Bill McGuffie
Encyclopedia
Bill McGuffie was a highly experienced pianist who went on to become a film composer and conductor. He also made several television appearances before this, most notably in Softly, Softly
as a pub pianist.
When he was about 16 years old Billy came down from Scotland to London to join the Teddy Foster Band which was playing in London. It was his first professional job.
As well as conducting many film scores he also wrote several of his own and is most remembered for his music for the movie Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD
, based on the television series Doctor Who
and starring Peter Cushing
. He also provided the music for the cult horror film The Asphyx
in 1973.
Bill performed on many occasions with Benny Goodman outfits when Benny toured in Europe. He can be heard playing with the Benny Goodman Sextet recorded live in Copenhagen in 1972. His playing added much to the Goodman bands and small groups and continued the tradition of musical and inventive pianists playing alongside Benny.
Bill McGuffie was voted Britain's top pianist in 1953, 1954 and 1955. He won an Ivor Novello Award in 1960 for his composition 'Sweet September' and a Song Writers' Guild Badge of Merit in 1980. Bill McGuffie started a charity in aid of autistic children called The Niner Club, relating to his lost finger.
Softly, Softly (TV series)
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern - supposedly in the Bristol and Chepstow area of the UK...
as a pub pianist.
When he was about 16 years old Billy came down from Scotland to London to join the Teddy Foster Band which was playing in London. It was his first professional job.
As well as conducting many film scores he also wrote several of his own and is most remembered for his music for the movie Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD
Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD
Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. is the second of two films based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. It was the sequel to Dr. Who and the Daleks , and starred Peter Cushing in his return to the role of the eccentric inventor and time traveller "Dr. Who". It also...
, based on the television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and starring Peter Cushing
Peter Cushing
Peter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the handsome but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally...
. He also provided the music for the cult horror film The Asphyx
The Asphyx
The Asphyx is a 1972 British horror film directed by Peter Newbrook. Also known as Spirit of the Dead and The Horror of Death, it stars Robert Stephens and Robert Powell.-Plot:...
in 1973.
Bill performed on many occasions with Benny Goodman outfits when Benny toured in Europe. He can be heard playing with the Benny Goodman Sextet recorded live in Copenhagen in 1972. His playing added much to the Goodman bands and small groups and continued the tradition of musical and inventive pianists playing alongside Benny.
Bill McGuffie was voted Britain's top pianist in 1953, 1954 and 1955. He won an Ivor Novello Award in 1960 for his composition 'Sweet September' and a Song Writers' Guild Badge of Merit in 1980. Bill McGuffie started a charity in aid of autistic children called The Niner Club, relating to his lost finger.