Background
After his father died, he approached his mother nervously and told her that he wanted to become a full-time musician.
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Gordon Lorenz
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Career
Since the song"s release, Lorenz became one of the most prolific record producers in the music industry, producing over 800 albums selling eight million records, and earning seventeen platinum, gold and silver discs. He was a pupil of Evered Avenue school in Walton Liverpool from 1956 to 1959 after passing the 13+ examination After leaving drama school he became a travelling evangelist, travelling the United Kingdom in support of various Salvation Army endeavours.
After struggling for a while, he was offered a job by Border Television to write fill-in music between their various day time shows, where he was introduced to the recording studio: "I always liked working in studios.
They don"t have any windows, they"re always very quiet, deliberately conducive to concentration and work."
Writer/producer
In 1980, Lorenz wrote "There"s Number One Quite Like Grandma" to tie in with the Queen Mother"s 80th birthday, and sent it to Electric and Music Industries. Having initially turned it down, the managing director rang me and said he decided to put it out because he said he could not get grandma, we love you out of his mind: "If it"s caught in my mind chances are that it will with the public, and we"ll put it out for Christmas". Subsequently employed full-time by Electric and Music Industries, Lorenz became one of the most prolific record producers in the music industry, producing over 800 albums (believed to be a world record), selling 8 million records, earning 17 platinum, gold and silver discs featuring some of the biggest international artists.
After being asked by Unicef to help raise funds for children in Africa suffering from Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Aids, he produced The Best Gospel Album in the World.. Ever, which featured the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Choral Society and Howells Girls Choir.
He also produced for Electric and Music Industries"s MFP division the five LP series hosted by Derek Batey Your 100 Favourite Hymns that were highly successful in the 1980s.
In 2008 the North Wales Daily Post claimed that the series were "still the biggest-selling religious recordings in history". In 2002, Lorenz wrote the song "Rejoice Rejoice" for the Queen"s Golden Jubilee, sung by a 1,000 strong choir conducted by Sir David Willcocks outside Buckingham Palace as the Queen left in her coach for a Thanksgiving service at Street Paul"s Cathedral. Approached by music manager Jonathan Shalit, Lorenz was asked to produce two songs for a 12-year-old Charlotte Church, and introduce her to the recording studio.
Lorenz recorded and produced her first two recordings, including the recording of "Pie Jesu".
He was also a vice-president of the Morriston Orpheus Choir and Llandudno Town Brass Band. He died on 5 June 2011 at his home in Llandudno, Wales.
Choirs
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
British Broadcasting Corporation Concert Orchestra
City of London Sinfonia
Choir of Street Paul"s Cathedral
Choir of York Minster
Choir of Exeter
Choir of Guildford
Choir of Street George"s Chapel Windsor Castle
Bridgend Male Choir.
Achievements
Membership
Salvation Army]
Lorenz was a member of the British Academy of Composers and Authors, The Good Turns Society and The Music Publishers Association.
