Johnny began his musical career on BBC radio as a pianist working on ‘The Goon show’. His move into television came in 1957 were he is credited for the catchy hornepipe ditty used on the BBC Children’s cartoon ‘ Captain pugwash’. But is for thirty years as a composer, arranger and pianist who working on the popoular BBC show ‘Top of the Pops, he may best be remembered.
Amongst his many musical credits are the themes to theTV Series, ‘All Creatures Great and Small’, ‘Owen MD’ ( aka Sleepy Shores), Sports Programme Superstars and the Yorkshire Television 1970’s quiz show 321. The score ‘The Awakenening’ was adapted by Johnny and became the iconic theme to ITV’s flagship news programme News at Ten.
He was also responsible for writing the start up music for the Grampian and ATV regions. His Chart success as nom de plumbe ‘Sounds Orchestral ‘ came with the moody ‘Cast your fates to the wind’ reaching number 5 in the Hit parade, further chart success followed under this guise.
Johnny may not have been as well known as many of his contemporaries but in my opinion, just as influential.
At one point in his life he had at least four different projects going at the same time: Sounds Orchestral, as pianist; Johnny Pearson and his Orchestra; Library work with KPM records UK, with background music for radio and television; And arranger at the BBC‘s Top Of The Pops
He also worked with John Schroeder and Sounds Orchestral, at Pye between 1964-1975
Discography 1962 Piano Sweet - Piano Wild (Oriole PS40023) 1967 Portrait Of The 20th Century (KPM Records UK) 1970 Sounds Extravanganza (Aristocrat UK) 1970 The Johnny Pearson Sound, Studio 70 Orchestra (A&M Records) 1971 Heavy Action (Superstars} 1972 Sleepy Shores 1974 Touch Me in the Morning 1975 In Love 1976 Rodrigos Guitar Concerto (Australian reissue of Sleepy Shores) 1977 If You Leave Me Now 1978 All Creatures Great and Small (UK release) 1980 Bright Eyes 1981 I Remember that Summer 1982 On Golden Pond (PAGE1 Records)
Compact disc releases
1989 Themes and Dreams (President Records PRCD171) UK 1989 Golden Instrumental Hits (Laserlight 15 171) German 1991 Sleepy Shores (BR Music BR132-2) Europe 1997 Best Of Johnny Pearson and Orchestra (Music Club MCCD304) UK 1998 Breaking Up and Making Up (Music Collection Int ETDCD057) UK 1999 Music and Romance (Disky Communications INS857162) Dutch 2010 King of Elegant Piano (JVC Victor Japan VICP47025) Double CD
