# Paul Buckmaster

Paul John Buckmaster (13 June 1946 – 7 November 2017) was a British cellist, arranger, conductor and composer, with a career spanning five decades.
He is best known for his orchestral collaborations with David Bowie, Shawn Phillips, Elton John, Harry Nilsson, The Rolling Stones, Carly Simon, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, and the Grateful Dead in the 1970s, followed by his contributions to the recordings of many other artists, including Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Rogers, Guns N' Roses, Lloyd Cole, Taylor Swift, Something Corporate, Train, and Heart.

## Early life

Paul Buckmaster was born in London on 13 June 1946. His father, John Caravoglia Buckmaster, was an English actor and his mother, Ermenegilda ("Gilda") Maltese, was an Italian concert pianist and graduate of the Naples Conservatory of Music.
At age four, Buckmaster started attending a small private school in London called the London Violoncello School, and continued studying cello under several private teachers until he was ten. In 1957, his mother took him and his two siblings to Naples, where he auditioned with cello professor Willy La Volpe, to be assessed as eligible for a scholarship. From 1958 to 1962 he divided his time between studying music in Naples and working for his GCEs in London, then won a scholarship to study the cello at the Royal Academy of Music, from which he graduated with a performance diploma in 1967.

## Career
### Studio work

Buckmaster displayed professional mastery as a cellist. After leading a small orchestral group during a two-month tour with the Bee Gees in 1968, he started his career as an orchestral arranger on various hit songs, including David Bowie's "Space Oddity" (1969), and contributed orchestral collaborations on a number of early albums by Elton John (1969–72), as well as on the songs "Sway" and "Moonlight Mile" on The Rolling Stones' album Sticky Fingers (1971). Buckmaster contributed string and horn arrangements to Leonard Cohen's 1971 album, Songs of Love and Hate.
He assisted Miles Davis with the preparation of On the Corner (1972) and wrote the arrangements for the studio sessions, in which he also participated, at Davis' request, by humming bass lines and rhythms to lead the musicians. These arrangements were often used as a starting point to be transformed until what was being played bore no resemblance to what he had written. This was in keeping with the Stockhausian approach that Buckmaster and Davis had discussed in the weeks leading up to the session.

### Film work

As a member of Third Ear Band, Buckmaster co-wrote and performed on Music from Macbeth, the soundtrack album to Roman Polanski's film Macbeth (1972). Buckmaster wrote some instrumental tracks for Harry Nilsson's film Son of Dracula (1974). He also played with Bowie and his band in the recordings for the original soundtrack to the science fiction film The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), in which Bowie starred as Thomas Jerome Newton. Buckmaster stated in Mojo magazine's feature "60 Years of Bowie", that he had played cello on the original soundtrack recordings, on which Carlos Alomar, J. Peter Robinson and others were also included:
   There were a couple of medium tempo rock instrumental pieces, with simple motifs and rifly kind of grooves, with a line-up of David's rhythm section (Carlos Alomar et al.) plus J. Peter Robinson on Fender Rhodes and me on cello and some synth overdubs, using ARP Odyssey and Solina. There was also a piece I wrote and performed using some beautifully made mbiras (African thumb pianos) I had purchased earlier that year, plus cello, all done by multiple overdubbing.
Later, the film's director Nicolas Roeg decided not to use the recordings but rather existing songs as the soundtrack for the movie.
In 1995 Buckmaster composed, orchestrated, conducted and produced the original score to Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys. He also composed the score for the 1997 film Most Wanted.

## Personal life

Buckmaster had two siblings, Rosemary and Adrian. He married Diana Lewis in 1970; they divorced three years later. From a relationship with Rosalie Van Leer, he had a son, Banten. Buckmaster died on 7 November 2017, aged 71, in Los Angeles from undisclosed causes.

## Awards

Buckmaster won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for his work on American rock band Train's 2001 single "Drops of Jupiter".

