Legendry musician Howard Blake was paid nothing upfront to jot down the music and lyrics of The Snowman.
As an alternative, the canny composer of the traditional Christmas animation held on to his royalty rights.
The 84-year-old now depends on his revenue from royalties to complement his state pension and fund his way of life in Kensington, West London.
Legend: Legendry musician Howard Blake was paid nothing upfront to jot down the music and lyrics of The Snowman
He lives in a big studio flat with a 17ft ceiling and galleries, not removed from Kensington Palace Gardens.
He tells DONNA FERGUSON that he isn’t enthusiastic about cash, so long as he has sufficient to remain alive, eat and write music.
Information about Howard and his autobiography, Strolling In The Air Can Be Harmful, are revealed on his web site, howardblake.com.
What did your mother and father train you about cash?
Nothing, completely nothing. My father was a civil servant who labored at Shaftesbury Avenue phone trade in London. My mom had additionally labored as a clerk within the phone service.
She stopped working after she had me and my brother. My father used to pay her £3 per week for housekeeping which, even again then, wasn’t very a lot. He was a part of the Plymouth Brethren, a strict sect of Christianity.
Cash was tight although my father earned wage. He was simply imply. He spent all the cash he had on himself. With us, he used to purchase every part second-hand, so nothing ever labored.
Traditional: Howard Blake wrote The Snowman lyrics sitting in a deck chair in a park in 4 hours
Once I was 13 all my associates received racing bikes. My father purchased mine second-hand, although he may afford a brand new one. Once I rode it downhill, the brakes went. I crashed right into a wall and broke my arm. I feel my dislike of cash and folks simply taking care of themselves stems from a hatred of the behaviour of my father.
Have you ever ever struggled to make ends meet?
Sure, once I got here out of the Royal Academy of Music. I wanted to get a job and at first I couldn’t. I used to be 23. At one level, I labored as a doorman at a lodge in Brighton. I additionally labored as a waiter.
I used to be extraordinarily enthusiastic about movie in addition to music. Once I was 24, I received a job as a projectionist on the Nationwide Movie Theatre, incomes 9 kilos, ten shillings per week. That was a improbable job and whereas I used to be there I received my very own movie made and proven.
However although I earned wage, I needed to play the piano and the one place to play was in pubs. So after two and a half years as a projectionist, I received a job doing precisely that. From then on, I’ve made a residing from music all of my life.
Ever been paid foolish cash?
I do not make music for cash. I make music as a result of I like to make it.
What was the very best 12 months of your monetary life?
It was 1967. I used to be getting by, enjoying piano in pubs and nightclubs, nothing particular. I then began enjoying for singer Lisa Shane who had taken over from Barbra Streisand in Humorous Lady. At some point, I drove her all the way down to Yarmouth to do a live performance.
Her husband got here alongside and it turned out he was a movie producer who was making The Italian Job. He requested me whether or not I needed to work on the movie with him. I did. So I performed piano for The Italian Job and did some arranging together with Quincy Jones. After that, I used to be signed up by a high agent to jot down music for films. It was a life-changing 12 months.
How did you get the job on The Snowman?
It was a results of a good friend, Gerald Potterton. He was serving to produce an animated movie – The Pleased Prince – about a little bit chicken that flies to Egypt.
He despatched me the script and I started working on the music. However once I rang him to inform him I had a improbable tune, which was in reality Strolling In The Air, he mentioned: ‘I’m terribly sorry, however they gave the job to any individual else.’
Eight years later, at lunch with Gerald, I met John Coates who made the Beatles’ animation movie Yellow Submarine. He instructed me he had been supplied a movie known as The Snowman, and he requested me to take a look at it – seven minutes lengthy with stills. I watched it and mentioned I might need simply the tune.
Three days later, I had recorded it and once I performed it to him, I instructed him that I needed to develop the mission right into a half-hour movie with nothing however music. John mentioned: ‘Inconceivable.’ I instructed him to attempt Channel 4. Jeremy Isaacs, its founding chief government, mentioned: ‘That is good, we’ll make it.’
At first, I wrote a whole rating on the piano in order that the animators may begin their work. I confirmed it to a few associates and each mentioned: ‘That bit when he’s flying within the air, it is best to put phrases to that, that’s received to have a voice. I realised they have been proper.
So I believed, I’ll stroll within the park and sit in a deck chair and write the lyrics. And one thing related in my mind between the phrases ‘strolling within the park’ and ‘flying within the air.’ I got here up with the phrase ‘Strolling within the air’. I made a decision that might make title for the tune. I began at 12 o’clock, had a picnic, sat within the deck chair and by 4pm I’d completed the lyrics.
How a lot did you receives a commission for The Snowman?
Once I was writing the music and lyrics, I used to be paid nothing. One does a deal, which is all the time royalty-based. I don’t understand how a lot I’ve created from The Snowman. A huge piece of accounting must go on, which I believe once I die, any individual will undertake.
The most costly factor you purchased for enjoyable?
I do not purchase issues for enjoyable, however my Steinway piano price £9,000. I purchased it from a good friend who was laborious up, so I gave him value. It’s a darkish mahogany boudoir grand piano made in 1920.
What’s your greatest cash mistake?
I’ve made three main cash errors in my life. My first, second and third wives. All cleaned me out.
The most effective cash resolution you’ve made?
Not marrying the fourth one.
Do you save into a pension?
No, I get the state pension and my royalties. Thankfully, royalties fund my way of life. I’ve three youngsters and I give them cash now and again.
Do you personal any property?
Sure. I personal the lease on my residence in Kensington, West London – a big studio flat which has enormous rooms, a 17ft-high ceiling and galleries. It’s one minute’s stroll from Kensington Gardens.
The one little luxurious you deal with your self to at the moment of 12 months?
I get pleasure from a beautiful Christmas lunch from my favorite restaurant, HUX American Brasserie, across the nook. What I wish to deal with myself to can be for my piano concerto, which I wrote for Princess Diana, to be performed on the BBC.
Should you have been Chancellor what’s the very first thing you’d do?
God assist the nation if I used to be in command of its funds! I don’t know something about cash. I’m solely enthusiastic about music.
Do you donate cash to charity?
Sure. I donate to The Salvation Military. I feel it’s the real charity for poor folks and provides them someplace to reside.
What’s your quantity one monetary precedence?
Staying alive and having sufficient cash to eat.
