Big George
| Big George | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
George Webley 29 May 1957 Clapham, London |
| Died | 7 May 2011 (aged 53) Milton Keynes, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, Musician, Composer, Bandleader |
| Spouse(s) | Sheila Webley (?-2011) (his death) |
| Children | 4 |
George Webley (29 May 1957 – 7 May 2011), better known by the stage name Big George, was a British musician, composer, bandleader, and broadcaster who has been described as one of Britain's most successful theme music writers.
Webley was born in Clapham, London. His aunt Vera was the fan club secretary for Frankie Laine, who attended Webley's baptism at Macaulay, in the Church of England, on 1 June 1957 as his godfather. His first introduction to music was when Donald Swann attended his primary school to play to all the pupils after the school's music teacher died. Webley later said "From the first moment he lifted the piano lid, I knew the direction my life was going to take."
Webley left school at the age of 14 to go on the road with a showband. He became friends with and regularly accompanied Herbie Flowers in his late teens after writing to the bassist for advice and was a session bass player until the age of 30.
He became a musical director for EMI at 30 and produced dozens of chart records. In 1989, Webley became bandleader on Jameson Tonight with Derek Jameson and Shane Ritchie. He composed or arranged the theme music for the television programmesHave I Got News For You, The Office, Room 101, and Graham Norton as well as play-out music for One Foot in the Grave (for which he claimed he was paid more than the more famous Have I Got News For You theme).
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