## Selected discography

| Year | Artist | Song | Album | Notes |
| 2018 | Brandi Carlile | "Whatever You Do" "Party of One" | By the Way, I Forgive You | Arranger, conductor |
| 2017 | Chris Cornell | "The Promise" | Chris Cornell (2018) | Arranger, conductor |
| 2016 | Kelly Clarkson | "I Don't Think About You" | Meaning of Life | Arranger, conductor |
| 2016 | Max&Friends | "Dove c'è amore" "Arrivi Tu" "Acqua" "Sabato Sera" "Una parte del tutto" "Felice" "Terra mia" | Max&Friends | Co-composer, arranger, conductor |
| 2016 | Idina Menzel | "Extraordinary" "Show Me" "Everybody Knows" "Small World" "I Do" "I See You" "Like Lightning" "Last Time" | idina. | Arranger |
| 2016 | Heart | "I Jump" "City's Burning" "Sweet Darlin" "Language of Love" | Beautiful Broken | Arranger |
| 2015 | The Tenors | "I Remember You" | Under One Sky | Arranger |
| 2014 | Hunter Hayes | "...interlude" | Storyline | Arranger, conductor |
| 2014 | Ferras feat. Katy Perry | "Legends Never Die" | Ferras | Arranger, conductor |
| 2013 | Goo Goo Dolls | "When The World Breaks Your Heart" | Magnetic | Arranger, conductor |
| 2012 | Ben Folds Five | "On Being Frank" "Away When You Were Here" | The Sound of the Life of the Mind | Arranger, conductor |
| 2010 | Taylor Swift | "Back to December" "Haunted" | Speak Now | Arranger, conductor |
| 2009 | Mika | "I See You" | The Boy Who Knew Too Much | Arranger, conductor |
| 2008 | Guns N' Roses | "Street of Dreams" "There Was A Time" "Madagascar" "Prostitute" | Chinese Democracy | Arranger, conductor |
| 2007 | The Bravery | "The Ocean" | The Sun and the Moon | Arranger, conductor |
| 2007 | Mika | "Happy Ending" | Life in Cartoon Motion | Arranger, conductor |
| 2007 | Katharine McPhee | "Ordinary World" | Katharine McPhee | Arranger, conductor |
| 2007 | Michael Bublé | "Lost" | Call Me Irresponsible | Arranger, conductor |
| 2007 | Mig Ayesa | "Baby I Love Your Way" "Kiss From a Rose" "Who Wants to Live Forever" "Can't Find My Home" "Life on Mars" "Wrapped Around Your Finger" | Mig | Arranger, conductor |
| 2006 | Ben Folds | "Still" | Over the Hedge (Soundtrack) | Arranger, conductor |
| 2006 | New Found Glory | "When I Die" "Boulders" | Coming Home | Arranger, conductor |
| 2006 | Kenny Rogers | "Water & Bridges" "One Life" | Water & Bridges | Arranger, conductor |
| 2006 | Jesse McCartney | "Invincible" | Right Where You Want Me | Arranger, conductor |
| 2006 | Skillet | "Rebirthing" "Yours to Hold" | Comatose | Arranger, conductor |
| 2006 | Bianca Ryan | "Awake" | Bianca Ryan | Arranger, conductor |
| 2005 | Bon Jovi | "Wildflower" | Have a Nice Day | Arranger, conductor |
| 2005 | Carrie Underwood | "Lessons Learned" "Starts With Goodbye" | Some Hearts | Arranger, conductor |
| 2005 | Faith Hill | "Paris" | Fireflies | Arranger, conductor |
| 2005 | Ben Folds | "Landed" | Songs for Silverman | Arranger, conductor |
| 2005 | The Wallflowers | "Beautiful Side of Somewhere" | Rebel, Sweetheart | Arranger, conductor |
| 2005 | The Darkness | "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" "Girlfriend" "Blind Man" | One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back | Arranger, conductor |
| 2005 | Nerina Pallot | "Geek Love" "Idaho" | Fires | Arranger, conductor |
| 2004 | Keith Urban | "Tonight I Wanna Cry" "She's Gotta Be" | Be Here | Arranger, conductor |
| 2004 | Tears for Fears | "Secret World" | Everybody Loves a Happy Ending | Arranger, conductor |
| 2004 | Third Day | "Wire" "It's a Shame" | Wire | Arranger, conductor |
