Eric Spear

Eric Spear (18 April 1908 - 3 November 1966) was an English composer of film music. He was born in Croydon and died Southampton.

Spear is best known for composing the original theme tune for the UK's longest-running television soap opera, Coronation Street, for which he was paid £6. The theme, originally entitled "Lancashire Blues" was commissioned by Peter Taylor, at De Wolfe Music, for a new television soap opera called "Florizel Street". The name of the serial was changed to "Coronation Street" because, it was felt, it sounded like some kind of disinfectant. The cornet player Ronnie Hunt (playing the trumpet) found the recording session frustrating, as Spear insisted on many takes before obtaining the sound that he wanted. For most of the programme's 50 year run since 1960, the theme tune has only been modified by converting it to stereo.^[1] Since May 31, 2010, a new version has replaced the original arrangement coinciding with the shift to HDTV with new opening titles. The new version has been criticized by many viewers as lacking the atmospheric quality of the original. The commercial break 'sting' to the 'End of Part 1' card was also replaced by a newer, less substantial version. The new version of the theme also differs in being less strident than the original with a less orchestral sound and having a shorter closing section often 'squashed' by a voice-over announcing the upcoming programme menu across ITV's channels.

Spear participated in the 1953 film Streets of Shadow, which featured the German World War I spy Elsbeth Schragmüller.

His theme for the 1954 movie Meet Mister Callaghan was rendered as a best-selling record by Les Paul.

For a short time in the 1960s, Spear lived in Guernsey.