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Brian Bennett | |
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.jpg) Bennett in 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | James Aldenham |
| Born | Brian Laurence Bennett (1940-02-09)9 February 1940 (age 85) |
| Origin | Palmers Green,North London, England, UK |
| Genres | Rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Drums, piano |
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Website | www.brianbennettmusic.co.uk |
Brian Laurence Bennett (born 9 February 1940[1]) is an English drummer, pianist, composer and producer ofpopular music. He is best known as the drummer of the UKrock and roll groupthe Shadows. He is the father of musician and Shadows band memberWarren Bennett.[2]
Bennett was born inPalmers Green,North London, England.[1] Educated at Hazlewood Lane School, Palmers Green, London andWinchmore Council School, he finished school at the age of sixteen to play drums in aRamsgateskiffle group performing for holiday makers. After returning to London he studied drums withMax Abrams and became the in-house drummer atThe 2i's Coffee Bar inSoho and was a regular performer onJack Good's TV showOh Boy![1]
He then became a member ofMarty Wilde's Wildcats in 1959.[1] After a successful period with the Wildcats, during which he appeared on theirinstrumental record without Wilde (recorded as the Krew Kats), "Trambone", he backedTommy Steele for some of his London stage performances.
In October 1961 he joinedCliff Richard and the Shadows as the replacement forTony Meehan.[1] The Shadows were known for their instrumental songs, mainly;Apache (1960),F.B.I. (1961),Wonderful Land (1962), andFoot Tapper (1963), among many others. The band split up briefly between 1968 and 1973, but was reformed by Marvin, Welch and Bennett.
He stayed with the group throughout all of their subsequent line-ups, and in May 2005 took part in the Shadows' European tour. During a show inReykjavík, Iceland he sustained what was thought to be a minor injury to a finger. A splinter from a drumstick pierced under his fingernail on his right hand, he removed it with a pair of old pliers and applied a plaster. A few days later after arriving in Paris, France he was in so much pain he called a doctor. The doctor diagnosed a bad infection and recommended Bennett go to hospital immediately. Thinking it would be a short visit he attended only to find out that it would involve a minor, but very painful, operation to remove the poison. He was due to be playing on stage that evening and had already missed the soundcheck. He arrived at the theatre 15 minutes before the show with his right-hand bandaged and still numb from the anesthetic. He managed to play for the whole show using an altered playing style.[3]
In addition to his work with the Shadows he has also appeared inCliff Richard's backing band and plays piano and occasionallyvibraphone.
In 1967, Bennett released a solo album of jazz music, entitledChange of Direction, in mono and stereo (neither charted). This was the first solo album by a member of the Shadows.[citation needed] In the 1970s, music by Bennett was selected for severalRadley Metzger films, includingBarbara Broadcast andThe Opening of Misty Beethoven.
Bennett has enjoyed a parallel and successful career as a composer of library music, issuing multiple LPs with production music labels such as Bruton andKPM. He was also a member ofSteve Gray's WASP ensemble, which recorded library music for the KPM 1000 Series.[4] This has resulted in the use of his music for many popular TV theme tunes includingBBC sports themes such asRugby Special ("Holy Mackerel") and BBC Golf ("Chase Side Shoot Up"), Channel 9 Australia's cricket theme and police dramaBluey theme tune ("New Horizons"),[5] the sitcomsRobin's Nest andBirds of a Feather,The Ruth Rendell Mysteries,[1]Pulaski,Square Deal,Close to Home,Murder in Mind and, with his son Warren, composed and played the incidental music inNew Tricks. Two of his most famous works were "The Journey" and "Just a Minute" written under the alias James Aldenham and used for theITV Schools on 4 broadcasts between 1987 and 1993. He scored the British-German filmThe Harpist in 1999.
He is also anorchestral conductor, having learned how to arrange and conduct music for orchestras from a correspondence course. His sonWarren Bennett formerly played keyboards for the band Glass Ties, and is also a composer and producer.
He was appointedOBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to music.
Bennett runs a home recording studio, Honeyhill studios, inRadlett, Hertfordshire. In November 2009, at the age of 69, Bennett completed a 50th Anniversary reunion world tour with Cliff Richard and the Shadows.
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