Edinburgh has given the world countless talented individuals, and John Stanley Livingstone Harris is certainly one of them. He is regarded as a distinguished representative of Scotland’s musical community, whose work gained international acclaim. John’s creativity was so multifaceted that he could never be defined solely as a ‘stage’ musician. He composed unique scores for films and television series and was also a superb arranger and conductor. Find out more on edinburgh-trend.
Early Life and Career
The future musician was born in Edinburgh on 9th November 1932, although he received his education at a school in London.
As a promising and gifted young man, his career began at a remarkably early age.
John gained his first professional experience as a trumpeter in Norman Burns’ band. Harris was also a member of the short-lived group, The Shubdubs.
The Pye Records Era
1965 proved to be a fateful year for John, as it was then that he joined Pye Records. This move would play a crucial role in the development of his career.
While recording Nancy Sinatra’s album Nancy In London, he had the opportunity to showcase his talent as a conductor. As a member of Pye Records, he collaborated with many other artists throughout the 1960s.
In addition, John worked freelance with renowned record labels across the UK and Europe. He also developed a close working relationship with Petula Clark, serving as her conductor, arranger, and producer.
A Milestone Broadcast
In 1969, John’s career reached a vibrant and groundbreaking milestone. A concert featuring Petula Clark and the John Harris Orchestra became the first colour programme to be broadcast on BBC 1.
A Successful Partnership with the BBC
Following this, Harris formed a highly successful partnership with the BBC.
He took on the role of musical director for the entertainment programme Happening For Lulu. In 1969, he was even given his own show on the channel, titled Up Tight.
The Breakthrough Album
His real breakthrough came with the album Movements. Released in 1970, it was recorded with the help of London’s finest session musicians. Harris later performed the album at the Royal Albert Hall. The record’s success was so immense that it was issued three times by Warner’s. In 2002, the album was re-released on CD, complete with bonus tracks and an interview with Harris.
A Career in Soundtracks
Harris could never be described as just a ‘stage’ musician. Throughout his career, he wrote numerous compositions for feature films, short films, and television series.
Film soundtracks hold a special place in his body of work. Notably, he composed the music for Fragment of Fear (1970), Man in the Wilderness (1971), Bloomfield (1971, with music recorded in 1969 featuring Maurice Gibb of The Bee Gees), and I Want What I Want (1972). He followed this with the album All To Bring You Morning in 1973.
The American Chapter
Later, Harris surprised everyone with his decision to move to the United States, where he began collaborating with Paul Anka. Even after returning to the UK in 1973, his work with Anka continued. The partnership between them lasted until 1977 and resulted in numerous hit records.
Looking back to the period just after his return from America, it was then that he recorded the album All To Bring You Morning. In a stroke of luck, members of the band Yes were working in an adjacent studio and offered to participate in the creation of his new record.
Scoring for the Screen
After 1977, Harris decided to focus his creative energy on scoring for television and film. This ambition was realised and led to a long-term collaboration with Lynda Carter. In 1979, he created the music for the third season of her series, Wonder Woman.
Harris also served as the musical director for five of Lynda’s television specials.
Another Mega-Hit
In 1980, Harris delighted audiences with a new hit, “Odyssey”. The composition became so popular that it was heard everywhere – on radio stations, in the famous video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and in an episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
A Fruitful Collaboration
A significant part of John’s career was his collaboration with Engelbert Humperdinck. Harris’s arrangements, particularly for “Crazy” and “On Broadway”, became signature elements of Engelbert’s show.
In 2017, the musician arranged six songs for Humperdinck’s new album, which went on to be nominated for four Grammy Awards.
Sadly, the lives of many talented people are cut short. Harris was no exception; he passed away in 2020 at the age of 87, following a two-year battle with lung cancer. However, the music of this incredibly talented Edinburgh native lives on, continuing to inspire his fans and all who appreciate true artistry.
