Paul Buckmaster
Background information
Birth namePaul John Buckmaster
Born(1946-06-13)13 June 1946
London, England
Died7 November 2017(2017-11-07) (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresClassical, rock, pop, social music, country, film score
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger, film composer, conductor
Instrument(s)Cello, synthesizer
Websitebuckmastersound.com

Paul John Buckmaster (13 June 1946 – 7 November 2017) was a British cellist, arranger, conductor and composer, with a career spanning five decades.

He is best known for his orchestral collaborations with David Bowie, Shawn Phillips, Elton John, Harry Nilsson, The Rolling Stones, Carly Simon, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, and the Grateful Dead in the 1970s, followed by his contributions to the recordings of many other artists, including Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Rogers, Guns N’ Roses, Taylor Swift, Something Corporate, Train, and Heart.

Early life

Paul Buckmaster was born in London on 13 June 1946. His father, John Caravoglia Buckmaster, was an English actor[lower-alpha 1] and his mother, Ermenegilda ("Gilda") Maltese, was an Italian concert pianist and graduate of the Naples Conservatory of Music.[1]

At age four, Buckmaster started attending a small private school in London called the London Violoncello School, and continued studying cello under several private teachers until he was ten. In 1957, his mother took him and his two siblings to Naples, where he auditioned with cello professor Willy La Volpe, to be assessed as eligible for a scholarship. From 1958 to 1962 he divided his time between studying music in Naples and working for his GCEs in London, then won a scholarship to study the cello at the Royal Academy of Music, from which he graduated with a performance diploma in 1967.[1]

Career

Studio work

Buckmaster displayed professional mastery as a cellist. After leading a small orchestral group during a two-month tour with the Bee Gees in 1968,[2] he started his career as an orchestral arranger on various hit songs, including David Bowie's "Space Oddity" (1969),[3][4] and contributed orchestral collaborations on a number of early albums by Elton John (1969–72), as well as on the songs "Sway" and "Moonlight Mile" on The Rolling Stones' album Sticky Fingers (1971). Buckmaster contributed string and horn arrangements to Leonard Cohen's 1971 album, Songs of Love and Hate.[5]

He assisted Miles Davis with the preparation of On the Corner (1972) and wrote the arrangements for the studio sessions, in which he also participated, at Davis' request, by humming bass lines and rhythms to lead the musicians. These arrangements were often used as a starting point to be transformed until what was being played bore no resemblance to what he had written. This was in keeping with the Stockhausian approach that Buckmaster and Davis had discussed in the weeks leading up to the session.[1]

Film work

As a member of Third Ear Band, Buckmaster co-wrote and performed on Music from Macbeth, the soundtrack album to Roman Polanski's film Macbeth (1972). Buckmaster wrote some instrumental tracks for Harry Nilsson's film Son of Dracula (1974).[6] He also played with Bowie and his band in the recordings for the original soundtrack to the science fiction film The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), in which Bowie starred as Thomas Jerome Newton. Buckmaster stated in Mojo magazine's feature "60 Years of Bowie", that he had played cello on the original soundtrack recordings,[7] on which Carlos Alomar, J. Peter Robinson and others were also included:

There were a couple of medium tempo rock instrumental pieces, with simple motifs and rifly kind of grooves, with a line-up of David's rhythm section (Carlos Alomar et al.) plus J. Peter Robinson on Fender Rhodes and me on cello and some synth overdubs, using ARP Odyssey and Solina. There was also a piece I wrote and performed using some beautifully made mbiras (African thumb pianos) I had purchased earlier that year, plus cello, all done by multiple overdubbing.

