Norrie Paramor
Encyclopedia
Norrie Paramor was a British
record producer
, composer
, arranger
, and orchestral conductor.
Although the term "producer" was not in circulation at the time Paramor started producing records (the usual term being Artiste and Repertoire Manager or A&R
Man), he effectively began this role in 1952 when he became Recording Director for EMI
's Columbia Records
.
Paramor produced hit singles for Cliff Richard
, The Shadows
and Frank Ifield
among others. Until George Martin
produced Candle In The Wind 97 for Sir Elton John
, Paramor and Martin jointly held the record for having produced the most Number 1 hit singles, despite Paramor's death 18 years earlier.
Paramor recorded one of the biggest-selling albums from Capitol Records'
Capitol of the World import series: In London in Love, which featured the floating voice of the soprano
Patricia Clarke, who was used in many subsequent selling albums. This became his trademark orchestra
l signature sound.
Paramor also composed music for several films, including Serious Charge (1959), Expresso Bongo
(1959), The Young Ones
(1961), The Frightened City
(1961) and The Fast Lady
(1962). He also co-wrote tbe 1962 hit song Let's Talk About Love for Helen Shapiro
.
In 1968, he was the musical director for the Eurovision Song Contest
, staged at the Royal Albert Hall
, the first to be broadcast in colour. He also conducted the UK entry, Congratulations
, performed by Sir Cliff Richard
.
In 1977 Paramor and his orchestra recorded with The Shadows for a final time, on the track Return to the Alamo.
Paramor died of cancer
on 9 September 1979. His death came a fortnight after his protege, Richard, had returned to the top of the UK Singles Chart with We Don't Talk Anymore, his first number one single in more than ten years. Paramor and Richard had worked together professionally from 1958 to 1972.
Despite his track record of success as a producer, he died in obscurity without receiving any public recognition from any British institution. His work can be heard regularly on the Music Choice
easy listening
channel.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, and orchestral conductor.
Although the term "producer" was not in circulation at the time Paramor started producing records (the usual term being Artiste and Repertoire Manager or A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
Man), he effectively began this role in 1952 when he became Recording Director for EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
's Columbia Records
Columbia Graphophone Company
The Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Under EMI, as Columbia Records, it became a very successful label in the 1950s and 1960s...
.
Paramor produced hit singles for Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
, The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
and Frank Ifield
Frank Ifield
Francis Edward Ifield is an early Australian-English easy listening and country music singer. He achieved considerable success in the early 1960s, especially in the UK Singles Chart, where he had four Number 1 hits between 1962 and 1963....
among others. Until George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
produced Candle In The Wind 97 for Sir Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Paramor and Martin jointly held the record for having produced the most Number 1 hit singles, despite Paramor's death 18 years earlier.
Paramor recorded one of the biggest-selling albums from Capitol Records'
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
Capitol of the World import series: In London in Love, which featured the floating voice of the soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
Patricia Clarke, who was used in many subsequent selling albums. This became his trademark orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l signature sound.
Paramor also composed music for several films, including Serious Charge (1959), Expresso Bongo
Expresso Bongo
Expresso Bongo, a 1958 West End musical and a 1959 film, was a satire of the music industry. It was first produced on the stage at the Saville Theatre, London on 23 April 1958. Its book was written by Wolf Mankowitz and Julian More, with music by David Heneker and Monty Norman, also the...
(1959), The Young Ones
The Young Ones (film)
The Young Ones is a British musical released in 1961, featuring singer Cliff Richard. The musical was directed by Sidney J. Furie and was produced by Kenneth Harper and Andrew Mitchell for the Associated British Studios at Elstree. The original screenplay was written by Peter Myers and Ronald...
(1961), The Frightened City
The Frightened City
The Frightened City is a 1961 British film about extortion rackets and gang warfare in the West End of London. It stars Sean Connery, who plays a burglar called Paddy Damion. He is lured into a protection racket by oily mobster Harry Foulcher , in order to support his partner in crime , who is...
(1961) and The Fast Lady
The Fast Lady
The Fast Lady is a 1962 British comedy film, directed by Ken Annakin. The screenplay was written by Henry Blyth and Jack Davies, based on a story by Keble Howard.It marked the film debut of Julie Christie.-Plot:...
(1962). He also co-wrote tbe 1962 hit song Let's Talk About Love for Helen Shapiro
Helen Shapiro
Helen Kate Shapiro is an English singer and actress. She is best known for her 1960s UK chart toppers, "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness".-Early life:...
.
In 1968, he was the musical director for the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
, staged at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, the first to be broadcast in colour. He also conducted the UK entry, Congratulations
Congratulations (song)
"Congratulations" is a song written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter as the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968 on 6 April with Cliff Richard performing....
, performed by Sir Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
.
In 1977 Paramor and his orchestra recorded with The Shadows for a final time, on the track Return to the Alamo.
Paramor died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on 9 September 1979. His death came a fortnight after his protege, Richard, had returned to the top of the UK Singles Chart with We Don't Talk Anymore, his first number one single in more than ten years. Paramor and Richard had worked together professionally from 1958 to 1972.
Despite his track record of success as a producer, he died in obscurity without receiving any public recognition from any British institution. His work can be heard regularly on the Music Choice
Music Choice
Music Choice is a United States company that programs music and produces music-related content for digital cable, cell phones, and cable modem subscribers in the US. Music Choice programs dozens of audio music channels for digital cable subscribers, as well as programs and produces music-related...
easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
channel.