Alan Hawkshaw: The Maestro of British Library Music
Alan Hawkshaw is a prolific English composer, pianist, and session musician whose work forms the backbone of countless television themes and film scores. From Leeds, England, his most enduring achievement is creating some of the most sampled and recognizable production music in history, heard by millions worldwide.
Early career
Born in 1937, Hawkshaw began his professional journey as a pianist in Yorkshire dance bands. His early break came in the 1960s as a session musician for major labels, playing on hits for artists like Tom Jones and Olivia Newton-John. This period established his reputation for versatility and a sharp, melodic sensibility in the studio.
Breakthrough
Hawkshaw's move into composing for television in the late 1960s and 1970s defined his career. His work for the KPM and Bruton music libraries became the gold standard for production music. Tracks like The Awakening and Chicken Man were not just background filler but meticulously crafted instrumental pieces that captured a specific mood and energy.
Key tracks
The Awakening — This dramatic, driving funk track became a hip-hop cornerstone, famously sampled by Jay-Z on Girls, Girls, Girls and by many others.
Chicken Man — A funky, clavinet-heavy groove that has been extensively mined by producers, most notably for Dr. Dre's The Next Episode.
Beat Me 'Til I'm Blue — A gritty, blues-rock number that provided the unforgettable bassline for The All Seeing I's hit single The Beat Goes On.
Griff — This powerful, rhythmic theme was composed for the 1970s UK TV drama of the same name, showcasing his talent for memorable television scoring.
Light Flight — While written for the band The Pentangle, Hawkshaw's distinctive piano and harpsichord arrangement for this theme to the series Take Three Girls remains iconic.
Beyond these library classics, Alan Hawkshaw composed the instantly familiar theme tunes for major programs like Channel 4 News and Countdown. His session work extended to playing the memorable piano riff on Hot Chocolate's You Sexy Thing and contributing to David Bowie's 1980 album Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps).
Artists with a similar foundational influence in British instrumental and library music include Keith Mansfield, known for his bright, brassy funk and jazz compositions. John Cameron also worked extensively in the KPM library, creating jazz-inflected scores. For a later generation of sample-based composers, David Holmes builds cinematic soundscapes from a similar crate-digging ethos.
The music of Alan Hawkshaw maintains heavy rotation on specialist library music and funk radio stations, as well as on dedicated online streams focusing on rare grooves and breakbeats. His work is a staple for DJs and programmers who curate shows about the history of sampling and instrumental music.
Listeners can explore the vast catalog of Alan Hawkshaw's influential work through the library music and classic funk radio stations featured on onairium.com, where his pioneering sound continues to be celebrated and played.
