大象传媒

Bill Kenwright presents the first of three programmes looking at the life and music of the former Head Chorister who went on to become one of Britain's leading composers, songwriters, arrangers and producers.

Downtown, I Couldn't Live Without Your Love. Don't Sleep In The Subway, Joanna, Crossroads, Sportsnight and Neighbours are just a few of the songs and compositions of Tony Hatch who celebrated his 70th birthday in June 2009 [when this series first broadcast] and who was hugely instrumental in the careers of Petula Clark and The Searchers.

In the first of three programmes, Bill Kenwright traces Tony Hatch's early years from the 12 year old hooked on the light orchestras of Mantovani and Stanley Black, to the international success of Downtown.

The series includes an exclusive contribution from Tony himself talking about his life in music and we hear from some of the people involved in those early years including Julie Grant. John McNally of The Searchers talks about the moment when Brian Epstein didn't sign the band and they thought they'd missed the boat, until Tony Hatch arrived in Liverpool and signed them up. Fellow Searcher, Frank Allen talks about the impact that Tony's involvement had on the band's career and Petula Clark recalls the moment when she first heard the amazing piano intro to Downtown.