230:. His song "I Could Never Tell" was written by Edwin and Billy Bowen as an entry into a song writing contest when they were both serving in the army. Edwin won the prize of £250 and later used this money to pay for his wedding to Hazel Balbirnie. "I Could Never Tell" was later recorded by both
332:, a slow version used in the black and white episodes and a more up-tempo arrangement of the same theme for the colour episodes. He then wrote a second theme, used in the second season of the colour episodes, based around
447:. These were only available in the United States until 1997 when he arranged for CDs to be issued in the UK, where the albums were expensive collectors' items. Other recordings included the soundtrack for
369:– one for the 30-minute series transmitted from 1960 to 1962 entitled "The Danger Man Theme", and a new theme for the 60 minute series (1964–68) entitled "High Wire". Astley was asked to write music for
539:
to play "High Wire", plus various other themes and incidental music composed by Astley. The documentary also included interviews with his widow, son Jon, daughter
Virginia and son-in-law
462:
was released by
Network DVD in the UK. The three disc box-set featured over two hundred recorded music cues from the series, and a book detailing the music production.
1176:
The two things that helped with this were an interview with Ted Astley's son-in-law, Pete
Townshend, and the participation of my dear friend Kate Moss.
1108:
1336:
991:
536:
1326:
1221:
954:
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1306:
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681:
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271:
256:
241:
His own band, the Ted Astley
Orchestra, became well known in the north of England, and he wrote songs for performers such as
915:
336:' own theme music, which had previously been used in films and on radio. Charteris' theme would also open its main theme to
713:
321:
737:
1311:
879:
1134:
585:
776:
502:
Astley retired in the late 1970s, and died in 1998. Recognition of his death was limited to brief obituaries in
1263:
848:
768:
752:
286:
1083:
673:
569:
1112:
439:
Astley's actual recorded output is quite sparse, consisting of a few singles and albums of the music from
697:
248:
He wrote music for many
British television series of the 1950s and 1960s, including incidental music for
657:
274:
by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri and was followed by the original
English credits accompanied by Astley's
17:
729:
487:
Astley married Hazel
Balbirnie in 1945, and had five children. Their eldest daughter, Karen, married
452:
840:
784:
721:
392:
280:
207:
1002:
152:. His best known works are British television themes and scores, most notably the main themes for
792:
316:
270:
in North
America, where a new graphic opening credit sequence was added which featured the song
962:
883:
966:
832:
808:
625:
601:
359:
304:
292:
242:
166:
154:
1291:
1286:
553:
1060:
8:
451:, a few library records which were only semi-official and a series of albums made by the
338:
1196:
1038:
824:
665:
499:
is a singer-songwriter. His other children are
Virginia's twin Alison, and son Gareth.
1251:
1165:
689:
309:
379:'s vision for the score – due to McGoohan being too busy to hold meetings with him.
641:
593:
412:
376:
333:
183:
82:
415:
as composer of "The Saint", 33 years after he wrote it, which had been revived by
919:
816:
705:
633:
617:
577:
510:
496:
298:
126:
1271:
856:
540:
488:
416:
235:
179:
136:
1238:
1280:
524:
423:
movie. His last work was a 1998 symphonic interpretation of Who music called
383:
250:
227:
171:
371:
351:
203:
561:
470:
86:
375:, but had to withdraw because he felt that he would be unable to create
1247:
800:
649:
492:
354:(neither of which were composed by Astley); however, Astley's original
262:
199:
195:
160:
122:
63:
59:
504:
475:
231:
211:
343:
215:
149:
986:
984:
382:
However, Astley showed his diversity by writing the music for Sir
1242:
981:
396:(1969), and scoring several British Transport Films including
515:
However, tributes later appeared on television and in print.
202:, to Lawrence Astley and Mary Alice Pester. He served in the
1153:
315:
Astley also wrote the orchestral and "opera" score for the
1032:
387:
495:, produced and remastered The Who's reissues. Daughter
1222:
BFI Screenonline: Astley, Edwin (1922-1998) Biography
411:
In 1997, Astley found himself at number three on the
1109:"Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Original Soundtrack"
328:Astley wrote two arrangements of his own theme for
1181:
458:Recently the complete recordings of the score to
1278:
465:In 1977, Astley wrote the orchestral score for
1160:Vyner, Harriet; Holland, Jools (5 June 2008).
