English musicians born in 1925
Here are 13 famous musicians from England were born in 1925:
June Whitfield
June Whitfield (November 11, 1925 Streatham-) otherwise known as June Rosemary Whitfield, June Whitfield CBE, June Whitfield O.B.E. or June Whitfield OBE is an English actor, comedian and voice actor. She has one child, Suzy Aitchison.
June Whitfield is best known for her work in radio and television, particularly in the sitcoms, "Terry and June" and "Absolutely Fabulous". She began her career in 1948 and went on to have a successful career spanning over seven decades. She was awarded the OBE in 1985 and was later promoted to the CBE in 1998 for her services to drama. Whitfield also received a BAFTA Fellowship in 1999 for her contribution to television and film. She continued acting well into her 90s and passed away in December 2018 at the age of 93.
In addition to her work on stage, screen, and radio, June Whitfield also had a long career in voice acting. She voiced Aunt Spiker in the James and the Giant Peach film adaptation, and provided the voice of the Queen in the 2006 TV adaptation of Terry Pratchett's "Hogfather". She also lent her voice to several animated series, including "The Jungle Book", "Sooty Show", and "Roobarb". Whitfield was also a regular on BBC Radio 4's "Just a Minute" for over 40 years. In 2017, she published her autobiography "And June Whitfield: The Autobiography". Her career and contribution to the entertainment industry have been celebrated in numerous tributes and awards, solidifying her legacy as one of the most beloved and enduring performers in British entertainment.
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Charlie Drake
Charlie Drake (June 19, 1925 Elephant and Castle-December 23, 2006 Brinsworth House) also known as Drake, Charlie, Charles Edward Springall or Charles Drake was an English comedian, actor, screenwriter and singer.
Discography: Best of Charlie Drake: Hello My Darlings! and Love Potion # 9 / My Boomerang Won't Come Back.
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Ron Goodwin
Ron Goodwin (February 17, 1925 Plymouth-January 8, 2003 Newbury) otherwise known as Ronald Alfred Goodwin, Ron Goddwyn or Ron Alfred Goodwin was an English composer, conductor and film score composer. He had one child, Christopher Goodwin.
His albums include Best Of, Where Eagles Dare / Operation Crossbow, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, or How I Flew From London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes, Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies, Golden Sounds of Ron Goodwin, , Force 10 From Navarone, The Shoes of the Fisherman / M-G-M 1968 Widescreen Spectaculars, Escape from the Dark and 633 Squadron / Submarine X-1. Genres: Film score, Pop music, Classical music and Orchestra.
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George Cole
George Cole (April 22, 1925 South London-) also known as George Edward Cole or George Cole OBE is an English actor. He has two children, Tara Cole and Toby Cole.
George Cole began his acting career at the age of 14 with a small role in the film "The White Unicorn" (1939). He became a popular face on British television in the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in popular shows such as "The Arthur Haynes Show" and "Minder". Cole's most famous role was as Arthur Daley in the long-running series "Minder" from 1979-1994. His performance as the wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley earned him a BAFTA nomination in 1983. In 1992, he was awarded the OBE for his services to drama. Cole passed away on August 5, 2015 at the age of 90.
Throughout his career, George Cole appeared in over 80 films and television shows. Some of his notable film roles include playing young Ebenezer Scrooge in "Scrooge" (1951) and Flash Harry in the "St. Trinian's" movies in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to his acting, Cole was also a talented writer. He wrote two autobiographies, "The World Was My Lobster" and "The Years Before My Death", as well as several plays and children's books. Cole was married to actress Eileen Moore from 1954 until her death in 2013.
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Herbert Kretzmer
Herbert Kretzmer (October 5, 1925 Kroonstad-) also known as Kretzmer, Herbert is an English journalist, lyricist and screenwriter.
He was born in South Africa and moved to England in 1954, where he worked for the Daily Express as a feature writer and critic. He began writing lyrics in the 1960s, and his most famous work is the English version of the musical Les Misérables. He also wrote songs for several other musicals and films, including The Phantom of the Opera and Goodbye, Mr. Chips. In addition to his career in journalism and entertainment, Kretzmer has also been involved in various charitable causes, including the Gala Fundraising Committee of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Save the Children Foundation.
