Peter Moss

Peter Moss is an English composer, musician, arranger and musical director who might be best known for the previous theme tune of Grange Hill which was composed in 1990.
Early days
Born in the Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, London on July 23, 1948. ("Six minutes into being a Leo)" , Moss, a natural musician, had a classical upbringing, learning to play the viola, the contrabass, the piano, the guitar, as well as percussion. Born with a good voice, he also sang both solo as well as in choral groups.
When young, Peter's working class family lived at Kensal Rise, North London. His father was a gifted musician, but frustrated in his ambitions. Although he could play virtually any instrument, he had to earn his living as a fireman to support a wife with three children (two boys and a girl, Peter is the oldest child). Peter's mother was not musical. "My mother had no career but sang extremely badly, so she was banned from singing to the wireless before breakfast."
Moss was one of Stanshall's closest friends until the end of Stanshall's life. As such, he is the artistic executor of Stanshall's estate. in Bristol, England
In late 2008, interest in restaging the show, never flagging, became a reality. The comic opera, trimmed by Ki from three hours to two with Peter Moss still involved, is now in pre-production for a British revival, hopefully in 2010. A "Stinkfoot Showcase" will play the Thekla in Bristol, England (where it was written and first staged), on July 20, 21st, 22nd, and 24th of 2010. This is a showcase of Stinkfoot's songs backed by a full band and selected cast members (including Nikki Lamborn and Vivian and Ki's daughter Silky Longfellow-Stanshall) plus special guests. Though open to the public, the showcase is to attract backers for the revival of the full musical.
Television
Moss has also made a career in television, writing, arranging, and producing jingles for companies in both Germany and England. He's worked on dozens of products, including lego and Cadbury, plus produced and musically directed Eartha Kitt, Hazel O'Connor and Kiki Dee. At the BBC, he's been involved with a host of TV and radio shows in many capacities, including writing and musical direction of a special with Dusty Springfield.

Peter was the composer and musical director for the BBC series The News Huddlines with Roy Hudd, June Whitfield and Chris Emmet. The News Huddlines ran for 27 years.
Music around the world
Beginning in the 1990s Moss began working all over the world, conducting, arranging, and musically directing talents ranging from the German tenors Peter Hofmann and René Kollo, the Jamaican soul singer Precious Wilson, the American singer Katrina Leskanich (of Katrina and the Waves), to the actress and singer Faith Brown.

At an open-air concert in Worms, Germany he conducted the Johann Strauss Orchestra & Rock Rhythm Section with the soprano, Deborah Sasson. He's also conducted the 137 voice Gimmeldingen Choir & 30 piece Orchestra in a Concert in Neustadt an der Weinstraße.

Currently he is the Artistic Director for the touring Phantom of the Opera, the "12 Tenors", the Cliff Richard Golden Anniversary concert tour of the UK, and working with the Chinese on a concert.
He is also working on a 2010 major revival of Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera with Vivian Stanshall's widow, Ki Longfellow-Stanshall, in a theatre somewhere in Great Britain.<ref name="Personal Letter"/>
Private life
Peter has eight daughters: Alison 42, (once worked for Vivian) Harriet 40, Victoria 32, Elizabeth 30, Rosalind 28, Alexandra 23, Noemi 8, and Georgina 5. He is married to Rebecca Moss née Kalisch who was a purser for British Airways when they met.
He lives in Dorset and has a company in Germany, the Public Sound Factory.
Notes and references
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