Alan Hawkshaw died on Oct 16 2021 - Alan Hawkshaw

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Alan Hawkshaw died on Oct 16 2021

Alan Hawkshaw sadly passed away today (16 October 2021). Alan arranged many of Olivia’s early tracks including Let Me Be There and I Honestly Love You. He also co-wrote Country Girl with Peter Gosling which featured on Olivia’s Long Live Love album.

As a result of his connection with Brian Bennett, Hawkshaw was to hand whenever the Shadows wanted some keyboards and, as well as Cliff Richard, he worked with Olivia Newton-John, who was produced by two members of the Shadows. “I was Olivia’s musical director and arranger,” he recalled. “My favourite was I Honestly Love You (1974). It was a great song, a ballad written for an album not a single, but it was issued as a single and became No 1 in America. I got £30 for doing it, which was the going rate, but I also got an award for best arrangement of the year.”

ACCOLADES & AWARDS

When in 1974 the American Academy of Arts & Sciences awarded Alan Hawkshaw the Best Arrangement Award for I Honestly Love You performed by Olivia Newton John, it was clear that here was a young arranger and composer with a bright future. His skills as a keyboard player are now well known and he has worked with, written and played for many international stars, musicals and television scores. Song-writing also gave Alan the opportunity to collaborate with some of world’s best lyricists.

Some of his other awards include the Ivor Novello Award, the prestigious Gold Badge Award for services to the industry, from BASCA (British Academy for Songwriters, Composers and Artists). He was also nominated for a BAFTA (British Academy for Film and Television Awards) for the TV series Love Hurts.

“Congratulations Hawk I Honestly Love You…I must say you played so beautifully on that track. Love and Light…” — Olivia (Newton-John)

AWARDS 2016 Awarded a Doctorate for services to the music industry by Hull University

2013 Fellow of the Leeds College of Music

2008 Gold Badge Award for services to the industry

2007 Two BMI Multi-Million Performance Awards for over 3 million sales of “Let Me Be There” and “If You Love Me Let Me Know” sung by Olivia Newton-John

1991 BAFTA Nomination Best Television Score for Love Hurts

1979 Ivor Novello Award best film score The Silent Witness

1973 American Academy of Arts & Sciences - Best Arrangement “I Honestly Love You” for Olivia Newton-John