Johnny Arthey

John Raymond "Johnny" Arthey (24 September 1930 – 27 October 2007) was a British conductor and composer. He was responsible for arranging many hit pop records in the 1960s and 1970s.

Johnny Arthey started his career as a pianist with a military orchestra during his National Service. He became a much sought-after arranger in the 1960s and 1970s, working with Engelbert Humperdinck, Mary Hopkin, Clodagh Rodgers, Vince Hill, Jonathan King, Julie Rogers, Joe Dassin, Camilo Sesto and many more. He wrote the orchestration to hit records such as "Eloise" by Barry Ryan, "Young, Gifted and Black" by Bob and Marcia, and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" by Desmond Dekker. Through his string arrangements, added to Jamaican recordings, he helped reggae artists such as The Pioneers trying to force a breakthrough on the British market. He also arranged the Piglets' hit "Johnny Reggae", and led a recording outfit called The Reggae Strings. In 1972, he formed the studio group Blue Haze with Phillip Swern; their reggae cover version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" reached no.32 on the UK Singles Chart.

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