| 2003 | Train | "Lincoln Avenue" "Your Every Color" | My Private Nation | Arranger, conductor |
| 2003 | The Thorns | "No Blue Sky" | The Thorns | Arranger, conductor |
| 2003 | Something Corporate | "The Runaway" "Me and the Moon" | North | Arranger, conductor, performer |
| 2003 | Beth Hart | "I'll Stay With You" | Leave the Light On | Arranger, conductor |
| 2003 | Luis Miguel | "Nos Hizo Falta Tiempo" | 33 | Arranger, conductor |
| 2003 | Live | "Run Away" | Birds of Pray | Arranger, conductor |
| 2003 | Wilshire | "In Your Arms" "Tonight" | New Universe | Arranger, conductor |
| 2002 | Faith Hill | "You're Still Here" "Safest Place to Hide" | Cry | Arranger, conductor |
| 2002 | Tim McGraw | "She's My Kind of Rain" | Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors | Arranger, conductor |
| 2002 | Something Corporate | "Punk Rock Princess" "The Astronaut" "Cavanaugh Park" "Not What It Seems" "Globes And Maps" | Leaving Through the Window | Arranger, conductor |
| 2001 | Train | "Drops of Jupiter" | Drops of Jupiter | Arranger, conductor 2002 Grammy Winner Arrangement of the Year |
| 2001 | Elton John | "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" "Original Sin" "Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes" "Mansfield" "Emperor's New Clothes" | Songs from the West Coast | Arranger, conductor |
| 2000 | No Doubt | "Too Late (Reprise)" (Hidden instrumental track) | Return of Saturn | Arranger, conductor |
| 1999 | Julio Iglesias Jr. | | Under My Eyes | Arranger, conductor |
| 1999 | Tal Bachman | "Beside You" "You're My Everything" | Tal Bachman | Arranger, conductor |
| 1999 | Lara Fabian | "Sola Otra Vez" | Lara Fabian | Arranger |
| 1998 | Des'ree | "Time" | Supernatural | Arranger, conductor |
| 1997 | Collective Soul | "She Said" | Scream 2 Soundtrack | Arranger, conductor, co-composer |
| 1996 | Counting Crows | "Daylight Fading" "I'm Not Sleeping" "Another Horsedreamer's Blues" | Recovering the Satellites | Arranger, conductor |
| 1996 | Celine Dion | "Falling into You" | Falling into You | Arranger, conductor |
| 1995 | Elton John | "Believe" "Belfast" "House" "Cold" | Made in England | Composer, arranger, conductor |
| 1995 | The Jayhawks | "Blue" | Tomorrow the Green Grass | Arranger |
| 1993 | Dwight Yoakam | "Ain't That Lonely Yet" "Try Not to Look So Pretty" | This Time | Arranger, conductor |
| 1992 | Lionel Richie | "My Destiny" "Love, Oh Love" | Back to Front | Arranger, conductor |
| 1991 | Kenny Loggins | "Cody's Song" "Too Early for the Sun" | Leap of Faith | Arranger, conductor |
| 1991 | Lloyd Cole | | Don't Get Weird on Me Babe | Arranger, conductor |
| 1985 | Mick Jagger | "Hard Woman" | She's the Boss | Arranger, conductor |
| 1983 | Nick Heyward | | North of a Miracle | Arranger |
| 1983 | Stevie Nicks | "Beauty and the Beast" | The Wild Heart | Arranger, conductor |
| 1981 | UFO | "Profession of Violence" | The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent | Arranger, conductor |
| 1978 | Elton John | | A Single Man | Arranger, conductor |
| 1977 | Grateful Dead | | Terrapin Station | Arranger, conductor (side two) |
| 1976 | Elton John | | Blue Moves | Arranger, conductor |
| 1976 | Leo Sayer | "I Hear the Laughter" "Endless Flight" | Endless Flight | Arranger, conductor; cello |
| 1975 | Thijs van Leer | | O My Love | Arranger, conductor |
| 1974 | Miles Davis | "Ife" | Big Fun | Arranger, conductor |
| 1974 | Carly Simon | "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" | Hotcakes | Arranger, conductor |
| 1974 | Angelo Branduardi | | Angelo Branduardi | Arranger, conductor, producer, co-composer |
