Function: Vice President Membership UK/Europe WSAcademy: WSA Voting Member
Classically trained pianist from the age of 4. Attended the Trinity College of Music under a scholarship studying Piano, Clarinet and Saxophone. At 18, signed to EMI Music Publishing as a songwriter alongside his work as a session keyboard player/programmer with the likes of Bryan Adams, Gary Barlow and The Lemonheads. Joined Film/TV agent Air Edel, composing adverts for Ford, Coca Cola, Guinness, Shell/Ferrari and BT. Co-wrote and produced 2 albums for the band “Think Twice” achieving two Top 10’s in Japan, selling over 150,000 albums and 2 successful tours. TV work followed, co-composing the music for Season 2 of the BBC1 Series “Bugs” in addition to writing and producing 6 of the 12 tracks for the Down to the Bone “Manhattan to Staten” album that sold over 250,000 copies in the US. Signed with EMI/Positiva and Warner Chappell publishing with the band “Aurora”. First release “Hear You Calling” charted at #17 in the UK Top 20. A self-titled album followed, featuring a cover of the Duran Duran hit “Ordinary World” which entered the UK charts at #5. Over 100 remixes during this time also, producing three #1 Dance Singles. Simon went on to co-wrote and produce the title track of the Charlotte Church “Dream a Dream” album, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. Film work followed, working with legendary film composer Hans Zimmer to produce the Mann/Weil songs for the Muppets “Treasure Island” movie. Further film work with David Arnold on the Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies” and a stint as Kate Winslett’s piano advisor on the set of “Sense and Sensibility”. Simon worked alongside Patrick Doyle at Shepperton studios as programmer/musical associate for the movies Nanny McPhee, Harry Potter “The Goblet Of Fire” and as music editor on the Richard E. Grant movie “Wah-Wah”. In 2009, he was asked to go to Los Angeles to work with composer John Powell on the score of Ice Age 3 “Dawn of the Dinosaurs”. From 2010-2017 Simon served as ASCAP’s Senior Director of Film &TV UK/Europe and in 2017, he was promoted to Vice President running the UK/European Membership team, securing deals with notable acts such as Dua Lipa, Sigala, Coldplay and composer Daniel Pemberton.