Career

"Son of My Father" went on to top the United Kingdom popular music charts for three weeks in early 1972 and was a seminal influence on 80s synthesizer bands like American Broadcasting Company. Later in his career, Des worked as musical director for Shirley Bassey, 5000 Volts, and Tony Monopoly, before finally taking a regular day job with the Orchestration Department at British Broadcasting Corporation Radio Two. He died of cancer on 7 June 2006 in London.

Achievements

• Des first achieved chart success with Vanity Fare, whose "Hitchin" a Ride" sold a million copies in the United States alone, but his most notable popular achievement was with glam-rock band Chicory Tip, whose "Son of My Father" featured a Moog synthesizer (a relatively obscure instrument at the time).