469:, a song contained in the Pete Townshend and
425:Who's Serious: The Symphonic Music of the Who
260:(with the exception for the closing titles),
226:In the early 1950s, Astley was arranging for
1272:Edwin Astley Appreciation Society (Facebook)
1159:
1037:. The Prisoner Music Archive. Archived from
148:(12 April 1922 – 19 May 1998) was a British
913:
1081:
909:
907:
905:
903:
901:
537:Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
1075:
170:. He also successfully diversified into
1162:Barefaced Lies and Boogie-Woogie Boasts
1127:
898:
877:
871:
682:The Day They Robbed the Bank of England
546:
14:
1337:British Army personnel of World War II
1279:
1101:
1035:"Edwin Astley – the one that got away"
527:presented a television tribute called
955:"Astley, Edwin (1922-1998) Biography"
949:
947:
945:
943:
941:
939:
937:
610:The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn
429:Symphonic Music of the Rolling Stones
918:. virginiaastley.com. Archived from
535:theme earlier, and he appeared with
174:and the arrangement of his theme to
1327:20th-century British male musicians
738:Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World
24:
934:
342:and would close its theme for its
25:
1363:
1342:Royal Army Service Corps soldiers
1307:English male film score composers
1215:
365:Astley also wrote two themes for
1347:Military personnel from Cheshire
1317:20th-century classical musicians
1033:Hall, Larry; Volkman, Victor R.
482:
308:. All of these programmes were
107:
1332:20th-century British musicians
1322:20th-century English composers
1088:Chriswellnovelist.blogspot.com
1053:
1026:
849:Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
769:The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
753:Colonel March of Scotland Yard
460:Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
287:Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
182:, reached number three in the
13:
1:
1111:. Network DVD. Archived from
1084:"Mystery TV Themes:The Saint"
965:. 22 May 2018. Archived from
864:
745:
434:
189:
1352:English television composers
1302:English film score composers
1297:British television composers
880:"Edwin T. Astley, biography"
761:The Adventures of Robin Hood
570:The Happiness of Three Women
257:The Adventures of Robin Hood
254:, and the opening titles to
7:
1164:. Penguin UK. p. 483.
1082:Chris Well (7 March 2008).
531:. Holland had recorded the
10:
1368:
916:"News, 24th November 2001"
882:. AllMovie. Archived from
658:The Man Who Liked Funerals
1312:Musicians from Warrington
1063:. Official Charts Company
1020:Edwin Thomas "Ted" Astley
518:
455:which featured his work.
453:London Symphony Orchestra
360:the film of the same name
221:
146:Edwin Thomas "Ted" Astley
132:
117:
94:
71:
41:
34:
1135:"Obituary: Edwin Astley"
722:The World Ten Times Over
714:The Phantom of the Opera
427:, which followed 1995's
322:The Phantom of the Opera
208:Royal Army Service Corps
793:International Detective
449:International Detective
1189:"Astley's Way (2001)"
1141:. London. 4 June 1998
1001:. ITC. Archived from
674:The Mouse That Roared
626:At the Stroke of Nine
358:theme was chosen for
206:as a musician in the
554:Devil Girl from Mars
547:Selected filmography
406:The Signal Engineers
178:, as re-recorded by
390:documentary series
339:Return of the Saint
194:Astley was born in
46:Edwin Thomas Astley
1199:on 5 December 2020
666:The Giant Behemoth
602:Fun at St. Fanny's
467:Street in the City
272:"Secret Agent Man"
1171:978-0-14-190474-0
914:Virginia Astley.
690:Passport to China
586:The Hornet's Nest
398:Diesel Train Ride
310:ITC Entertainment
143:
142:
16:(Redirected from
1359:
1209:
1208:
1206:
1204:
1195:. Archived from
1185:
1179:
1178:
1157:
1151:
1150:
1148:
1146:
1131:
1125:
1124:
1122:
1120:
1105:
1099:
1098:
1096:
1094:
1079:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1068:
1057:
1051:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1030:
1024:
1023:
1018:20 January 2009
1015:
1013:
1007:
996:
988:
979:
978:
976:
974:
951:
932:
931:
929:
927:
922:on 13 March 2008
911:
896:
895:
893:
891:
886:on 26 April 2006
875:
642:Dublin Nightmare
594:You Lucky People
413:UK singles chart
377:Patrick McGoohan
334:Leslie Charteris
218:for the troops.
