Laurie Holloway
(1938-2025)

The composer, pianist and musical director Laurie Holloway has died at the age of 86. Born in March 1938 he started piano lessons aged 8 and after four years became organist and choirmaster at his local church, while also playing for ballroom dancers. Turning professional in 1954 he played with Geraldo and his Orchestra on cruise liners. He also worked in Soho strip clubs and as a studio session musician, notably on Petula Clark's Number One hit Downtown, written by Tony Hatch. In 1970 he hit the big time as Engelbert Humperdinck's Musical Director, working on his albums and accompanying him on a tour of America, including Los Angeles. Sadly this deprived him of the chance to work with Frank Sinatra.

In due course Laurie became Cleo Laine's Musical Director and subsequently joined the Johnny Dankworth Band, appearing on the £1,000 Million Collection album in 1967. At this point his career really took off as he began working with stars such as Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Tom Jones, Liza Minnelli, Mel Torme and others too numerous to mention. He also composed music for hit TV shows including Beadle's About, Blind Date and Game For A Laugh.

In 1990 he accompanied Queen Elizabeth the Second and her sister Margaret on a recording of songs they had sung together in their childhood: this was presented to the Queen Mother on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Unfortunately, after she passed away the cassette was lost.

Eight years later Laurie began his association with Michael Parkinson as Musical Director on his award-winning chat show (many episodes are currently being shown on BBC4): and between 2004 and 2006 he was MD for the BBC's top-rated show Strictly Come Dancing, writing up to 14 arrangements every week.

Laurie was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters in 1993 and appeared on This Is Your Life in 2000. In 2013 he was awarded an MBE for services to music.

Laurie’s first wife, the American singer Marion Montgomery, whom he married in 1965, tragically died of cancer in 2002. I had the privilege of recording a few sessions for Radio 2 with them at Maida Vale studios in the early 1980s. We send our sincere condolences to their daughter Abigail, his second wife and his grandchildren.

© Anthony Wills January 2025