—Paul Buckmaster, "60 Years of Bowie" (Mojo Classic Magazine - Vol 2 Issue 2)

Later, the film's director Nicolas Roeg decided not to use the recordings but rather existing songs as the soundtrack for the movie.[8]

In 1995 Buckmaster composed, orchestrated, conducted and produced the original score to Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys.[9] He also composed the score for the 1997 film Most Wanted.[9][10]

Personal life

Buckmaster had two siblings, Rosemary and Adrian. He married Diana Lewis in 1970; they divorced three years later. From a relationship with Rosalie Van Leer, he had a son, Banten. Buckmaster died on 7 November 2017, aged 71, in Los Angeles from undisclosed causes.[1]

Awards

Buckmaster won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for his work on American rock band Train's 2001 single "Drops of Jupiter".[11]

Selected discography

YearArtistSongAlbumNotes
2018Brandi Carlile"Whatever You Do"
"Party of One"		By the Way, I Forgive YouArranger, conductor
2017Chris Cornell"The Promise"Chris Cornell (2018)Arranger, conductor
2016Kelly Clarkson"I Don't Think About You"Meaning of LifeArranger, conductor
2016Max&Friends
  • "Dove c'è amore"
  • "Arrivi Tu"
  • "Acqua"
  • "Sabato Sera"
  • "Una parte del tutto"
  • "Felice"
  • "Terra mia"
 Max&FriendsCo-composer, arranger, conductor
2016Idina Menzel
  • "Extraordinary"
  • "Show Me"
  • "Everybody Knows"
  • "Small World"
  • "I Do"
  • "I See You"
  • "Like Lightning"
  • "Last Time"
 idina.Arranger
2016Heart
  • "I Jump"
  • "City's Burning"
  • "Sweet Darlin"
  • "Language of Love"
 Beautiful BrokenArranger
2015The Tenors"I Remember You"Under One SkyArranger
2014Hunter Hayes"...interlude"StorylineArranger, conductor
2014Ferras feat. Katy Perry"Legends Never Die"FerrasArranger, conductor
2013Goo Goo Dolls"When The World Breaks Your Heart"MagneticArranger, conductor
2012Ben Folds Five
  • "On Being Frank"
  • "Away When You Were Here"
 The Sound of the Life of the MindArranger, conductor
2010Taylor Swift
 Speak NowArranger, conductor
2009Mika"I See You"The Boy Who Knew Too MuchArranger, conductor
2008Guns N' Roses
 Chinese DemocracyArranger, conductor
2007The Bravery"The Ocean"The Sun and the MoonArranger, conductor
2007Mika"Happy Ending"Life in Cartoon MotionArranger, conductor
2007Katharine McPhee"Ordinary World"Katharine McPheeArranger, conductor
2007Michael Bublé"Lost"Call Me IrresponsibleArranger, conductor
2007Mig Ayesa
  • "Baby I Love Your Way"
  • "Kiss From a Rose"
  • "Who Wants to Live Forever"
  • "Can't Find My Home"
  • "Life on Mars"
  • "Wrapped Around Your Finger"
 MigArranger, conductor
2006Ben Folds"Still"Over the Hedge (Soundtrack)Arranger, conductor
2006New Found Glory
  • "When I Die"
  • "Boulders"
 Coming HomeArranger, conductor
2006Kenny Rogers
  • "Water & Bridges"
  • "One Life"
 Water & BridgesArranger, conductor
2006Jesse McCartney"Invincible"Right Where You Want MeArranger, conductor
2006Skillet
 ComatoseArranger, conductor
2006Bianca Ryan"Awake"Bianca RyanArranger, conductor
2005Bon Jovi"Wildflower"Have a Nice DayArranger, conductor
2005Carrie Underwood
  • "Lessons Learned"
  • "Starts With Goodbye"
 Some HeartsArranger, conductor
2005Faith Hill"Paris"FirefliesArranger, conductor
2005Ben Folds"Landed"Songs for SilvermanArranger, conductor
2005The Wallflowers"Beautiful Side of Somewhere"Rebel, SweetheartArranger, conductor
2005The Darkness
 One Way Ticket to Hell... and BackArranger, conductor
2005Nerina Pallot
  • "Geek Love"
  • "Idaho"
 FiresArranger, conductor
2004Keith Urban
 Be HereArranger, conductor
2004Tears for Fears"Secret World"Everybody Loves a Happy EndingArranger, conductor
2004Third Day
  • "Wire"
  • "It's a Shame"
 WireArranger, conductor
2003Train
  • "Lincoln Avenue"
  • "Your Every Color"
 My Private NationArranger, conductor
2003The Thorns"No Blue Sky"The ThornsArranger, conductor
2003Something Corporate
  • "The Runaway"
  • "Me and the Moon"
 NorthArranger, conductor, performer