Kretzmer's work in journalism earned him numerous awards, including the Hugh Cudlipp Award for Journalistic Excellence and the British Press Award for Critic of the Year. He also wrote several books on subjects ranging from theatre to the Holocaust. In 2013, Kretzmer was awarded the Tony Award for Best Original Score for his work on the revival of Les Misérables. Kretzmer has been married twice and has four children. He currently resides in London and continues to work in the entertainment industry as a lyricist and screenwriter.
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Tristram Cary
Tristram Cary (May 14, 1925 Oxford-April 24, 2008 Adelaide) a.k.a. Tristam Cary, Cary, Tristam, Cary, Tristram, Tristram Ogilvie Cary, OAM, Tristram Ogilvie Cary, Tristram Carry or Carry, Tristram was an English composer and film score composer.
His albums: Blood From the Mummy's Tomb, Doctor Who: Devils' Planets, It's Time for Tristram Cary (Works for Film, Television, Exhibition & Sculpture) and The Quatermass Film Music Collection.
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Alec McCowen
Alec McCowen (May 26, 1925 Royal Tunbridge Wells-) a.k.a. Alec McOwen, Alexander Duncan McCowen, Alec McCowan, Alexander D. McCowen, Alex McCowen, Alec Mccowen, Alec Mc Cowen, Alec, Alexander Duncan "Alec" McCowen, Alexander Duncan "Alec" McCowen CBE or McCowen Alec is an English actor, author and theatre director.
McCowen was born in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before making his stage debut in 1942 with the Old Vic company. He appeared in numerous Shakespearean productions, as well as contemporary plays, and became a well-respected figure in British theatre.
In addition to his work on stage, McCowen appeared in numerous films and television shows. He was perhaps best known for his roles in the films "Frenzy" (1972) and "Never Say Never Again" (1983), as well as his portrayal of Q in the 1981 television adaptation of "The Barchester Chronicles".
McCowen was also a prolific writer, publishing several books including "Young Gemini" (1975), a memoir about his early life and career, and "Double Bill" (2000), a collection of two one-man plays he wrote and performed.
In recognition of his contributions to the arts, McCowen was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1985. He continued to perform on stage and screen until his retirement in the early 2000s.
McCowen's stage career included roles in some of the most iconic productions of his time, including "Hamlet" with Richard Burton in 1953 and "A Man for All Seasons" in 1960. He also originated the role of Kreton in the London production of the Broadway hit "Visit to a Small Planet" in 1957. In addition to his stage work, McCowen was a familiar face on British television, appearing in shows such as "The Avengers", "Doctor Who", and "Midsomer Murders".
McCowen was known for his distinctive voice, and this led to a career in audio recordings. He recorded many acclaimed audiobooks, including readings of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land". He also recorded a series of audio dramatizations of Shakespeare's plays, for which he won several awards.
McCowen was openly gay, and he was a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. In the 1970s, he joined the Gay Sweatshop theatre collective, which produced plays with queer themes. He also appeared in several films that addressed LGBTQ+ issues, including "Victim" (1961), one of the first British movies to deal with homosexuality.
McCowen's legacy in British theatre and film is significant, and his contributions to the arts have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He died in 2017 at the age of 91.
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Anthony Milner
Anthony Milner (May 13, 1925 United Kingdom-September 22, 2002) was an English , .
composer, conductor, and pianist. Milner studied music at the Royal College of Music in London and later served in the British Armed Forces during World War II. He went on to become a composer of orchestral and chamber music, as well as vocal and choral works. Milner also served as the conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and was a professor of music at the University of Edinburgh. His compositions are known for their romantic and neoromantic style, with influences from composers like Gustav Mahler and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Several of his works have been recorded and performed internationally, and he is considered one of the leading English composers of the 20th century.
Milner's career as a composer spanned over five decades, during which he produced a variety of works ranging from operas to solo pieces for the piano. Among his notable compositions are his Symphony No. 1, Piano Concerto No. 1, and String Quartet No. 2. Milner's music has been praised for its emotional depth and intricate harmonies, as well as its ability to evoke powerful emotions and convey complex themes.
Aside from his work as a composer and conductor, Milner was also an accomplished pianist, performing frequently throughout the UK and Europe. He was known for his passion and energy on stage, and his performances were often praised for their technical precision and emotional intensity.
In addition to his many musical accomplishments, Milner was also a respected educator and scholar. He taught music theory and composition at several universities throughout his career, and was known for his expertise in the works of Mahler and other Romantic-era composers. Milner was also a prolific author, penning several books on music theory and history.
