Laurie Holloway
Encyclopedia
Laurie Holloway is a British pianist and composer from Oldham
, Lancashire
. He is perhaps best known as the Musical Director for Michael Parkinson
's chat show firstly on the BBC
and more recently on ITV
. He also was Musical Director for the first three series of Strictly Come Dancing
on the BBC.
He has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra
, the BBC Concert Orchestra
, the Royal Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops Orchestra
as both conductor and lead pianist. His TV work has included being the composer of several well known TV theme tunes such as Blind Date
and Beadle's About
.
He has been awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters and he has appeared as the subject of This Is Your Life
.
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. He is perhaps best known as the Musical Director for Michael Parkinson
Michael Parkinson
Sir Michael Parkinson, CBE is an English broadcaster, journalist and author. He presented his interview programme, Parkinson, from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007.- Early life :...
's chat show firstly on 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...
and more recently on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. He also was Musical Director for the first three series of Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
on the BBC.
He has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, the BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
, the Royal Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
as both conductor and lead pianist. His TV work has included being the composer of several well known TV theme tunes such as Blind Date
Blind Date (UK TV series)
Blind Date is a British dating game show produced by London Weekend Television. An unscreened pilot was made with comic Duncan Norvelle as presenter but it was eventually hosted by Cilla Black, who already hosted the LWT series, Surprise, Surprise...
and Beadle's About
Beadle's About
Beadle's About was a British television programme hosted by the late Jeremy Beadle, where members of the public became victims of practical jokes behind hidden cameras...
.
He has been awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters and he has appeared as the subject of This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
.
Discography
recordings include:- About time (Elgin)
- Blue skies & other vistas (Elgin)
- Instant Marriage, 1964 West EndWest End theatreWest End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
musical - Showtime (Elgin)
- Laurie Holloway Trio: live at Abbey Road (Grasmere Records)
- The piano player (Universal Records)
- Strictly come dancing – Bruce ForsythBruce ForsythSir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, CBE , commonly known as Bruce Forsyth, or Brucie, is an English TV personality...
& the Laurie Holloway Orchestra (Sony Records)