Geoff Love facts for kids

Geoffrey Love (born September 4, 1917 – died July 8, 1991) was a very talented British musician. He was known for arranging and composing easy listening and pop versions of movie songs. He became famous in the late 1950s. Many people knew him by his stage name, Manuel and The Music of The Mountains.

Geoff Love's Early Life and Musical Start

Geoff Love was born in Todmorden, England. His father, Thomas Edward Love, was African American, and his mother, Frances Helen Maycock, was English. His parents were entertainers who traveled around Britain.

After his father passed away, Geoff's family moved back to Todmorden. While he was at school, Geoff learned to play the trombone. When he was 15, he left school and worked as a car mechanic. In the evenings, he played his trombone in dance halls. By the time he was 17, he became a professional musician and joined a band led by Freddie Platt.

In 1936, Geoff joined Jan Ralfini's band in London. Here, he learned to play jazz music. When the Second World War started, Geoff joined the army. While serving, he spent time learning about how to arrange music for different instruments. He would ask other musicians how to write music best for their instruments.

Geoff married Cicely Joyce Peters, known as Joy, in 1942. Joy helped Geoff with his music career by organizing his recording sessions and managing his accounts. They had two sons, Adrian and Nigel. Adrian later became a well-known radio presenter.

Geoff Love's Music Career After the War

After leaving the army, Geoff Love became a freelance trombonist. This meant he worked for himself and played for different groups. He also played with Stanley Black's orchestra at the BBC. He continued to improve his music arranging skills with help from the harpist Marie Goossens.

In the early 1950s, Geoff was part of a Dixieland jazz group called 'Pieces of Eight'. He played the trombone, and the group also included saxophonist Harry Gold, Laurie Gold, and pianist Norrie Paramor.

Even though Geoff kept playing the trombone for recordings, he started doing more and more orchestral arrangements. His arrangements were used by many famous groups and bands, like the Cliff Adams Singers and the Ken Mackintosh dance band. He also worked on music for television and radio.

By the mid-1950s, Geoff was writing music for several record labels, including Philips, Polydor, and EMI. At the HMV label, he arranged music for singers like Frankie Vaughan and Alma Cogan. He also arranged the gospel song "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" for Laurie London. This song became a number one hit in the US in 1957.

Manuel and The Music of The Mountains

In the late 1950s, Geoff Love started using a secret name, Manuel and his Music of the Mountains. Under this name, he released "Theme from Honeymoon" (1959), which became very popular in the UK. His music was so successful, especially in the US in 1959 and 1960, that it became impossible to keep his identity a secret.

In 1959, Geoff and his orchestra recorded an album with the British singer Shirley Bassey. It was called The Fabulous Shirley Bassey and was her first album for the Columbia label.

In 1964, "Geoff Love's Music" played for the British rock duo Peter and Gordon. They backed them on their first two hit songs, "A World Without Love" and "Nobody I Know". Both songs were written by Paul McCartney.

Movie and TV Themes

During the 1960s and 1970s, Geoff Love recorded many albums for MFP. These albums often featured movie or television themes. Some popular ones included Big Western Movie Themes (1969), Big War Movie Themes (1971), and Your Top TV Themes (1972).

One of his most popular MFP albums was Big Bond Movie Themes (1975). This album had instrumental versions of songs from the James Bond movies, from Dr. No to The Man with the Golden Gun. It even included the song from the 1967 spoof Bond film, Casino Royale. This album is now one of Geoff Love's most sought-after MFP albums.

Geoff also made a very popular album of Christmas Carols and Songs called Christmas with Love (1972). One of his most recognized arrangements was "Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto De Aranjuez (Theme From 2nd Movement)" by Manuel and the Music of the Mountains. This song was announced as the number one single in the UK in February 1976, but the chart was later changed due to errors.

Geoff Love also appeared on television with pianist Russ Conway. He was also well known for working with singer and comedian Max Bygraves. Geoff was also a talented composer. He wrote the theme music for the ITV sitcom Bless This House. He even made some recordings where he sang.

In 1975, Geoff Love was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life, where he was surprised by the host Eamonn Andrews.

In the early 1980s, Geoff Love helped start the Young Person's Concert Foundation with Bill Starling. He traveled around the country with this charity, bringing music to schools and other places. In the late 1980s, Geoff also became involved with several brass bands.

A part of his recording, Tico's Tune, was used as the theme song for the long-running Gay Byrne Show on Ireland's RTÉ Radio 1 radio station.

Awards and Recognition

Geoff Love had a very successful career. He earned one platinum disc, fifteen gold discs, and thirteen silver discs. These awards are given for selling many records. He also received a special trophy for selling over 2.5 million records.

Geoff Love's Passing

Geoff Love passed away at the University College Hospital in London on July 8, 1991. He was 73 years old.

Geoff Love Albums (as 'Manuel & the Music of the Mountains')

• The Music of the Mountains (1960)
• Mountain Carnival (1961)
• Ecstasy (1963)
• Mountain Fiesta (1964)
• Exotica (1965)
• Blue Waters (1966)
• Sunrise, Sunset (1967)
• Beyond the Mountains (1967)
• Mirage (1968)
• Magic Fountains (1968)
• Reflections (1969)
• Manuel and the Music of the Masters (1969)
• Manuel and the Music of the Movies (1970)
• Cascade (1971)
• Carnival (1971)
• Manuel Meets Pepe Jaramillo (1971)
• Mardi Gras (1972)
• The Sun, the Sea and the Sky (1972)
• Horizons (1973)
• Shangri-La (1973)
• Y Viva España (1974)
• El Bimbo (1975)
• Masquerade (1976)
• Mountain Fire (1977)
• The Music of Manuel (1978)
• The Magic of Manuel (1978)
• Super Natural (1979)
• Viva Manuel (1979)
• Fiesta (1980)
• Fantasy (1981)

Albums as Mandingo

• The Primeval Rhythm of Life (1972)
• Sacrifice (1973)
• Mandingo III (A Story of Survival) (1974)
• Savage Rite (1975)