Harry Williamson
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Harry Williamson (born May 12, 1950, Ilfracombe, North Devon, England) is a British musician, producer and inventor.
He is the son of noted author Henry Williamson and his second wife Christine Duffield. Divorced, one daughter Bee Williamson. Educated at Exeter Cathedral School under Lionel Dakers (later head of RSCM), and at Millfield school, Street, Somerset.
He started a Physics degree at Imperial College, University of London, but abandoned Physics for Rock Theatre, working at Glastonbury Festival and the Rainbow Theatre and crewing for The Rolling Stones in the 1970s. He helped establish the Green Party of England and Wales and is still actively involved in designing innovative energy efficient systems.
He met Anthony Phillips of Genesis with whom he composed music for the film of his father's bestseller "Tarka the Otter". The music, recorded by The London Philharmonic Orchestra was not used in the film due to budgetary considerations but some years later was finished with funds from Any International, released by PRT and became #1 in the UK for 3 months. It is still regarded as a classic by Genesis fans and excerpts are used for documentaries and other nature oriented films worldwide. Another series of recordings started in 1976 became 'Gypsy Suite', released 1998.
Harry married Gilli Smyth (ex-Gong) in 1982 and emigrated to Melbourne, Australia where he now lives and dedicates his time to composing Film, World, and many other styles of music, producing recordings from artists around the world and implementing his environmentally sustainable designs. He has recently completed a musical 'Lace' which deals with life, death romance and despair in a Spanish family, and soundtracks for 2 films - 'Rhokkashoru Rhapsody' a Japanese documentary on Nuclear reprocessing, and 'The stained glass heart' an Australian drama, with singer Liz Van Dort, who is also half of Faraway.
[edit] Discography
- Tarka (with Anthony Phillips) PRT (1988) Voiceprint (1996)
- Gypsy Suite (with Anthony Phillips) rec 1976, rel 1998 (Voiceprint)
- Nuclear Waste (with Sting and the Radio-Actors) 1978 (Virgin, Charly, DB, Voiceprint)
- Fairy Tales (with Gilli Smyth) 1978 (Charly)
- Robot Woman 1, 11, 111 (with Mother Gong) (1978, 1983, 1986) ( Shanghai)
- Owl In Tree (With Mother Gong) 1987
- Buddhas Birthday (With Mother Gong) 1989
- Wild Child (With Mother Gong) 1989 (Demi-Monde)
- Fish in Sky (With Mother Gong) 1990
- Faraway (with E Van Dort) 1998 (Voiceprint)
- Life in the Unseen World (Solo)1999 (Voiceprint)
- Soleluna (with Soleluna) 2005 (Elysian)
