abstract
| - Charles Williams, prolific writer of signature tunes for such programmes as %22Dick Barton, Special Agent%22, %22Jennings at School%22, %22BBC TV Newsreel%22, and %22Friday Night is Music Night%22.Born on 8th May, 1893, in East London. His father changed his own name to Charles Williams, the same as a nationally-known choral conductor. In 1913 Isaac legally adopted his father’s new name. In 1920, he formed his own Charles Williams Octet. Two years later he became Leader of the prestigious New Symphony Orchestra; he played under the baton of Sir Landon Ronald, Sir Thomas Beecham and Sir Edward Elgar.By 1923 he became a freelance conducting with several different cinema orchestras performing for, and during the intervals between, silent films. In 1929 he collaborated with others to write the music for the first British sound film. Entitled 'Blackmail', it was the 10th movie to be directed by an up-and-coming young man called Alfred Hitchcock.Over the next 20 years Charles Williams wrote a huge amount of film music. Post-war he had a great hit with %22The Dream of Olwen%22. Surprisingly, in 1960 his %22Jealous Lover%22 was chosen as the theme for the American film The Apartment. Starring Jack Lemmon, a huge success in the US charts. He wrote theme music for War Reel titles such as %22Convoy Attack%22, %22Naval Action%22, %22Sons of the Air%22, %22Desert Warfare%22, %22Engine Room%22 %22War in the Jungle%22, %22Searchlight%22, %22Resistance%22 and %22Commandos%22. Quiet, reflective works also included %22The Young Ballerina%22 and %22The Potter’s Wheel%22 amongst many othersCharles died in Findon on 7th September, 1978, aged 85, a largely forgotten figure because Light Music had gone out of fashion.
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