Matthew Strachan
Strachan in 2016
Background information
Born(1970-12-11)11 December 1970[1]
OriginLondon, England[1]
Died8 September 2021(2021-09-08) (aged 50)
Twickenham, London, England
GenresRock/pop, country
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • composer
  • lyricist
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1986–2021
LabelsNono, Nessus, Lonely Goat Records
Websitematthewstrachan.co.uk

Matthew Strachan (/ˈstrɔːn/ or /ˈstrækən/; 11 December 1970 – 8 September 2021)[2] was an English composer and singer-songwriter.

His best known work is the music for British television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? written with his father Keith,[1] which would become a global franchise, and the BBC Radio 4 World War I drama series Home Front.[3][4] He also wrote music to film and television productions such as Extract,[5] The Detectives,[6] Question Time, Winning Lines,[7] jingles for several television commercials, and scores for stage musicals.[8]

Biography

Strachan at the ASCAP 17th Film & TV Awards in Los Angeles

Strachan began writing songs as a teenager. His first professional job was to write five songs for the BBCTV drama Boogie Outlaws.[9][10]

After training at Dartington College of Arts and Goldsmiths College, University of London, he worked as a soundtrack composer throughout the 1990s creating music for television, radio and theatre productions[9] until concentrating on songwriting in Nashville, Tennessee where he collaborated with songwriters Don Henry, Tom Kimmel, J. Fred Knobloch, and Thom Schuyler.[11]

Following two years in America he created score and lyrics for the stage musicals About Bill[12] and Next Door's Baby.[13] In 2012 he announced the creation of a comedy oratorio based on the life of the Coronation Street character Ken Barlow for inclusion in his live shows.[14]

Strachan won twelve awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and in 2012 received the ASCAP Hall of Fame Award in recognition of ten consecutive wins for the soundtrack of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?[15]

As a singer-songwriter Strachan was regarded as having a bittersweet style, often employing satire and characterisation to make political points about unusual subjects such as social networking[16] and the media.[17] As a composer of stage musicals he was noted for writing songs with a complete narrative arc.[18]

A new studio album by Matthew Strachan titled Serious Men was released by Lonely Goat Records in August 2016.[19]

He was also the creator of the comic fictional 1970s composer Klaus Harmony. In March 2017 Simon & Schuster announced that it would be publishing a series of crime fiction books co-written by Strachan and his wife, Bernadette Strachan.[20]

In October 2020, he appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court in London, charged with one count of arson.[21]

On 22 September 2021, the BBC reported that Strachan had died at his home in Twickenham, London, at the age of 50.[22]

Discography

Albums
  • A Quiet Place I've Waited, Nono Records (2017)
  • Serious Men, Lonely Goat Records (2016)
  • Perfect World Now Possible, Nono Records (2014)
  • Live at the St James Theatre, Nono Records (2013)
  • 25 Year Songbook Part II, Nono Records (2012)
  • 25 Year Songbook, Nono Records (2012)
  • 37203, Nono Records (2004)
  • Even Warren Beatty (with Tim Whitnall), Nono Records (2002)
  • Save The King's Head, Nono Records (2000)
  • Fallen Angels, Nono Records (1999)
  • The Rock Serious Electric Roadshow, Nono Records (1993)
Compilations
  • Speed Limit Monkey, Nono Records (2008)
  • Flot Some, Jet Some, Nono Records (2008)
Covered by other artists
  • I Never Left You at All – J. Fred Knobloch, Hear Here, J. Fred Knobloch Music, (2015)
  • Journeyman – Catherine Porter, single, Nono Records, (2011)
  • Any More of You – Catherine Porter, 37203, Nono Records, (2004)
  • Love is Enough – J. Fred Knobloch, 37203, Nono Records, (2004)
  • The Note – Don Henry, 37203, Nono Records, (2004)
  • Mama 'n' Them – J. Fred Knobloch, single, Nono Records, (2008)
  • Just Because I Want To – Tommy Blaize, Even Warren Beatty, Nono Records, (2008)
Soundtracks and Musicals
A.k.a Klaus Harmony
  • Oeuvre Cinq, HarmonSink (2010)
  • Oeuvre 4, HarmonSink (2009)
  • Oeuvre Derde, HarmonSink (2008)
  • Oeuvre Zwei, HarmonSink (2007)
  • Oeuvre I, HarmonSink (2006)

Music for motion pictures

  • Mostly Dead, UkFilm.co
  • Love Is a Four Letter Word Worth Seven Points, Boxfly Media, (2015)
  • In Limbo, Nine Ladies Films, (2015)

Music for stage

Music for television and radio

Awards

  • ASCAP Awards, Hall of Fame Award, 2012, London
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2011, London
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2010, London
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2009, London
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2008, London
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2007, London
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2006, London
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2005, London
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2004, London
  • ASCAP 17th Annual Film & TV Awards, Top TV Theme, 2002, Los Angeles
  • ASCAP 16th Annual Film & TV Awards, Top TV Theme, 2001, Los Angeles
  • ASCAP Awards, US TV Theme, 2000, London

References

  1. 1 2 3 Smurthwaite, Nick (21 March 2005). "Million pound notes – Keith Strachan". The Stage. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Who Wants to be a Millionaire? composer Matthew Strachan dies aged 50
  3. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Home Front, 4 August 1914 – Kitty Wilson (Season 1 start)". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Home Front, Composer Matthew Strachan talks about the music of Home Front". BBC. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "Extract (2009) – IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "The Detectives (TV Series 1993–1997) – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Winning Lines (TV Series 2000) – IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Brief Encounter with ... Composer Matthew Strachan - - Interviews - Whatsonstage.com". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  9. 1 2 Screened Music Interview Archived 12 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Boogie Outlaws (TV Mini-Series 1987– )". IMDb.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020 – via www.imdb.com.
  11. ↑ "Mary James Music Publishing website catalogue page". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "Broadway World.com – Broadway's Premier Web Resource". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  13. ↑ Next Door's Baby entry at London Theatre Database Archived 22 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "Ken Barlow oratorio feature in The Stage". Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "ASCAP Awards, London | Special Awards". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Archived from the original on 31 March 2013.
  16. ↑ "remotegoat.co.uk review of Strachan live show". Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "The Public Reviews » 25 Year Songbook – the Pheasantry, London". Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "Theatre review: Next Door's Baby / Orange Tree, Richmond". The Guardian. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "Release "Serious Men" by Matthew Strachan – MusicBrainz". Musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "Three Book Mystery Deal for Simon and Schuster". Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  21. ↑ Whittingham, Adela (9 October 2020). "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire composer charged with arson after fire at his home". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Matthew Strachan: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? composer dies at 50". BBC News. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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