2003Beth Hart"I'll Stay With You"Leave the Light OnArranger, conductor
2003Luis Miguel"Nos Hizo Falta Tiempo"33Arranger, conductor
2003Live"Run Away"Birds of PrayArranger, conductor
2003Wilshire
  • "In Your Arms"
  • "Tonight"
New UniverseArranger, conductor
2002Faith Hill
  • "You're Still Here"
  • "Safest Place to Hide"
 CryArranger, conductor
2002Tim McGraw"She's My Kind of Rain"Tim McGraw and the Dancehall DoctorsArranger, conductor
2002Something Corporate
  • "Punk Rock Princess"
  • "The Astronaut"
  • "Cavanaugh Park"
  • "Not What It Seems"
  • "Globes And Maps"
 Leaving Through the WindowArranger, conductor
2001Train"Drops of Jupiter"Drops of JupiterArranger, conductor
2002 Grammy Winner
Arrangement of the Year
2001Elton John
 Songs from the West CoastArranger, conductor
2000No Doubt"Too Late (Reprise)" (Hidden instrumental track)Return of SaturnArranger, conductor
1999Julio Iglesias Jr.Under My EyesArranger, conductor
1999Tal Bachman
  • "Beside You"
  • "You're My Everything"
 Tal BachmanArranger, conductor
1999Lara Fabian"Sola Otra Vez"Lara FabianArranger
1998Des'ree"Time"SupernaturalArranger, conductor
1997Collective Soul"She Said"Scream 2 SoundtrackArranger, conductor,
co-composer
1996Counting Crows
 Recovering the SatellitesArranger, conductor
1996Celine Dion"Falling into You"Falling into YouArranger, conductor
1995Elton John
 Made in EnglandComposer, arranger, conductor
1995The Jayhawks"Blue"Tomorrow the Green GrassArranger
1993Dwight Yoakam
 This TimeArranger, conductor
1992Lionel Richie
 Back to FrontArranger, conductor
1991Kenny Loggins
  • "Cody's Song"
  • "Too Early for the Sun"
 Leap of FaithArranger, conductor
1991Lloyd ColeDon't Get Weird on Me BabeArranger, conductor
1985Mick Jagger"Hard Woman"She's the BossArranger, conductor
1983Nick HeywardNorth of a MiracleArranger[12]
1983Stevie Nicks"Beauty and the Beast"The Wild HeartArranger, conductor
1981UFO"Profession of Violence"The Wild, the Willing and the InnocentArranger, conductor
1978Elton JohnA Single ManArranger, conductor
1977Grateful DeadTerrapin StationArranger, conductor
(side two)
1976Elton JohnBlue MovesArranger, conductor
1975Thijs van LeerO My LoveArranger, conductor
1974Miles Davis"Ife"Big FunArranger, conductor
1974Carly Simon"Haven't Got Time for the Pain"HotcakesArranger, conductor
1974Angelo BranduardiAngelo BranduardiArranger, conductor, producer,
co-composer
1973Elton John
 Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerArranger, conductor
1973Shawn Phillips"Lady of the Blue Rose"Bright WhiteArranger, conductor
1973Blood, Sweat & TearsNo SweatArranger, conductor
1972Miles DavisOn the CornerArranger, conductor,
electric cello
1972Carly Simon"You're So Vain"No SecretsArranger, conductor
1972Harry Nilsson"Spaceman"Son of SchmilssonArranger, conductor
1971Elton John
 Madman Across the WaterArranger, conductor, musical director
1971Rolling Stones
 Sticky FingersArranger, conductor
1971Chitinous EnsembleChitinous EnsembleMusical director, electric piano, cello
1971Leonard CohenSongs of Love and HateArranger, conductor
1971Harry Nilsson"Without You"Nilsson SchmilssonArranger, conductor
1971Elton John
  • "Variations on "Friends" Theme"
  • "Variations on Michelle's Song"
  • "I Mean To Do My Work Today"
  • "Four Moods"
 FriendsArranger, conductor,
musical director
1971Rupert HinePick Up a BoneArranger,
electric cello
1970Elton JohnTumbleweed ConnectionArranger, conductor, musical director
1970Elton John
 Elton JohnArranger, conductor, musical director
1970Shawn Phillips"F Sharp Splendor" (instrumental)Second ContributionArranger,
musical director, keyboards
1970Mick Farren"Mona, The Whole Trip"Mona – The Carnivorous CircusSolo cello
1970Arrival
  • "Friends"
  • "I Will Survive"
 Arranger, cello
1970Michael Chapman"Aviator"Fully Qualified SurvivorSolo cello
1969Kevin AyersJoy of a ToySolo cello
1969David Bowie
 Space OddityArranger, conductor, cello
1969The Bee Gees"Odessa (City on the Black Sea)"OdessaCello

