Peter Knight

Peter Knight ranks among the most pivotal arrangers and music directors in British theater and television history. Yorkshire Television responded to his death in 1985 by instituting the annual Peter Knight award, which recognizes superior achievement in musical arranging.

Knight displayed an instinctive command of the piano from childhood onward, then honed his craft through formal study of harmony, counterpoint, and advanced keyboard technique. At age seven he performed on the BBC Radio program Children’s Hour, and during his teenage years he played in several semiprofessional London ensembles. He captured first place in the 1937 Melody Maker All London Dance Band competition. Three years afterward he joined the Ambrose Orchestra, whose regular engagements took place at the Mayfield Hotel. Although he served in the Royal Air Force throughout World War Two, he resumed his career after discharge and spent four years performing with Sydney Lipton at Grosvenor House.

Together with his wife Babs he founded the vocal ensemble the Peter Knight Singers and remained with the group for thirty years. He also completed a year-long stint with British vocalist Geraldo.

In the early 1950s Knight served as musical director for West End productions that included Cockles And Champagne and The Jazz Train. The experience led to his appointment as musical director at Granada Television in the late 1950s. In 1964 he held the same post for a touring production of the musical The Roar Of The Greasepaint – The Smell Of The Crowd.

His arranging and directing assignments were not confined to England. During the late 1970s he contributed to Hollywood films such as Sunstroke, The Curse Of The Crimson Alter, and Roman Polansky’s Tess. Working as a freelance arranger and conductor, he supplied orchestrations for albums by Petula Clark, Sammy Davis, Jr., Harry Secombe, and the Moody Blues.