Bill Bramwell(1922-1968)
- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Born in Wales in 1922, jazz guitarist Roger Bramwell always liked to be
called "Bill." He began playing guitar in the RAF band while stationed
in Malta, then after demobilization worked for many bandleaders,
including Freddy Randall, Carlo Krahmer and Reg Wale. In 1948 he moved
to South Africa to play a residency in Cape Town, then returned to
England in 1950 to play in London night clubs, followed by a spell
aboard the ocean liner Caronia re-joining Reg Wale's band. In the late
1950s, after a spell with the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, Bramwell
became a freelance guitarist and composer. His best-remembered scoring
was for Candid Camera (1960) containing arguably one of television's
catchiest themes. In more serious mood Bramwell scored the social
conscience short Jemima and Johnny (1965) concerning the effect of
racial intolerance on two small children: one white, one black.
Bramwell was something of a character on tour and was often observed
nursing a small hip-flask. Sadly, alcoholism affected his work in his
last years, and his early death at 46 was due to a stroke. He passed
away at his Hampstead home on 13 September 1968. Although always
credited professionally as Bill Bramwell, he never changed his name
legally and his death was registered at Hampstead under his real name
Roger Bramwell.
