Ronnie Hazlehurst started to make a living as a trumpet player, and after some session work for the BBC in London, in 1961 he joined the corporation. Later he was made the BBC’s Light entertainment music director.
Responsible for themes for sitcoms such as, 'Some Mothers Do Have ’Em', ‘Are you being Served’,
‘Sorry’, ‘To the Manor Born’, ‘Yes Minister’, ‘Last of the summer wine’, and ‘The Two Ronnies’.
He also penned the music to Game shows , 'Odd One Out', 'Blankety Blank', and Bruce Forsyth’s 'Generation game'.
His style was often to keep a hint of the programme in the theme, the chimes of Big Ben in ‘Yes Minister, the ring of the cash till in ‘Are you being served?’ More cryptically incorporating morse code in ‘Some Mothers Do Have ’Em', which spells out the programmes title.
‘Sorry’, ‘To the Manor Born’, ‘Yes Minister’, ‘Last of the summer wine’, and ‘The Two Ronnies’.
He also penned the music to Game shows , 'Odd One Out', 'Blankety Blank', and Bruce Forsyth’s 'Generation game'.
His style was often to keep a hint of the programme in the theme, the chimes of Big Ben in ‘Yes Minister, the ring of the cash till in ‘Are you being served?’ More cryptically incorporating morse code in ‘Some Mothers Do Have ’Em', which spells out the programmes title.
... --- -- . -- --- - .... . .-. ... -.. --- .- ...- . . -- .-.-.- S o m e/m o t h e r s /d o /a v e/e m /(full stop).
He had a long association with the Eurovision Song Contest and was the musical director when it was hosted by the UK in 1974, 1977 and 1982; he conducted the British entry on several other occasions, in particular Michael Ball's "One Step Out of Time" in 1992.
In 1999 Ronnie received a gold badge award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
Ronnie died on 1st October 2007 the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, St Martin, Guernsey.
In 1999 Ronnie received a gold badge award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
Ronnie died on 1st October 2007 the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, St Martin, Guernsey.
Listen to an Archive interview ( Courtesy of the BBC News Website)
Arguably, the greatest British Television Composer, enjoy some of his work now on Radio Sounds Familiar.
