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Edwin AstleyBritish composer
Date of Birth: 12.04.1922
Country:  Great Britain |
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Biography of Edwin Astley
Edwin Astley, also known as Ted Astley, was a British composer who gained fame for his work in creating music for British television programs. He was born on April 12, 1922, in Warrington, Lancashire. During World War II, Astley served as a musician in the army orchestra, playing the saxophone and clarinet. In 1945, he married Hazel Balbirnie.
Astley's eldest daughter, Karen Astley, married Pete Townshend of the band "The Who," while his son Jon Astley became a producer and remastered reissues of "The Who" albums. His youngest daughter, Virginia Astley, pursued a career as a singer and composer.
Music Career
Since the early 1950s, Astley began arranging music for Geraldos, a leader of several London orchestras. One of his songs, "I Never Could Tell," was recorded by Vera Lynn and Richard Tauber. His own band, the "Ted Astley Orchestra," gained some recognition in northern England, and he also wrote songs for Anne Shelton.
Astley created numerous pieces of music for British television series in the 1950s and 1960s. Some notable shows he composed for include "The Champions," "The Adventures of Robin Hood," "Danger Man," "Department S," "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)," "Gideon's Way," and "The Baron." These television themes were known for their rich melodies and vibrant arrangements.
Interestingly, Astley composed two arrangements of his own theme for "The Saint," a slow version for black and white episodes and a faster version for color episodes. He also wrote two themes for "Danger Man," a cult spy series featuring the character John Drake played by Patrick McGoohan. The first theme, "The Danger Man Theme," was used in the 30-minute episodes, while the new theme, "High Wire," was used for the hour-long episodes.
Astley was asked to compose the music for "The Prisoner," starring Patrick McGoohan, which was considered a sort of sequel to "Danger Man." However, he declined the offer as he felt he couldn't capture the essence of McGoohan's character without meeting with the actor, who was too busy at the time. Nonetheless, Astley demonstrated his versatility by creating the music for the renowned 1969 documentary series "Civilisation" hosted by Kenneth Clark.
In 1997, Astley discovered that his theme for "The Saint" had reached the 5th position on the pop charts, 33 years after its original creation, as it was used in a new film adaptation.
Later Years and Legacy
Astley's final work was a symphonic interpretation of "The Who" titled "Who's Serious: The Symphonic Music of the Who," released in 1998. In the late 1970s, he decided to retire. On May 19, 1998, Astley passed away at the age of 76 in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Although he was the composer of music for many popular television series, his obituaries in "The Times" and "The Independent" were modest. However, later on, television and print media paid more extensive tribute to his memory, recognizing his contributions to the world of music.