Explanatory footnotes

  1. ↑ John Caravoglia Buckmaster (1914–1995) should not be confused with English actor John Rodney Buckmaster (1915–1983), the son of Gladys Cooper. John C. Buckmaster—son of actor-manager Charles Buckmaster, of Italian ancestry—started out as a young actor in the 1930s. During WWII, he enlisted in the London Scottish regiment, where he served with Bruce Copp, also an English actor. John C. Buckmaster saw action in North Africa, then north into Sicily and finally in and around Naples, during late 1943 and early 1944. There he met a young concert pianist, Ermenegilda ("Gilda") Maltese (1918–1989), during a production of Madama Butterfly at the newly restored San Carlo Opera House. They married on 15 August 1945 and, after the war, made their home in Earl's Court, London.[lower-alpha 2]: 67–69  They had three children: Paul, Rosemary, and Adrian. John C. Buckmaster continued to have small acting jobs until 1989. In 1994, he moved to Sydney where he died on 9 March 1995.
  2. Copp, Bruce (2015). Out Of The Firing Line... Into The Foyer (hardcover). Stroud: History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-6134-9.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sweeting, Adam (19 November 2017). "Paul Buckmaster obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Marble, Steve (9 November 2017). "Paul Buckmaster, arranger for Bowie, Elton John and the Rolling Stones, dies at 71". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  3. ↑ Lanz, Michelle (16 May 2016). "Inside the rock star's studio with music arranger Paul Buckmaster". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Cole, George (30 September 2010). "Elton John, the Beach Boys and the fine art of pop alchemy". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  5. ↑ Sylvie Simmons, 2012, I'm Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen, pp. 234–235.
  6. ↑ "Son Of Dracula (Soundtrack)". Harrynilsson.com. April 1974. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Paul Buckmaster". The Times. 15 November 2017. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Browne, David (8 November 2017). "Paul Buckmaster, Essential Arranger for Bowie and Elton, Dead at 71". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  9. 1 2 Genzlinger, Neil (15 November 2017). "Paul Buckmaster, 71, Arranger on Hits by Bowie and More, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Paul Buckmaster - Most Wanted (Soundtrack From The Motion Picture)". Discogs.com. 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  11. ↑ Morgenstein, Mark (16 May 2016). "Drops of Jupiter / Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  12. ↑ "North of a Miracle – Nick Heyward". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
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