NORRIE PARAMOR

Norrie Paramor (15 May 1914 – 9 September 1979) 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.Norrie 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.

Norrie 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 orchestral 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 Norrie 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.