Malcolm Lockyer
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Lockyer was a film composer and conductor.
In his early years he developed an interest in dance and from here gathered an interest in music. At the age of nineteen he became a musician in the Royal Air Force
and in 1944 joined the Buddy Featherstonhaugh
Sextet. His biggest successes in composition were for the BBC series Friends and Neighbours in 1959 for which he wrote the theme. He wrote the scores for at least three films: Island of Terror (1966), Sandy the Seal (1969), and La Loba y La Paloma (1974). He also composed the music for the 1965 film Dr. Who and the Daleks
, some arrangements from that film have since been released on a CD called The Eccentric Dr. Who.
One of the highlights of Lockyer's career was arranging and conducting the Bing Crosby
album Holiday in Europe (1961), described as "one of the all-time Crosby classics" by the noted jazz critic Will Friedwald
in his liner notes
to the CD Bing Crosby: Legends of the 20th Century, which includes seven tracks from the album.
Lockyer conducted frequently throughout the 1960s. Among the many orchestras he led were those for: the BBC Radio Home Service's radio musical version of Jerome K. Jerome
's Three Men in a Boat
(1962) and the films Our Man in Marrakesh
(1966) and Deadlier than the Male
(1967). From the early '60's he was conductor of the BBC Revue Orchestra and subsequnetly the principal conductor of the new BBC Radio Orchestra and the BBC Big Band
when both ensembles were formed in 1967.
Lockyer was the musical director for the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest
staged at the Usher Hall
in Edinburgh
. Unusually however, as noted in John Kennedy O'Connor
's The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, he did not conduct the home entry for the UK. Lockyer had taken part in the very first UK selection process to find Britain's debut Eurovision entry in 1957. He performed the song "All", which won the contest. However, Patricia Bredin
went on to perform the song at the final in Frankfurt.
Shortly before his death in 1976 he conducted The Million Airs Orchestra in 26 Glenn Miller
tribute concerts.
In his early years he developed an interest in dance and from here gathered an interest in music. At the age of nineteen he became a musician in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and in 1944 joined the Buddy Featherstonhaugh
Buddy Featherstonhaugh
Rupert Edward Lee "Buddy" Featherstonhaugh was an English jazz saxophonist.Featherstonhaugh studied in Sussex, and had his first professional gig with Pat O'Malley in 1927. He was with Spike Hughes from 1930 to 1932, and toured England in Billy Mason's band behind Louis Armstrong that same year...
Sextet. His biggest successes in composition were for the BBC series Friends and Neighbours in 1959 for which he wrote the theme. He wrote the scores for at least three films: Island of Terror (1966), Sandy the Seal (1969), and La Loba y La Paloma (1974). He also composed the music for the 1965 film Dr. Who and the Daleks
Dr. Who and the Daleks
Dr. Who and the Daleks was the first of two Doctor Who films made in the 1960s. It was followed by Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D....
, some arrangements from that film have since been released on a CD called The Eccentric Dr. Who.
One of the highlights of Lockyer's career was arranging and conducting the Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
album Holiday in Europe (1961), described as "one of the all-time Crosby classics" by the noted jazz critic Will Friedwald
Will Friedwald
Will Friedwald is an American author and music critic. He has written for such newspapers as The New York Times, The Village Voice, Newsday, The New York Observer, and The New York Sun, and for such magazines as Entertainment Weekly, Oxford American, New York, Mojo, BBC Music Magazine, Stereo...
in his liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
to the CD Bing Crosby: Legends of the 20th Century, which includes seven tracks from the album.
Lockyer conducted frequently throughout the 1960s. Among the many orchestras he led were those for: the BBC Radio Home Service's radio musical version of Jerome K. Jerome
Jerome K. Jerome
Jerome Klapka Jerome was an English writer and humorist, best known for the humorous travelogue Three Men in a Boat.Jerome was born in Caldmore, Walsall, England, and was brought up in poverty in London...
's Three Men in a Boat
Three Men in a Boat
Three Men in a Boat ,The Penguin edition punctuates the title differently: Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog! published in 1889, is a humorous account by Jerome K...
(1962) and the films Our Man in Marrakesh
Our Man in Marrakesh
Our Man in Marrakesh is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Don Sharp, starring Tony Randall and Senta Berger.-Plot:...
(1966) and Deadlier than the Male
Deadlier Than the Male
Deadlier Than the Male is a 1967 British action film featuring the character of Bulldog Drummond. It is one of the many take-offs of James Bond produced during the 1960s but based on an established detective fiction hero...
(1967). From the early '60's he was conductor of the BBC Revue Orchestra and subsequnetly the principal conductor of the new BBC Radio Orchestra and the BBC Big Band
BBC Big Band
The BBC Big Band, originally known as the BBC Radio Big Band is a British big band run under the auspices of the BBC. Widely regarded as the UK’s leading and most versatile jazz orchestra, the band broadcasts exclusivley on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 2's long running series Big Band Special...
when both ensembles were formed in 1967.
Lockyer was the musical director for the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
staged at the Usher Hall
Usher Hall
Usher Hall is a concert hall, situated on Lothian Road, in the west end of Edinburgh, Scotland. It has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,900 people in its recently restored auditorium, which is well loved by performers due to its acoustics...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Unusually however, as noted in John Kennedy O'Connor
John Kennedy O'Connor
John Kennedy O'Connor is an author, entertainment and political commentator, based in the United States. Born in North London, United Kingdom, he has written, reported and broadcast for numerous media organizations, as well as writing, creating and producing media events for a number of...
's The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, he did not conduct the home entry for the UK. Lockyer had taken part in the very first UK selection process to find Britain's debut Eurovision entry in 1957. He performed the song "All", which won the contest. However, Patricia Bredin
Patricia Bredin
Patricia Bredin is a British actress and one-time singer from Hull, England, who was best known as the very first United Kingdom representative in the Eurovision Song Contest. She took part in the 1957 contest, held in Frankfurt, and finished in seventh place out of ten entries with the song All,...
went on to perform the song at the final in Frankfurt.
Shortly before his death in 1976 he conducted The Million Airs Orchestra in 26 Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
tribute concerts.