Background
Williams was born in London as Isaac Cozerbreit in 1893.
Williams was born in London as Isaac Cozerbreit in 1893.
He began his career as a freelance violinist in theatres, cinemas and symphony orchestras and later studied composition with Norman O"Neill at the Royal Academy of Music.
While his career ran from 1934 through 1968, much of his work came to the big screen as stock music and was therefore uncredited. In 1933, he went to Gaumont British Films as composer and stayed there until 1939. He composed for many British films and radio shows and after the end of World World War II, he became the conductor of the new Queen"s Hall Light Orchestra.
Later, he formed his own Concert Orchestra.
He died in Findon Valley, Worthing, West Sussex, aged 85. He composed many orchestral pieces and marches for his ensembles, which were recorded in the "Mood Music" category of light music and during the 1950s became familiar as film and television signature themes, often in his own recordings:
"Blue Devils" is a popular march and Wliiiams" first success as a composer.
lieutenant was originally published as "The Kensington March" and written for the opening of the Odeon in Kensington in 1926, where Williams conducted the cinema orchestra. When he left the cinema in 1928 the march was renamed "Blue Devils" and first published under that name in 1929, dedicated to the Territorial Army regiment Kensington Rifles.
"Devil"s Galop" was the theme tune to the radio serial Dick Barton.
"The Young Ballerina" accompanied The Potter"s Wheel probably the most famous of the British Broadcasting Corporation"s 1950s interludes. "The Old Clockmaker" was chosen as the radio theme to Jennings at School
"Girls in Grey", originally written for the Women"s Junior Air Corporation during World World War II later became known as the British Broadcasting Corporation Television Newsreel theme. "High Adventure", adapted slightly, is still used as the signature tune of British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 2"s Friday Night is Music Night.
"A Quiet Stroll" was used for British Broadcasting Corporation Television"s Farming programme at its launch in 1957, as well as a more recent programme Tracks.
"Rhythm on Rails" was often used in the British Broadcasting Corporation Morning Music programmes, but contrary to some reports was not its signature tune. He also composed the popular piano concerto pastiche, The Dream of Olwen, for the film While I Live.
His "Majestic Fanfare" (1935) was used by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (American Broadcasting Company) for many years as the signature tune for its radio and television news broadcasts. A version as re-orchestrated by Richard Mills in 1988 is still used for radio news broadcasts.
The Citadel - 1938
Hey! Hey! United States of America - 1938
Strange Boarders - 1938
Tower of Terror (1941)
My Wife"s Family (1941)
Kipps - 1941
The Night Has Eyes - 1942
The Young Mr Pitt - 1942
Women Aren"t Angels - 1942
Thursday"s Child - 1943
Medal for the General - 1944
English Without Tears - 1944
The Way to the Stars - 1945 (with Nicolas Brodszky)
Carnival - 1946
Quiet Weekend - 1946
While I Live - 1947 ("The Dream of Olwen" was featured in this film)
The Romantic Age - 1949
The Apartment - 1960 ("Jealous Lover", first used in The Romantic Age (1949) and also known as "The Theme from The Apartment").