204:Second World War
184:UK singles chart
111:
109:
83:Goring-on-Thames
78:
55:
53:
32:
31:
27:British composer
21:
1367:
1366:
1362:
1361:
1360:
1358:
1357:
1356:
1277:
1276:
1241:discography at
1218:
1213:
1212:
1202:
1200:
1187:
1186:
1182:
1172:
1158:
1154:
1144:
1142:
1139:The Independent
1133:
1132:
1128:
1118:
1116:
1115:on 17 July 2011
1107:
1106:
1102:
1092:
1090:
1080:
1076:
1066:
1064:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1044:
1042:
1031:
1027:
1011:
1009:
1008:on 6 March 2016
1005:
994:
990:
989:
982:
972:
970:
953:
952:
935:
925:
923:
912:
899:
889:
887:
876:
872:
867:
748:
706:A Matter of WHO
698:Follow That Man
634:The Woman Eater
618:Kill Her Gently
578:The Crowded Day
549:
521:
511:The Independent
497:Virginia Astley
485:
437:
402:Broad Waterways
224:
192:
139:(granddaughter)
113:
110: 1945)
105:
101:
100:Hazel Balbirnie
90:
80:
76:
67:
57:
51:
49:
48:
47:
37:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1365:
1355:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
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1269:
1260:
1259:
1255:
1254:
1245:
1236:
1230:
1229:
1225:
1224:
1217:
1216:External links
1214:
1211:
1210:
1180:
1170:
1152:
1126:
1100:
1074:
1052:
1025:
980:
969:on 22 May 2018
933:
897:
869:
868:
866:
863:
862:
861:
857:Whoops Baghdad
853:
845:
837:
829:
821:
813:
805:
797:
789:
781:
777:The Buccaneers
773:
765:
757:
747:
744:
743:
742:
734:
726:
718:
710:
702:
694:
686:
678:
670:
662:
654:
646:
638:
630:
622:
614:
606:
598:
590:
582:
574:
566:
558:
548:
545:
541:Pete Townshend
520:
517:
489:Pete Townshend
484:
481:
436:
433:
404:(1959/60) and
350:which starred
236:Richard Tauber
223:
220:
191:
188:
141:
140:
137:Emma Townshend
134:
130:
129:
119:
115:
114:
103:
99:
98:
96:
92:
91:
81:
79:(aged 76)
73:
69:
68:
58:
45:
43:
39:
38:
35:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1364:
1353:
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1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1338:
1335:
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1325:
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1313:
1310:
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1305:
1303:
1300:
1298:
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1293:
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1288:
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1284:
1282:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1266:
1262:
1261:
1257:
1256:
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1249:
1246:
1244:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1231:
1227:
1226:
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1220:
1219:
1198:
1194:
1190:
1184:
1177:
1173:
1167:
1163:
1156:
1140:
1136:
1130:
1114:
1110:
1104:
1089:
1085:
1078:
1062:
1056:
1041:on 9 May 2008
1040:
1036:
1029:
1022:
1021:
1004:
1000:
993:
987:
985:
968:
964:
960:
956:
950:
948:
946:
944:
942:
940:
938:
921:
917:
910:
908:
906:
904:
902:
885:
881:
878:Eder, Bruce.
874:
870:
859:
858:
854:
851:
850:
846:
843:
842:
838:
835:
834:
830:
827:
826:
822:
819:
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798:
795:
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771:
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766:
763:
762:
758:
755:
754:
750:
749:
740:
739:
735:
732:
731:
730:The Syndicate
727:
724:
723:
719:
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715:
711:
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635:
631:
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623:
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619:
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611:
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591:
588:
587:
583:
580:
579:
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572:
571:
567:
564:
563:
559:
556:
555:
551:
550:
544:
542:
538:
534:
530:
526:
525:Jools Holland
516:
514:
512:
507:
506:
500:
498:
494:
491:. Their son,
490:
483:Personal life
480:
478:
477:
472:
468:
463:
461:
456:
454:
450:
446:
442:
432:
430:
426:
422:
418:
414:
409:
407:
403:
399:
395:
394:
389:
385:
384:Kenneth Clark
380:
378:
374:
373:
368:
363:
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
340:
335:
331:
326:
324:
323:
318:
313:
312:productions.
