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Posted: |
Sep 25, 2017 - 12:17 AM
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By: |
HARRYO
(Member)
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Peter Kent or Pete to his friends, and he had many passed away just weeks short of his 69th Birthday on September 16th.
He was a true Champion of real, true Film Music. To be honest, he had little time for today's Film Composers. His interest lay in Film Music of the Fifties and Sixties. Not totally within those confines, but the Composers seriously active then. Goldsmith, Bernstein, Schifrin, Grusin and Mancini . They were the ones who inspired the greatest interest and love.
He was a excellent writer and when I started a Film Music Magazine in the late 1980s, which then blossomed into MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES, he was ideal. Passionate, commited and , a eye for picking out what was right or indeed wrong in an article, as I found out more than once!
His interest was wide, not just in Film Music, but that was his true love, and which kept him going in difficult times, health wise in later years. Film Music was in his DNA as much as his family and forebears.
Apart from all the above, he was great company. I never, never heard him say a bad word about anyone and he will be sorely missed.
I will be writing a much lengthy tribute to Pete elsewhere shortly, but till then Pete
Farewell Old Friend. I will never listen to Hank, or Jerry without thinking of you
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Sorry to hear that. Remember seeing his byeline a lot.
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Sorry to hear that. Remember seeing his byeline a lot.
Yes, likewise. Much remembered for working with the film music journalist John Williams here in the UK on magazines like From Silents to Satellite and Music from the Movies etc.
Sorry to hear this news. RIP Peter.
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As has been said, a real lover of film music and I recall many happy hours on the phone chatting with Pete, not to mention the meet-ups in London (and on one memorable occasion, Glasgow) for concerts and the like.
As the concerts became rarer, Pete set up his own "Kentathlon" as he called it, and five or six of his film music pals would meet for a lunchtime boozing session (once a year) at the Museum Pub in Bloomsbury. Peter would sometimes bring photographs from his collection, and there was always a questionnaire he'd concocted to test our film music knowledge.
His own knowledge of Hollywood history was astonishing; if you asked him who won the Academy Award for best supporting actor in 1962 he would know it and tell you. Or you could ask him, "What was the name of the actor who played Hamilton Burger in the PERRY MASON TV series?" And he would tell you that too.
One composer who was a particular favourite of Pete's (and surprisingly omitted by "HARRY-O" at the top of the thread) was Dimitri Tiomkin. At one time Pete bought a pet parrot, but on getting it home the bird refused to talk.
He coaxed and cajoled the parrot, but it remained silent. Pete gave up in disgust, and decided to put on some music - NIGHT PASSAGE by Dimitri Tiomkin. As soon as the music started to play, the parrot became quite loquacious, squawking along quite happily! Thus, the parrot was named Dimi, after the composer who had (clearly!) inspired it.
Latterly, Pete made his home in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. To keep a promise I'd once made to him, I went to see him there, just about a year ago now. He was a bit infirm, and I was sorry to note his lack of mobility. But the sense of fun was still with him, and he delighted in introducing me to his local haunts, the RAF Club and another - was it the Canoe Club? - where we enjoyed a few beers. And there was always laughter.
Raising another glass to you now, old friend...
JMM.
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On Friday last (October 13th) Peter's funeral took place in Eastbourne, East Sussex. It was well-attended. A few of Pete's "film music" friends were present, including myself.
As the congregation stood in respect, Peter's coffin was wheeled in to the strains of Henry Mancini's "Pink Panther" theme, which set the tone for the service to come.
In the "Order of Service" leaflets were messages from composers Debbie Wiseman and John Scott. After a reading from Ecclesiastes and an excerpt from Debbie Wiseman's 'Zodiac' piece, John Williams delivered the eulogy, speaking warmly of his old friend. The eulogy concluded with messages received from Richard Hartley and Lalo Schifrin.
As the final curtain closed, the music chosen was from Herrmann's The Ghost and Mrs Muir; a deft touch and most affecting. Peter D. Kent, gone but not forgotten.
JMM.
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Sounds a poignant service for Peter, james. Thanks for sharing it.
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