band activities. Something I continue to enjoy to this day!.
Deciding not to follow my father's advice and join the Army..on leaving school I was employed by KPM in London’s legendary Denmark Street. Shortly afterwards they were taken over by EMI... Whilst learning the trade there I met some audio engineers from DeWolfe Music who informed me of a position in their sound department. I went along for an interview with James de Wolfe and the rest, as they, is history.
After starting work in DeWolfe's Sound Department, I was soon working with the top session musicians of the day. I worked as a Tape Operator in the De Wolfe Recording Studio, known as Red Light - a very apt name given its location in Soho! It was a wonderful time and I was able to pick up many production techniques which I still use today.
Three years after later I was promoted to the sales side of the business. This involved helping clients with music searches, briefing composers and producing music in the studio. I did this for many years including working in De Wolfe's prestigious Angel Studios in Islington. I worked on many major feature films including Emmanuelle, the Monty Python films Life of Brian, Holy Grail, and Meaning of Life. Being a music consultant for hundreds of major worldwide TV documentaries and series such as Churchill’s Bodyguard, and the BAFTA nominated World War 2 in Colour and HD became a major part of my life. Many of these are still being shown around the world on TV today. I was also called in to work on Ridley Scott's Alien… although none of our music was selected in the final edit..
After 41 years at De Wolfe I decided to move on and now use my experience and musicianship to produce production music for the media and music business. Many of my music tracks have been used successfully in many productions. I have an excellent knowledge of copyright, licensing and the workings of the PRS.
I continue to play guitar in a couple of local bands... It keeps me sane!
