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Charles Williams, prolific writer of signature tunes for such programmes as "Dick Barton, Special Agent", "Jennings at School", "BBC TV Newsreel", and "Friday Night is Music Night".
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 "The Dream of Olwen". Surprisingly, in 1960 his "Jealous Lover" 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... Read More ... titles such as "Convoy Attack", "Naval Action", "Sons of the Air", "Desert Warfare", "Engine Room" "War in the Jungle", "Searchlight", "Resistance" and "Commandos". Quiet, reflective works also included "The Young Ballerina" and "The Potter’s Wheel" amongst many others
Charles 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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