Anthony ‘Spike’ Isaac (1941-1985)
Anthony Philip Isaac was born in January 1941 in Wakefield to Philip George Isaac and Gwyneth Ellis.
He was a pupil at Little Gonerby Infants School, followed by the National School before entering the King’s School in 1952.
There he became prefect and was drum major in the CCF Band and is remembered as a talented Pianist.
When he left in 1959 he attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Graduating in 1962 he taught for a while before going into theatre taking up the post of Musical director of Lincoln Theatre Royal in 1965.
From 1967 he started work with various Television Companies including BBC, Granada, ATV, Tyne Tees Yorkshire and Thames TV.
He composed the music for the TV Series Mackenzie, Super Gran, Squadron, Tales of the Unexpected, Survivors, Raffles, Warship and some episodes of Onedin Line.
His extra ordinary talent lead him to become Musical Advisor and Arranger for Onedin Line Series as well as for Sutherlands Law, The Enigma Files, and The Regiment plus many more.
The Orchestras of Eric Winston, Ray Martin, Jack Parnell and Malcolm Lockyer played his music and he even had his own orchestra at one time.
He wrote the theme and incidental music for many TV Series, TV Movies as well as company films such as BP.
Sometimes he used the name Tony Isaac in place of Anthony Isaac and sometimes signed his name with just the initials – A I
He died in 1985 aged 44, at his home in Market Overton, a sad loss of great talent to the world of music.
Compiled with assistance of Peter Reichelt
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