David Mellor

Composer • Lyricist • Arranger • Conductor • Pianist

Welcome

Since I was a small boy all I ever wanted was to be a musician. However, at eight years old, conducting an imaginary orchestra from records on an old turntable to the actual thing is quite a journey. There have been disappointments along the way but it is possible, not easy perhaps but possible.

I have been extremely fortunate to enjoy a career doing something I really enjoy, a career which has taken me around the world several times and allowed me to gather some wonderful friends. Mistakes? – certainly, ‘I’ve made a few’. However, music and particularly the piano, remains a constant source of joy, comfort and personal satisfaction.

Now I enjoy the creative process, be it music or literature probably more than at any other time in my life. Each day there is so much to continually learn and that is a delight; to then create, record and hear it performed by wonderfully talented musicians and actors is a joy.

On this website you can hear some of the music I’ve written, discover some of the things I’ve managed to do and what is planned for the future.

David Mellor

Composer • Lyricist • Arranger • Conductor • Pianist

Welcome

On this website you can hear some of the music I’ve written, discover some of the things I’ve managed to do and what is planned for the future.

David Mellor Biography

Career

Excelling at classical piano from age six, he was also encouraged to listen to and play an eclectic range of music, something which proved to be beneficial in later years. Although he played in school concerts before this, Mellor performed in public from age twelve in local productions and dance groups, later moving into cabaret and theatre work, not returning to classical works until later in life.

Winner of ‘Best UK Songwriter’, he went on to conduct, arrange and collaborate with many artists and musicians. He has been personal musical director for numerous international singers, conducted and performed in musicals in London’s West End and been guest conductor with the Moscow, Prague, Warsaw and Scottish Symphony Orchestras.

Recordings

Now principally a composer and arranger – he has written a large and varied mix of work from the jazz influenced ‘Meet Me in Paris’ which was greeted warmly by then Paris Mayor M. Bertrand Delanoe and is the title music for a French screenplay from a Book of the same name; the moving 9/11 composition ‘Peace Anthem;’ to a piece for Symphony Orchestra about a Great War Tragedy in his hometown, one of several symphonic pieces he has composed.

In addition, he has appeared on countless recordings for artistes as well as television and radio worldwide and has numerous composing credits to his name.

Current

Conceived some 8 years ago David gathered a specialist team of sound, lighting, video, marketing consultancy and web design to create ‘the 22′ Jazz Orchestra’ – the22jazz.com Featuring an array of exciting musicians performing new compositions from his ‘Meet Me in Paris’ album and the music of Michel Legrand, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Aretha Franklin, Ahmad Jamal, Miles Davis, Django Reinhardt, Bob James, Stan Getz, Diana Krall and others.

With initial exceptions, David has self funded the whole project including recent first rehearsals in London. However sponsorship and donors are essential to move forward into concert.

Once the Orchestra is established, ‘the 22′ Jazz Academy’ an educational facility for aspiring and talented young Jazz musicians will be developed. Check the BLOG bar at the top of this page for regularly updated information. For bookings/sponsorship enquiries, please use the contact button.

Following on from a successful World Premiere Concert at Blackburn Cathedral, where he conducted his new symphony, ‘Tragedy on Darwen Moor, December 1917’– further concerts will follow using ‘the 22′ Jazz Orchestra’ augmented to include additional Brass, Woodwind and Percussion. Also at that concert he conducted an extended symphonic version of his 9/11 work ‘Peace Anthem.’

David is a director of The Think Ahead Group Limited, which supplies musicians in the UK and Europe for Concerts, Theatre performances and Functions. Some client comments are reproduced on the ‘Music for Events’ blog on the banner above. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at any time using the contact page link.

Occasionally performing in his own One Man Show: ‘A Life in Music’, through music and anecdotes David tells of his life as a Professional Musician. From first piano lessons through London West End Musicals; Television, Radio, Recording & travelling the World as Personal Musical Director to International Singing Stars.

Association

A small selection of the many people David has collaborated with:- Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Matt Monro, Sir George Martin, Sir Richard Eyre, Don Black, Shirley Bassey, Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Sacha Distel, Jason Donovan, David Essex, Des O’Connor, Natasha Richardson, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Northern Chamber Orchestra, The Choirs of Blackburn Cathedral, The American Cathedral in Paris, France and many more.

Guest Conductor:-
The Moscow, Warsaw, Prague & Scottish Symphony Orchestras; Television, Radio and Recording Orchestras worldwide

Some London West End Theatre Productions:-
‘High Society’, ‘Mutiny!’, ‘ Piaf’, ‘Joseph & His Technicolor Dreamcoat’, ‘Matador’, ‘Evita’, ‘Grease’

Amongst the many venues:-
Sands Hotel, MGM Grand, Caesar’s Palace – Las Vegas, Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, Carnegie Hall – New York City, Sydney Opera House, London Palladium, Royal Albert Hall, Palace Hotel St. Moritz, Hong Kong Club, Sandy Lane Barbados, Arenata Coliseum Manila, Johannesburg & Cape Town Concert Halls, BBC Radio & Television, all UK ITV companies, Assorted TV, Radio & Concert Halls throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

Member & Supporter of The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain.

Supporter of Rheumatoid Arthritis research at the Sutton Research Laboratory, Sydney, Australia. https://north-foundation.raisely.com/in-memory-of-yvonne-mellor-nee-younger

Supporter of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy – a music charity dedicated to improving the lives of children & adults.

The Music

MEET ME IN PARIS

This music is based on two people who cannot be together but agree to meet in a particular café in Paris on her birthday each year. Music describes one of them waiting expectantly…

PEACE ANTHEM

The music and lyrics are a young person’s view of the world and their hopes and dreams for the future.

NO MORE MR. DIXON

A personal reflection of an unhappy time in life with the music the antithesis of those involved.

PRELUDE TO ROMANCE

Written and scored to be choreographed, this describes a young couple meeting for the first time, their initial attraction, their first dates and then both being carried away in romance.

RE: MILES

Thoughts of the Miles Davis early years.

EARLY DOORS

MAY NEVER COME AGAIN

SPRING ARRIVED A WAY TOO SOON

POLKADOTS & MOONBEAMS

THAT’S ALL

EMPTY CHAIR

Videos

Unauthorised reproduction is forbidden. All artwork, images, music and text displayed on this website is copyright and may not be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the author. It may not be used elsewhere on the internet, within other websites, or in print, without the written permission of the site owner and author. The different quoted or used products are the property of their respective authors.

Photography Credits: Mikaela Morgan, Jean Panther, Matt Donnelly, Clive Lawrence