Campbell, Junior (31st May 1947-Present)

He is a musician, singer-songwriter and composer born William Campbell Jnr. born in Glasgow, Scotland who grew up in Springboig, Glasgow.

He played the guitar while young and had his own particular style and on his 14th birthday joined up with Pat Fairley to co-found The Gaylords where he would sing, play the piano and lead guitar. After being joined by Thomas McAleese, who changed his name to Dean Ford, the band became known as Dean Ford and The Gaylords.

The band changed its name to The Marmalade and after having performed in Germany and then relocating to London, England they achieved success with the No. 1 single “Ob La Di, Ob La Da” and a string of hits that followed. He co-wrote and produced several more hits for the band and the internationally chart-topping “Reflections of My Life”, co-written with Dean Ford, brought them a Special Citation of Achievement Award by the BMI for more than a million plays on radio in the United States alone.

After tiring of the multiple tours with The Marmalade he decided to call it quits and go solo and left the band in 1971. He wrote and recorded the two Top 20 singles “Hallelujah Freedom” in 1972 and “Sweet Illusion” in 1973.

Deciding to further pursue his interest in music he entered the Royal College of Music to study composition and orchestration which led to him becoming a record producer and arranger for successful artists and groups that include Barbara Dickson, Matthews Southern Comfort, Freddie Starr, Barry Ryan and The Tremeloes during the 1970s.

His work as a composer also saw him success and he wrote works for film and TV soundtracks including the films That Summer of White Roses, Merlin: The True Story, the BAFTA winning Taking Over the Asylum and The Scold’s Bride. Further international success came along when he co-wrote the music and lyrics for the TV series and films of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends from 1984 to 2003 and also the TV series TUGS.

The 32 track compilation Junior Campbell – The Very Best Of…Back Then was released in November 13. Other albums he has worked on during his career as a musician, arranger, producer and/or composer include his own Second Time Around and Starstruck along with Bright City by Miller Anderson, I’ve Got Time by Allan Clarke, Retratos by The Fevers Thomas and the Magi Railroad by Hummie Mann, Ob La Di, Ob La Da and Reflections of The Marmalade by Marmalade, My Beauty by Kevin Rowland, Thomas the Tank Engine: All Aboard With Thomas! by Thomas & Friends and Live in Germany 1993 by Bonnie Tyler along with many others.

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Campbell, Junior (31st May 1947-Present)

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