Latest news with #Overture100Pipers
Edinburgh Reporter
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh music legend honoured at Goodison Park
The stadium, packed with 38,000 fans, heard the familiar sound of the Z Cars theme as players from Everton and Southampton emerged onto the pitch. The tune, closely associated with Everton for decades, was arranged by Johnny Keating, a talented musician and composer born in Bakehouse Close, just off Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Keating, who passed away ten years ago this month, brought the theme to life and took it to number five in the UK music charts. Johnny Keating's musical achievements went far beyond football. He taught himself piano, trombone, arranging and composing as a teenager. In the 1960s, he helped shape the career of British pop star Eden Kane, co-writing and producing a string of hits. He also worked with artists such as Adam Faith, Petula Clark, Anthony Newley, and Sammy Davis Jr. Tony Bennett once said Keating's arrangement of The Very Thought of You was the best he had ever sung. Figures like Burt Bacharach and Beatles producer George Martin praised Keating for his talent and called him one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. His classical compositions, including Overture 100 Pipers and Hebridean Impressions, were performed at the Royal Albert Hall. In 1972, his album Space Experience introduced innovative sound effects that were so unique, the musicians involved were sworn to secrecy. Back in Scotland, Keating was a devoted Hibernian fan. According to his family, he asked to be cremated wearing his Hibs tie. In 1973, he produced two songs for the club, Give Us a Goal, Glory to the Hibees and Turnbull's Tornadoes, which were recorded by the team at the time. I remember attending a small commemoration for Keating at the Stella Maris Club in Leith after his ashes were placed beside his parents' at Mount Vernon. The event was organised by Willie McEwan, now a Midlothian Labour councillor, and John Gibson, late of The Edinburgh Evening News. Gibson shared fond stories about Keating and the Hibs while enjoying the buffet. The room featured simple but meaningful decor, including a soft-glowing LED Crazy Neon sign that added a warm, modern touch to the gathering. Johnny Keating earned international respect and left a legacy that still resonates today. Hearing the Z Cars theme during Everton's final match at Goodison reminded many of his talent and influence. As the club prepares to move into a new stadium next season, Keating's music will likely continue to inspire fans and players alike. Composer Musician and songwriter, John Keating photographed for John Gibson at Edinburgh Evening News Credit PAUL PARKE Used here with permission. Marie Colvin This author does not have any more posts. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh man's music helps The Toffeemen celebrate end of an era
Everton FC played their last game at their home stadium, Goodison Park, last Sunday against Southampton FC to a full house of 38,000 fans. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Both teams emerged from the tunnel to the strains of the theme tune from the TV programme Z Cars, which ran for 801 episodes from 1962 until 1978. This was a popular series about mobile uniformed police and detectives in the fictional town of Newton, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Johnny Keating's version rang out across Goodison Park for the final time as Everton and Southampton players walked out for kick off on Sunday (Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire) The version of this tune, adopted by Everton FC, was arranged by musician and songwriter, Johnny Keating, who took it to number five in the music charts. Johnny was born here, in Bakehouse Close, off The Royal Mile, in 1927 and the 28th of this month will be the tenth anniversary of his death at the age of 87. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Johnny played piano and trombone and taught himself how to arrange and compose when he was in his early teens. In the early 1960s he, and songwriter Johnny Worth, moulded the career of the British pop star, Eden Kane, writing and producing a string of top ten hits for him. They also wrote and produced several hits for Adam Faith, Petula Clark, Anthony Newly and Sammy Davis Jr, among others and Tony Bennet said that Keating's arrangement for his version of The Very Thought of You was the best arrangement he ever sung to. Music heavyweights such as songwriter Burt Bacharach and the Beatles producer, George Martin, were fulsome in their praise, calling him one of the greatest all-round musicians of the 20th century. He wrote a classical piece called Overture 100 Pipers and another called Hebridean Impressions which was first performed at the Royal Albert Hall as he conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. One of his futuristic works, the 1972 album Space Experience with its innovative sound techniques led him to get the musicians to swear to secrecy as to how the effects had been realised. Closer to home, he was a lifelong Hibs fan and, according to his family, he wanted to be cremated wearing his Hibs club tie. In 1973 he produced two songs for the club Give us a Goal, Glory to the Hibees on the A-side and Turnbull's Tornadoes on the B-Side, both of which were recorded by the team of the time. I well remember being invited to a small commemoration event in the Stella Maris Club in Leith after his ashes were placed beside his mother and father's ashes at Mount Vernon. The reception was arranged by Willie McEwan, now a Labour Councillor in Midlothian and John Gibson, formerly of this paper, was also there, waxing lyrical about Keating and the Hibs – while filling his plate with mince pies! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There is no doubt that Johnny Keating had an international reputation of some renown and was recognised by his peers in the music industry as one of the greats. And it was while watching the Everton game on the telly last Sunday and hearing the Theme from Z Cars tune blasting out the sound system in the stadium that I resolved to devote my column today to the works and achievements of Johnny Keating. I have no doubt that when Everton move into their new stadium next season, the teams will still run out on to the pitch with Keating's music ringing in their ears!
