Pete Moore (composer)
Encyclopedia
Pete Moore, born in London,England, is a British composer and arranger for a string of famous artistes since the 1950/60s.
Beginning in 1958, he worked with such greats as Bing Crosby
, Fred Astaire
, Gene Kelly
, Peggy Lee
, Frankie Laine
, Connie Francis
and Peter Sellers
, amongst others, on all manner of broadcasts & recordings. Pearl & Dean's
legendary signature tune is one of the most famous and best-loved tracks played in British movie houses - its distinctive staccato sound evokes the very smell of popcorn and hot dogs.
Moore wrote the Pearl & Dean
anthem, "Asteroid", just 20 seconds long. The original screen titles featured graphics intended to emulate advertising panels flashing past as if the viewer was being sucked into the very screen.
By the early 1990s, commercials and trailers were given the full stereo treatment, but the original Asteroid was only ever produced purely as a mono track. Remarkably, not only was the original composer/producer tracked down but Moore was also able to locate two of the three original male singers who could still replicate their vocal parts three decades on.
In 1995, Goldbug
(fronted by ex-Beatmaster’s man, Richard Walmsley) sampled the Pearl & Dean
anthem and made the number two singles slot with their version of Whole Lotta Love
. As Asteroid’s enters its fifth decade, it's a tune that the world of TV and Radio know can immediately capture/create the magic of the British cinema in just a couple of seconds. The visual titles too are just as familiar to many who still recall both the temple steps and the blue poster style panels flashing past as well as later titles with astonishing clarity!
A new 2mins 10secs digital version was recently recorded at the Abbey Road studios by Moore and a 30-piece orchestra.
— Pete Moore 10 February 2003.
Beginning in 1958, he worked with such greats as Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
, Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
, Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
, Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
, Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
and Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
, amongst others, on all manner of broadcasts & recordings. Pearl & Dean's
Pearl & Dean
Pearl & Dean is primarily known as a British cinema advertising company. It was founded in 1953 by brothers Ernie and Charles Pearl, and Bob Dean....
legendary signature tune is one of the most famous and best-loved tracks played in British movie houses - its distinctive staccato sound evokes the very smell of popcorn and hot dogs.
Moore wrote the Pearl & Dean
Pearl & Dean
Pearl & Dean is primarily known as a British cinema advertising company. It was founded in 1953 by brothers Ernie and Charles Pearl, and Bob Dean....
anthem, "Asteroid", just 20 seconds long. The original screen titles featured graphics intended to emulate advertising panels flashing past as if the viewer was being sucked into the very screen.
By the early 1990s, commercials and trailers were given the full stereo treatment, but the original Asteroid was only ever produced purely as a mono track. Remarkably, not only was the original composer/producer tracked down but Moore was also able to locate two of the three original male singers who could still replicate their vocal parts three decades on.
In 1995, Goldbug
Goldbug (band)
Goldbug were a British band in the 1990s. Formed in Brighton in 1995 by a former member of the Beatmasters, Richard Walmsley and DJ Adil Magik, with a session vocalist, Sandy McKenzie, who was recruited through an advertisement in Melody Maker....
(fronted by ex-Beatmaster’s man, Richard Walmsley) sampled the Pearl & Dean
Pearl & Dean
Pearl & Dean is primarily known as a British cinema advertising company. It was founded in 1953 by brothers Ernie and Charles Pearl, and Bob Dean....
anthem and made the number two singles slot with their version of Whole Lotta Love
Whole Lotta Love
"Whole Lotta Love" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is featured as the opening track on the band's second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released in the United States and Japan as a single. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold on 13 April 1970, when it...
. As Asteroid’s enters its fifth decade, it's a tune that the world of TV and Radio know can immediately capture/create the magic of the British cinema in just a couple of seconds. The visual titles too are just as familiar to many who still recall both the temple steps and the blue poster style panels flashing past as well as later titles with astonishing clarity!
A new 2mins 10secs digital version was recently recorded at the Abbey Road studios by Moore and a 30-piece orchestra.
Quotes
Quote by Pete Moore: "Many people in the UK music profession have accused me of writing music for the future, and well ahead of its time. Having regard to the longevity of this piece I can only thoroughly agree with that sentiment!”— Pete Moore 10 February 2003.