Norrie Paramor

Norrie Paramor
Born	15 May 1914(1914-05-15) London, England
Origin	England
Died	9 September 1979(1979-09-09) (aged 65) Barnet, England
Years active	1950–1979
Associated acts	Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Frank Ifield

Norrie Paramor (15 May 1914^[1] – 9 September 1979)^[2] 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.

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.^{[citation needed]}

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).^[3] 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 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.

References

1. ^ "Robert Farnon Society". Rfsoc.org.uk. http://www.rfsoc.org.uk/nparamor.shtml. Retrieved 2011-06-24. 
2. ^ Doc Rock. "The 1970s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1970.html. Retrieved 2011-06-24. 
3. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660921/#Composer

External links

• Norrie Paramor discography at Discogs

Preceded by Johannes Fehring

Eurovision Song Contest conductor 1968

Succeeded by Augusto Algueró

Persondata
Name	Paramor, Norrie
Alternative names
Short description	English record producer
Date of birth	15 May 1913
Place of birth	London
Date of death	9 September 1979
Place of death	Barnet