Don Black, the Oscar Award-winning and world famous lyricist led a masterclass at the Roundhouse in Camden on Friday 23 October. The event was part of the Radio 2 Great British Songbook at the BBC’s Electric Proms.
A legendary songwriter, Don’s works have included numerous musicals, movie themes and hit songs. He has written lyrics for John Barry, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Quincy Jones, Jule Styne, Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein, Michel Legrand and Marvin Hamlisch.
The afternoon included a performance with Marti Webb of some of Don’s biggest songs – Born Free, Ben, As If We Never Said Goodbye, Diamonds Are Forever and Tell me On A Sunday. Don then gave an overview of his illustrious career, some ‘tricks of the trade’ and questions from the audience.
Among the many stories and advice for songwriters that Don shared during the masterclass were these gems:
• Don became the first British songwriter to win an Oscar, aged 28
• Growing up in a flat in East London, Don went to see The Jolson Story at the Hackney Empire 28 times
• The songwriter’s break came when Matt Munro asked Don to write lyrics to an Australian song he liked. The song became Walk Away
• John Barry heard the song and asked Don to work on the music for James Bond film, Thunderball
• Don has also had unsuccessful times, he told us that out of perhaps 1,000 songs recorded, only 50 became hits. Don told us that an early ‘terrible song’ was called There’s No Smoke Without Salmon
• An early song called Tickety Boo still brings Don 4p from the Philippines every PRS for Music distribution
• Don tries to write universal lyrics that remind people of situations in their lives, a song is successful for him if people tell him ‘I felt that’
• Rhyme is essential in theatre and musicals but not in pop music. Songwriters should use any tools they can, such as rhyming dictionaries
• When writing lyrics, Don tries to sculpt the words to the melody of the song
• A song that Don would have loved to have written is The Way You Look Tonight
Find out more about Don at: www.donblack.co.uk