Keith Mansfield
Encyclopedia
Keith Mansfield is a British
composer
and arranger
known for his creation of prominent television theme tunes, including the Grandstand
theme for the BBC
. Other works include "Light and Tuneful" (the opening theme for the BBC's coverage of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships
), "World Champions" (the closing theme for NBC's coverage of the same tournament) and "World Series" (used for the BBC's athletics coverage).
Mansfield is probably best known by American audiences as the composer of the tune "Funky Fanfare", (sampled by Danger Mouse
as mentioned below) used for underscoring in the Astro Daters series of snipes
produced by the National Screen Service
in the late 1960s. That song is currently used during the opening credits of the show Pit Boss
on Animal Planet
. The Astro Daters' "Our Next Attraction" was featured prominently in two films by Quentin Tarantino
, Kill Bill
and Grindhouse. A vocal version of Funky Fanfare entitled "House of Jack" was also recorded by James Royal in 1969. Another Mansfield composition, "National Trust," was the opening theme to the movie Fists of Fear, Touch of Death, which utilizes Mansfield's library music score, and as the logo jingle for CBS/Fox Video
.
In the 1960s and '70s, Mansfield was a major figure in the UK library music scene and recorded a great deal of material for the production music company KPM
. His work has been sampled by prominent hip-hop producers such as Danger Mouse
('Funky Fanfare' on the DANGERDOOM track 'Old School' and on 'Run' by Gnarles Barkley, and 'Morning Broadway' on DANGERDOOM track 'Space Ho's'), Madlib
and Fatboy Slim
. American sports fans will find a lot of Mansfield's and other KPM composers' music used on NFL Films
team highlights and Super Bowl
documentaries.
In the UK, he also acted as orchestral arranger on some huge hits for The Love Affair, ("Everlasting Love
") and The Marmalade, ("Reflections of My Life
"), amongst others.
He also produced some memorable work with Maynard Ferguson
the jazz musician.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
known for his creation of prominent television theme tunes, including the Grandstand
Grandstand (BBC)
Grandstand was a British television sport programme. Broadcast between 1958 and 2007, it was one of the BBC's longest running sports shows, alongside BBC Sports Personality of the Year.Its first presenter was Peter Dimmock...
theme for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Other works include "Light and Tuneful" (the opening theme for the BBC's coverage of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
), "World Champions" (the closing theme for NBC's coverage of the same tournament) and "World Series" (used for the BBC's athletics coverage).
Mansfield is probably best known by American audiences as the composer of the tune "Funky Fanfare", (sampled by Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
as mentioned below) used for underscoring in the Astro Daters series of snipes
Snipe (theatrical)
A Snipe in the motion picture exhibition business refers to two things:* Any material before the feature presentation other than a trailer. "Welcome to our theater," courtesy trailers , promotions for the snackbar, and "daters", that announce the date for an upcoming show, are the most common...
produced by the National Screen Service
National Screen Service
National Screen Service was a company which controlled the distribution of theatrical advertising materials in the United States from approximately 1940 through the 1980s....
in the late 1960s. That song is currently used during the opening credits of the show Pit Boss
Pit Boss (TV series)
Pit Boss is an American television series docudrama that follows Shorty Rossi, owner of Shorty's Rescue, an organization set up for Pit Bull rescue. The series premiered on Animal Planet on January 16, 2010....
on Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
. The Astro Daters' "Our Next Attraction" was featured prominently in two films by Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
, Kill Bill
Kill Bill
Kill Bill Volume 1 is a 2003 action thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It is the first of two volumes that were theatrically released several months apart, the second volume being Kill Bill Volume 2....
and Grindhouse. A vocal version of Funky Fanfare entitled "House of Jack" was also recorded by James Royal in 1969. Another Mansfield composition, "National Trust," was the opening theme to the movie Fists of Fear, Touch of Death, which utilizes Mansfield's library music score, and as the logo jingle for CBS/Fox Video
CBS/Fox Video
CBS/Fox Video was a home video company formed and established in 1982, as a merger between 20th Century Fox Video, formerly Magnetic Video Corporation, and CBS Video Enterprises....
.
In the 1960s and '70s, Mansfield was a major figure in the UK library music scene and recorded a great deal of material for the production music company KPM
KPM Musichouse
KPM Musichouse is a company which provides library music, formed by the merger of KPM and Musichouse .-History:KPM music has been used in many films and television programmes worldwide...
. His work has been sampled by prominent hip-hop producers such as Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
('Funky Fanfare' on the DANGERDOOM track 'Old School' and on 'Run' by Gnarles Barkley, and 'Morning Broadway' on DANGERDOOM track 'Space Ho's'), Madlib
Madlib
Otis Jackson Jr. in Oxnard, California, known professionally as Madlib, is a Los Angeles-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, and music producer...
and Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
. American sports fans will find a lot of Mansfield's and other KPM composers' music used on NFL Films
NFL Films
NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...
team highlights and Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
documentaries.
In the UK, he also acted as orchestral arranger on some huge hits for The Love Affair, ("Everlasting Love
Everlasting Love
"Everlasting Love" is a song written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden that has been a hit for various artists, including Robert Knight, Carl Carlton, Love Affair, and Gloria Estefan.- Overview :...
") and The Marmalade, ("Reflections of My Life
Reflections of My Life
"Reflections of My Life" was a 1969 hit single for the Scottish band, The Marmalade. It was written by their lead guitarist Junior Campbell, and singer Dean Ford . Released in late 1969, it was the band's first release on Decca following an earlier spell at CBS...
"), amongst others.
He also produced some memorable work with Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
the jazz musician.