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Apr 20, 2007 · Brian Michael Fahey was one of Britain's foremost arrangers and composers of big-band music. He died peacefully at Worthing Hospital, Essex, following a short illness.
- The Herald Staff
Hence, the playbacks to these songs were pre-recorded in London under the supervision of Francis' British producer Norman Newell, and were conducted by Brian Fahey. The tapes containing these playbacks were shipped to Hollywood, where Francis overdubbed her vocals.
Brian Michael Fahey (25 April 1919 – 4 April 2007) was a British musical director, composer and arranger, best known for composing "At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal", the signature tune to BBC Radio's long running programme Pick of the Pops.
- Early Life
- Second World War
- Arranger
- Scottish Radio Orchestra
- Retirement
- Death
Born in Margate, Kent, Fahey's father was a professional musician — a cellist — and his brother a French horn player. He started piano lessons at the age of seven and finished them by the age of eight, never to have another one.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Fahey, then a clerk with an east London company, and a member of the Territorial Army, was drafted. During the lightning German advance of spring 1940, Lance-Bombardier Fahey found himself with a frontline Royal Artillery unit covering the evacuation of the British expeditionary forces from Dunkirk. He was w...
Demobbed in 1946, he decided that his future lay in the music business. He joined the Musicians Union and became a pianist with the Rudy Starita Band on an Ensa tour of Egypt and Palestine. He met and married band singer Audrey Watkins on that tour. Fahey played in various bands, but his passion was for arranging. Between 1949 and 1959, he worked f...
He was appointed principal conductor of the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra when it was formed in 1972, moving his family from his Surrey home to the Ayrshire village of Skelmorlie on the west coast of Scotland in a splendid baronial house perched up way above the sea. "It was as though someone had asked me what I'd do if I won the pools:" he told the...
After the orchestra was disbanded in 1981 he continued to work for the BBC. He was a guest conductor with orchestras around the world and, even in retirement, he continued to compose. He won many awards, including the MU/BBC arranging award in 1997.
Brian Fahey died on 4 April 2007 at the age of 87. He was survived by his children, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His wife predeceased him.
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1960 Vinyl release of "Sings Jewish Favorites" on Discogs.
- (8)
- US
- 46
- Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, MGM Pressing
Sings Jewish Favorites, an Album by Connie Francis. Released in 1960 on MGM (catalog no. E3869; Vinyl LP). Genres: Jewish Music, Traditional Pop. Rated #519 in the best albums of 1960.
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Apr 4, 2007 · Brian Fahey. British musical director, bandleader, songwriter and arranger. Born 25 April 1919 Margate, Kent, England. Died 4 April 2007 (aged 87) Worthing, West Sussex, England. Best known for composing "At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal", Alan 'Fluff' Freeman 's signature tune.
