Alan Hawkshaw
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Alan Hawkshaw is a composer and performer, particularly of themes for movies and television programmes. He is also the father of dance artist Kirsty Hawkshaw.
In the 1960s, he was a member of rock and roll group Emile Ford and the Checkmates. In the 1970s, he played in The Shadows; he worked for Olivia Newton-John as a musical director, arranger and pianist; and he was a keyboard player for Cliff Richard. He composed all the music for the Mysterious Universe series by Arthur C. Clarke. Hawkshaw also composed 'Best Endeavours', which has been the theme for Channel 4 News since its inception in 1982, and 'Chicken Man', which was the theme for Grange Hill from its start in 1978 until 1990. The Countdown "Chimes" jingle used on Channel 4's Countdown game show was also composed by Hawkshaw.
In the United States, he also scored a number 1 single on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with "Here Comes That Sound Again" as part of Love De-Luxe With Hawkshaw's Discophonia in 1979.