| 1973 | Chi Coltrane | | Let It Ride | Arranger of strings and woodwinds |
| 1973 | Elton John | "Have Mercy on the Criminal" "Blues for My Baby and Me" | Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player | Arranger, conductor |
| 1973 | Shawn Phillips | "Lady of the Blue Rose" | Bright White | Arranger, conductor |
| 1973 | Blood, Sweat & Tears | | No Sweat | Arranger, conductor |
| 1972 | Chi Coltrane | | Chi Coltrane | Arranger of strings and woodwinds |
| 1972 | Miles Davis | | On the Corner | Arranger, conductor, electric cello |
| 1972 | Carly Simon | "You're So Vain" | No Secrets | Arranger, conductor |
| 1972 | Harry Nilsson | "Spaceman" | Son of Schmilsson | Arranger, conductor |
| 1971 | Elton John | "Tiny Dancer" "Levon" "Madman Across the Water" "Indian Sunset" | Madman Across the Water | Arranger, conductor, musical director |
| 1971 | Rolling Stones | "Moonlight Mile" "Sway" | Sticky Fingers | Arranger, conductor |
| 1971 | Chitinous Ensemble | | Chitinous Ensemble | Musical director, electric piano, cello |
| 1971 | Leonard Cohen | | Songs of Love and Hate | Arranger, conductor |
| 1971 | Harry Nilsson | "Without You" | Nilsson Schmilsson | Arranger, conductor |
| 1971 | Elton John | "Variations on "Friends" Theme" "Variations on Michelle's Song" "I Mean To Do My Work Today" "Four Moods" | Friends | Arranger, conductor, musical director |
| 1971 | Rupert Hine | | Pick Up a Bone | Arranger, electric cello |
| 1971 | Sounds Nice | | Love at First Sight | Arranger |
| 1970 | Elton John | | Tumbleweed Connection | Arranger, conductor, musical director |
| 1970 | Elton John | "Your Song" "Border Song" "The Greatest Discovery" (cello Intro) "Sixty Years On" | Elton John | Arranger, conductor, musical director |
| 1970 | Shawn Phillips | "F Sharp Splendor" (instrumental) | Second Contribution | Arranger, musical director, keyboards |
| 1970 | Mick Farren | "Mona, The Whole Trip" | Mona – The Carnivorous Circus | Solo cello |
| 1970 | Arrival | "Friends" "I Will Survive" | | Arranger, cello |
| 1970 | Michael Chapman | "Aviator" | Fully Qualified Survivor | Solo cello |
| 1969 | Kevin Ayers | | Joy of a Toy | Solo cello |
| 1969 | David Bowie | "Space Oddity" "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" | Space Oddity | Arranger, conductor, cello |
| 1969 | The Bee Gees | "Odessa (City on the Black Sea)" | Odessa | Cello |

## Explanatory footnotes

* ↑ John Caravoglia Buckmaster (1914–1995) should not be confused with English actor John Rodney Buckmaster (1915–1983), the son of Gladys Cooper. John C. Buckmaster—son of actor-manager Charles Buckmaster, of Italian ancestry—started out as a young actor in the 1930s. During WWII, he enlisted in the London Scottish regiment, where he served with Bruce Copp, also an English actor. John C. Buckmaster saw action in North Africa, then north into Sicily and finally in and around Naples, during late 1943 and early 1944. There he met a young concert pianist, Ermenegilda ("Gilda") Maltese (1918–1989), during a production of Madama Butterfly at the newly restored San Carlo Opera House. They married on 15 August 1945 and, after the war, made their home in Earl's Court, London.$^{:67–69}$ They had three children: Paul, Rosemary, and Adrian. John C. Buckmaster continued to have small acting jobs until 1989. In 1994, he moved to Sydney where he died on 9 March 1995.
* Copp, Bruce (2015). Out Of The Firing Line... Into The Foyer (hardcover). Stroud: History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-6134-9.