Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1903 in Hampstead, London, England

Death

:

1996 in London, England

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Orchestral

 

Vivian Ellis was a British composer and songwriter who was born on October 29, 1904, in Hampstead, London. He was the son of a successful businessman and a talented pianist, and he showed an early interest in music. He began taking piano lessons at the age of six and later studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Ellis began his career as a composer in the 1920s, writing music for revues and musical comedies. His first major success came in 1929 with the musical comedy "Mr. Cinders," which featured the hit song "Spread a Little Happiness." The song became a popular standard and was later recorded by many artists, including Bing Crosby and Sting. In the 1930s, Ellis continued to write music for musical comedies, including "The Fleet's Lit Up" and "Jill Darling." He also wrote the music for the film "Evergreen" in 1934, which featured the song "Waltz of My Heart." The song became another popular standard and was later recorded by artists such as Vera Lynn and Nat King Cole. During World War II, Ellis served in the Royal Air Force and wrote music for the RAF's entertainment unit. He also wrote the music for the musical comedy "Bless the Bride" in 1947, which featured the hit song "This Is My Lovely Day." In the 1950s, Ellis continued to write music for musical comedies, including "Belle, Book and Candle" and "The Water Gipsies." He also wrote the music for the film "The Gay Dog" in 1954, which featured the song "The Gay Dog." The song became a popular hit and was later recorded by artists such as Petula Clark and Alma Cogan. In the 1960s, Ellis wrote the music for the musical comedy "Valmouth," which was based on the novel by Ronald Firbank. The show was a critical success and featured the hit song "The Physician." Ellis also wrote the music for the film "The Little Hut" in 1957, which featured the song "We Speak of You Fondly." The song became a popular hit and was later recorded by artists such as Shirley Bassey and Matt Monro. Ellis continued to write music throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including the musical comedy "Babes in the Wood" and the film "The Water Babies." He also wrote the music for the television series "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in the 1950s. Ellis was known for his catchy melodies and his ability to write music that was both entertaining and memorable. His songs became popular standards and were recorded by many artists over the years. He was also known for his work in musical comedies, which were popular in Britain during the first half of the 20th century. Ellis died on June 6, 1996, at the age of 91. He left behind a legacy of memorable music and was remembered as one of Britain's most successful composers and songwriters.

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