Despite his many achievements, Milner's work remains somewhat overlooked in the wider canon of classical music. However, his contributions to the field are still celebrated by music lovers and scholars alike, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of composers and performers.
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Russ Conway
Russ Conway (September 2, 1925 Bristol-November 16, 2000 Eastbourne) also known as Trevor Stanford, Conway, Russ, Trevor Herbert Stanford or Trevor H. Stanford was an English musician, pianist and composer.
Related albums: Roulette, Snow Coach, The Best Of, Piano Pops No.10, Piano Pops No.8, China Tea, Russ Conway Plays, His Greatest Hits and Time To Play. Genres related to him: Piano.
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Tony Crombie
Tony Crombie (August 27, 1925 Bishopsgate-October 18, 1999 Hampstead) a.k.a. Anthony John Crombie, The Baron or Anthony John "Tony" Crombie was an English drummer, pianist, bandleader, composer and film score composer.
Genres: Hard bop and Bebop.
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Don Lang
Don Lang (January 19, 1925 Halifax-August 3, 1992 Surrey) also known as Lang, Don was an English singer.
He rose to fame in the 1950s rock and roll era with hits such as "Six-Five Special" and "Witch Doctor". Don Lang was also a talented trombonist and formed his own band, the Frantic Five, which included his brother, Ted Lang. He appeared in several films, including "The Six-Five Special" and "The Golden Disc", and made numerous television appearances. Later in his career, Don Lang became a successful session musician and worked with artists such as Dusty Springfield and Tom Jones. He continued to perform until his death in 1992.
Don Lang was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, in 1925. He was the son of a pianist and had a musical upbringing. He learned to play the trombone as a child and started performing in local dance bands when he was a teenager. During World War II, Lang served in the Royal Air Force and played in the RAF dance band.
After the war, Lang formed his own band, the Frantic Five, and began playing in clubs and dance halls around London. In 1955, he signed a record deal and released the single "Rock Pretty Baby", which reached number 10 in the UK charts. He followed this up with the hits "Six-Five Special" and "Witch Doctor". Lang was known for his energetic performances and wild stage presence.
Lang continued to tour and record throughout the 1960s, but his popularity began to wane with the advent of the British Invasion. He turned to session work and became a sought-after trombonist, playing on recordings by Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, and other artists. He also appeared on television shows and in films, such as "The Six-Five Special" and "The Golden Disc".
In the 1970s and 1980s, Lang continued to perform and record, but he never regained the level of success he had in the 1950s. He died in 1992 at the age of 67, leaving behind a legacy as one of the pioneers of British rock and roll.
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David Whitfield
David Whitfield (February 2, 1925 Kingston upon Hull-January 16, 1980 Sydney) also known as Whitfield, David was an English singer.
His albums include David Whitfield's Greatest Hits, I'll Never Stop Loving You / Ev'rywhere and The Very Best of.
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Harry Somers
Harry Somers (September 11, 1925 Toronto-March 9, 1999 Toronto) a.k.a. Somers, Harry, Harry Stewart Somers or Harry Stewart Somers, CC was an English composer.
Somers is known for his contributions to Canadian music, particularly his opera "Louis Riel," which premiered in 1967 and has since become a staple of Canadian opera repertoire. He was also a professor of music at the University of Toronto and held leadership positions in various musical organizations throughout Canada. In addition to his work in classical music, Somers also composed for film and television, and his music can be heard in various productions. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1991 for his contributions to Canadian music.
Somers began his musical studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and later received a scholarship to study at the École normale de musique in Paris. He went on to study with renowned composer Darius Milhaud and received further training at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts.
Throughout his career, Somers composed a wide variety of works, from orchestral and chamber music to vocal and choral pieces. His opera "Louis Riel," which tells the story of the Métis leader who fought for the rights of his people in the late 19th century, was a groundbreaking work in Canadian opera and helped to establish Somers as one of the country's leading composers.
In addition to his work as a composer and educator, Somers was also an advocate for new music and helped to establish organizations such as the Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Centre. He also served as the president of the Canadian Music Council and was a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Somers' music is characterized by his innovative use of harmony and rhythm, as well as his interest in incorporating elements of folk music and other musical traditions. He remains an important figure in Canadian music and his contributions continue to be celebrated and studied today.
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