Geoff Love

Geoffrey Love (4 September 1917 – 8 July 1991) was a prolific British band leader, musical director, and arranger of easy listening instrumental versions of popular music and film themes. He provided accompanying music for recordings for many vocalists. Starting in the late 1950s, he recorded under the stage name Manuel and the Music of the Mountains. He also recorded under his own name.

Early years Love was born in Todmorden, West Riding of Yorkshire, England,

Although Love continued to play trombone at recording sessions (for example with bandleader Lew Stone), he was doing more and more orchestral arrangements. His arrangements were played by the Cliff Adams Singers, Ambrose and Ken Mackintosh dance bands, as well as work for television and radio orchestras.

By the mid-1950s, Love was writing for several recording labels, moving from Philips to Polydor and PolyGram before finally settling at EMI. Whilst at the His Master's Voice label, he arranged for Frankie Vaughan and Alma Cogan, among others. At Columbia, Love arranged Laurie London's gospel song "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", a 1957 chart topper in the US.

In the late 1950s, playing under the pseudonym of 'Manuel and his Music of the Mountains', Love created his "Theme from Honeymoon" (1959) which proved popular in the UK. He also made a very popular album of arrangements of Christmas carols and songs, Christmas with Love (1972).

Love appeared on television with pianist Russ Conway and became well known for working alongside singer-comedian Max Bygraves. He was also a prolific composer, writing the theme music for the ITV sitcom Bless This House. Love also made some recordings as a vocalist.

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1975, when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.

In the early 1980s, Love was the co-founder (with Bill Starling) of the Young Person's Concert Foundation. He travelled the country with this charity, promoting music to schools and other venues. In the late 1980s, Love became involved with several brass bands.

An extract of his recording "Tico's Tune" was used as the theme tune for the long-running Gay Byrne Show on Ireland's RTÉ Radio 1 station.

Awards During his career, Love was awarded one platinum, fifteen gold and thirteen silver discs, and an award for selling in excess of 2½ million records.

Personal life Love married Cicely Joyce Peters (known as Joy, 1923/4–1993) on 4 April 1942. She worked alongside Love, organising his recording sessions and accounts. They had two sons, Adrian (1944–1999), who became a well-known radio presenter, and Nigel (1948–2013).

Death Love died at the University College Hospital, Camden, London, on 8 July 1991, at the age of 73.

Albums and compilations

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) Latin with Love in the Mood for Dancing (1973) Y Viva España (1974) El Bimbo (1975) Big Bond Movie Themes (1975) Masquerade (1976) Mountain Fire (1977) The Music of Manuel (1978) The Magic of Manuel (1978) Star Wars and Other Space Themes (1978) Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Other Disco Galactic Themes (1978) Super Natural (1979) Viva Manuel (1979) Fiesta (1980) Fantasy (1981) Great Western Themes (1988) In the mood for Love (1989) Mountain Fiesta (1990) Magic of Manuel & the Music of the Mountains (1991) (2-CD set) With Love (1992) Instrumental love songs (1994) (3-CD set) Golden sounds of Manuel & the Music of the Mountains (1996) Reflections/Carnival (1998) (2-CD set) Music & Romance (1999) 50 Sing Along Wartime Hits (2005) Very Best of (2008) Latin with Love & Dreaming with Love (2011) Big Suspense Movie Themes & Big Band Movie Themes (2011) Mountain Fire & Beyond the Mountains (2012) Star Wars & Other Space Themes/Close Encounters & Other Discos (2012) Mountain Carnival (2013) Viva Manuel!/Music of Manuel (2013) Big Western Movie Themes & Great TV Western Band Themes (2013) Waltzes with Love & More Waltzes with Love (2013) Music of Michel Legrand & Music of Ennio Morricone (2013) Masquerade/Y Viva España (2013) Heat Wave (2017)

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

Hit singles "Honeymoon Song" (UK number 22, 1959) "Never on Sunday" (UK number 29, 1960) "Somewhere My Love" (UK number 42, 1966) "Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto de Aranjuez" (UK number 3, 1976)