311:
307:
306:
301:
300:
295:
294:
289:
288:
283:
282:
277:
273:
269:
265:
264:
259:
258:
253:
252:
251:The Champions
246:
244:
239:
237:
233:
229:
219:
217:
213:
210:band playing
209:
205:
201:
197:
187:
185:
181:
177:
173:
172:symphonic pop
169:
168:
163:
162:
157:
156:
151:
147:
138:
135:
131:
128:
124:
121:5, including
120:
116:
97:
93:
88:
84:
74:
70:
65:
61:
56:12 April 1922
44:
40:
33:
30:
19:
1264:
1248:Edwin Astley
1239:Edwin Astley
1234:Edwin Astley
1201:. Retrieved
1197:the original
1192:
1183:
1175:
1161:
1155:
1143:. Retrieved
1138:
1129:
1117:. Retrieved
1113:the original
1103:
1091:. Retrieved
1087:
1077:
1065:. Retrieved
1055:
1043:. Retrieved
1039:the original
1028:
1019:
1017:
1010:. Retrieved
1003:the original
998:
992:"Ted Astley"
971:. Retrieved
967:the original
959:Screenonline
958:
924:. Retrieved
920:the original
888:. Retrieved
884:the original
873:
855:
847:
841:Department S
839:
831:
823:
817:Gideon's Way
815:
807:
799:
791:
783:
775:
767:
759:
751:
736:
728:
720:
712:
704:
696:
688:
680:
672:
664:
656:
648:
640:
632:
624:
616:
608:
600:
592:
584:
576:
568:
560:
552:
532:
529:Astley's Way
528:
522:
509:
503:
501:
486:
474:
466:
464:
459:
457:
448:
444:
440:
438:
428:
424:
420:
419:for the new
410:
405:
401:
397:
393:Civilisation
391:
381:
372:The Prisoner
370:
366:
364:
355:
352:Simon Dutton
347:
337:
329:
327:
320:
317:Hammer Films
314:
303:
299:Gideon's Way
297:
291:
285:
281:Department S
279:
275:
268:Secret Agent
267:
261:
255:
249:
247:
243:Anne Shelton
240:
225:
193:
175:
165:
159:
153:
145:
144:
77:(1998-05-19)
29:
1292:1998 deaths
1287:1922 births
1145:1 September
1061:"THE SAINT"
562:The Gay Dog
471:Ronnie Lane
319:version of
87:Oxfordshire
75:19 May 1998
1281:Categories
1265:Danger Man
999:danger man
865:References
801:Danger Man
746:Television
650:Naked Fury
533:Danger Man
493:Jon Astley
445:Danger Man
435:Recordings
367:Danger Man
266:(known as
263:Danger Man
200:Lancashire
196:Warrington
190:Early life
161:Danger Man
64:Lancashire
60:Warrington
52:1922-04-12
36:Ted Astley
18:Ted Astley
1067:17 August
833:The Baron
809:The Saint
523:In 2001,
505:The Times
476:Rough Mix
473:'s album
441:The Saint
348:The Saint
344:TV movies
330:The Saint
305:The Baron
293:The Saint
276:High Wire
232:Vera Lynn
212:saxophone
176:The Saint
167:The Baron
155:The Saint
89:, England
66:, England
1258:Fansites
1119:15 April
1093:21 April
926:15 April
890:15 April
408:(1962).
400:(1959),
325:(1962).
278:theme),
216:clarinet
150:composer
127:Virginia
118:Children
1267:fansite
1243:Discogs
1203:18 July
1012:18 July
973:18 July
785:Ivanhoe
417:Orbital
228:Geraldo
180:Orbital
112:
104:
1168:
1045:18 May
860:(1973)
852:(1969)
844:(1968)
836:(1966)
828:(1965)
825:Seaway
820:(1965)
812:(1962)
804:(1960)
796:(1959)
788:(1958)
780:(1956)
772:(1956)
764:(1955)
756:(1955)
741:(1973)
733:(1968)
725:(1963)
717:(1962)
709:(1961)
701:(1961)
693:(1961)
685:(1960)
677:(1959)
669:(1959)
661:(1959)
653:(1959)
645:(1958)
637:(1958)
629:(1957)
621:(1957)
613:(1956)
605:(1955)
597:(1955)
589:(1955)
581:(1954)
573:(1954)
565:(1954)
557:(1954)
519:Legacy
222:Career
133:Family
95:Spouse
1006:(PDF)
995:(PDF)
421:Saint
356:Saint
106:(
102:
1252:IMDb
1228:Data
1205:2023
1166:ISBN
1147:2009
1121:2008
1095:2008
1069:2023
1047:2008
1014:2023
975:2023
928:2008
892:2008
508:and
443:and
302:and
234:and
214:and
164:and
125:and
72:Died
42:Born
1250:at
1193:BFI
963:BFI
388:BBC
386:'s
346:of
123:Jon
1283::
1191:.
1174:.
1137:.
1086:.
1016:.
997:.
983:^
961:.
957:.
936:^
900:^
543:.
479:.
431:.
362:.
296:,
290:,
284:,
245:.
238:.
198:,
186:.
158:,
108:m.
85:,
62:,
1207:.
1149:.
1123:.
1097:.
1071:.
1049:.
977:.
930:.
894:.
513:.
54:)
50:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.