Simon May (born in Devizes, Wiltshire) has composed some of British television's best known theme tunes, including Eastenders and Howard's Way.

Biography

He won a choral scholarship for Cambridge University, where he acquired a degree in modern languages. While teaching languages at Kingston Grammar School, he co-wrote a musical named Smike with a colleague (Roger Holman). Following the publicity Smike attracted, May was contacted by the BBC, who televised the play in 1973. The show has subsequently been staged many times by youth drama groups.

While working at ATV, he was asked to compose some music for Crossroads. Stephanie de Sykes got to number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1974 with the subsequent "Born with a Smile on my Face", which was used within a storyline on the show. Almost a year later, her second single, "We'll Find Our Day" (from Smike) got to #17.

Kate Robbins performed another of May's song's for Crossroads: "More than in Love," which was co-written by Barry Leng and got to number 2 in 1981. May himself performed "Summer of my Life", charting at #7 in October 1976, though his follow-up, "We'll Gather Lilacs", flopped.

He co-produced Amii Stewart's "Knock on Wood", which reached number one in the USA.

Eastenders

Tony Holland and Julia Smith commissioned May to write the theme to Eastenders. Don Black put lyrics to the popular theme, and Anita Dobson (who portrayed Angie Watts in the show) reached No. 4 in August 1986 with "Anyone Can Fall in Love."

With Barry Rose, the theme was adapted into a hymn, "Glory be", which was performed on Songs of Praise and released on single.

Another soap storyline gave May a hit in 1986. Nick Berry ("Wicksy") topped the charts with "Every Loser Wins" after shamelessly plugging it in Eastenders (a storyline which Holland openly hated). It won the Ivor Novello Award for best selling single of 1986.

In 1994 the theme itself was given an unpopular 'jazzy' update, with the original soon restored.

Post-Eastenders

Lyrics were also added to May's theme to Howard's Way; Marti Webb reached number 13 with "Always There" in 1986. The theme was only used over the credits on some episodes of the show. The orchestral version was used over the opening titles of the first season, with the energetic orchestral "Barracuda" over the closing credits.

He wrote lyrics for the final episode of Eldorado. Performed by Johnny Griggs, "When You Go Away" encapsulated how many felt about the axing of the show:

"It was over before it had begun

And often love can go that way"

Mike Read wrote lyrics to the Trainer theme. "More to Life" was performed by Cliff Richard. The theme won May his third TRIC award for Best TV Theme, after previous success with Eastenders and Howard's Way.

In 1994, New Vintage, a compilation of some of May's work was released to coincide with his "A Night Away From The TV" UK tour. Unfortunately the tour wasn't a commercial success and some dates had to be cancelled. A Pebble Mill special documentary was produced by the BBC around this time discussing his career and the tour.

He also works part time as tutor at a special needs school in Surrey.

He has recently reached number one in Belgium with "Fragile Not Broken," sung by Natalia .

Simon May's work includes:

Television

Film

• Caught in the Act
• The Dawning

Stage Musical

• Rip van Winkle
• Smike (also dramatised for BBC television)

External link

• City Speakers International