Paul Buckmaster (1946–2017), legendary arranger worked with David Bowie and Elton John

His arrangements accompanied rock classics such as “Space Oddity”…

Paul Buckmaster, arranger and conductor who worked with rock musicians David Bowie, Elton John, and the Rolling Stones, has died at the age of 71, according to an announcement on Twitter from McDanielEntertainment.

c2acc2c2c2c2It is with heavy hearts that we share our beloved friend and longtime client Paul Buckmaster has passed away. Paule28099s iconic arrangements touched the world and he will be deeply missed. We will share more details as they become available.e2809d

The London Born musician started playing the cello at a young age and graduated from the Royal Academy of Music. He began experimenting with rock and jazz music in the late 1960s, playing with progressive bands Suntreader and the Third Ear Band.

Buckmaster first entered the rock mainstream in 1969 when he worked with David Bowie on e2809cSpace Oddity.e2809d With the addition of his orchestral arrangement, e2809cSpace Odditye2809d was the first time David Bowie had a song chart in the UK.

In 1970, he was asked to work on Elton Johne28099s second album. The self-titled album contained the Elton John signature song, e2809cYour Song,e2809d featuring cello accompaniment from Buckmaster. He would go on to arrange and orchestrate multiple Elton John albums including e2809cTumbleweed Connectione2809d and e2809cMadman Across the Water,e2809d including the classic song e2809cTiny Dancer.e2809d

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Buckmaster contributed string arrangements for the songs e2809cSwaye2809d and Moonlight Milee2809d on the Rolling Stonee28099s legendary 1971 album e2809cSticky Fingers.e2809d

HIs footprints are on many iconic songs. He did the orchestration for the classic Carly Simon anthem e2809cYour So Vain.e2809d Some other artists he worked with include Miles Davis, the Grateful Dead, Harry Nilsson, Mott the Hoople, and Belinda Carlisle.

Buckmaster continued to be in demand as an arranger, working with modern acts such as piano power pop rocker Ben Folds, and emo rock bands New Found Glory and Something Corporate. In 2016, he worked with the band Heart on their album e2809cBeautiful Broken.e2809d

In 2002, he won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for his work on Traine28099s song e2809cDrops of Jupiter.e2809d

He also composed the music for the science fiction film e2809c12 Monkeys.e2809d

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