- Simon Webb (composer)
Infobox Writer
name = Simon Webb
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caption = Simon Webb
birthdate=
birthplace =Bridgnorth
occupation =Composer Musical Director
nationality = British
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genre = Theatre, film and television
subject =
movement =
notableworks =
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influenced =
website = http://www.simonwebb.co.ukSimon Webb is a
composer ,musical director , conductor,arranger andperformer . He was born inBridgnorth , in theUK , into an artistic family and began his musical life at a very early age. At the age of 8 he won achoral scholarship toSt. Michael's College, Tenbury , and at 13, an organ scholarship toWorcester Royal Grammar School . He went on to read music at theUniversity of York under music-guruWilfrid Mellers , specialising in composition and conducting. In a particularly stimulating musical environment, composersBernard Rands andElizabeth Lutyens , and conductor Graham Treacher played a major role in Simon's musical development. Contemporary student composers included Vic Hoyland, Roger Marsh and Trevor Jones. Upon graduation he was appointed musical director of theYork Theatre Royal by director Michael Winter, and subsequently wrote the music for many productions there including "Dr. Faustus ", "The Devil's Law Case", "Twelfth Night ", and "A Midsummer Night's Dream ".Theatre
He has since worked in theatres (repertory and commercial) all over the UK, writing and directing music. In the West End his musical directing credits include
The Who 's "Tommy" at TheQueen's Theatre , and conducting "Cats" at TheNew London Theatre . AtThe National Theatre , he wrote, directed and performed the music forNicholas Hytner 's productions of "The Winter's Tale " and "Henry V", andMark Ravenhill 's "Totally Over You".He has written three musicals: "Hannah Snell" (for The Swan Theatre,
Worcester ), "Ella's Fella" (York Theatre Royal ), and "The Mantids of Nem" (a sci-fi musical for The Northern Black Light Theatre).Television
For television his writing credits include themes and scores for over a hundred British TV programmes for all the major producers (
BBC ,ITV ,Disney ,Channel 4 , and Channel 5) including "Night Network ", "Delia Smith 's Summer and Winter Collections", Channel 4's "Fragile Earth "nature series and "Streets Ahead"dance series, "Think Tank", "The Big Stage", "Members Only", "Help Squad", "Hodson Confidential", "The Antiques Trail", "Kick Off", "The Juno Mission", "You Bet! ", Blind Men, "Hale and Pace ", Jobs For the Boys,Night Network , "ITV Telethon ", "Lights!, Camera!, Magic!", "Chef School",The Treacle People , Taxi!", "Mary Berry At Home", "Monkey Business", "TheBritish Comedy Awards ", "Avenue of Stars" and "Casanova's Love Letters".His TV musical directing credits include "
Wogan ", "Sunday Sunday", "Friday Night Live", and "Saturday Night Live". His arranging credits include "The Paradise Club", "Test the Nation ", and "Last Night of the Proms ".Film
He has worked on many films including "Playing Away", (directed by
Horace Ove and starringNorman Beaton , forChannel 4 's Film on Four] for which he wrote the score; "The Untitled", a film for television (directed by Mark Murphy and starringRonald Pickup , forLWT ) for which he also composed the score; "Runaway Dreams", an American film, for which he was musical director and arranger of a rock score byWhitesnake 's guitarist,Bernie Marsden ; "Riders of the Storm", aHollywood film starringDennis Hopper , for which he co-wrote thetheme song with veteransongwriter Pierre Tubbs ; "Coast to Coast ", aBBC 2 film starringLenny Henry andJohn Shea , for which he was musical director, "Tequila Sunrise" (starringMel Gibson ,Kurt Russell andMichelle Pfeiffer ) working as aprogrammer andkeyboard player withDuran Duran 's Andy Taylor, andBernard Edwards andTony Thompson fromChic ; and "Heavenly Pursuits" (directed by Charley Gormley and starringHelen Mirren andTom Conti ) arranging, conducting and musical directing a score byB. A. Robertson . His most recent film is a short directed by Michael Shark entitled "Minus 1".Musical Director
As a musical director, Simon has worked with many great creative talents including
Pete Townshend ,Elaine Paige ,Don Black ,Phil Daniels ,Imelda Staunton ,Lenny Henry ,Liz Dawn ,B. A. Robertson ,June Whitfield ,Richard O'Brien , Jean Rigby,Bernie Marsden ,Wanda Jackson , Wes McGhee,Roxy Gordon , and Kevin Williams. In the summer of 2007 he worked on the Mayor of London's SING LONDON project.Albums
His first album "The Brain " was released in 2006, and the follow-up instrumental album, "A Leap Into The Light", in 2007.
External links
* [http://www.simonwebb.co.uk Simon Webb's website]
*imdb name|id=1959622|name=Simon Webb
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