Leslie Bricusse

Feelgood songsmith BORN 1931

Leslie Bricusse: music man with the Midas touch.

If his 2006 autobiography The Music Man is to be believed, Leslie Bricusse, British writer of songs for stage and screen, lived a charmed life full of success and the pursuit of pleasure – food, wine and luxury travel – surrounded by people he adored. Love of life shone out of his work, not least his lyric for Feelin’ Good (1964), one of many songs co-written with Anthony Newley (and curiously unmentioned in the first edition of his book), which became a modern standard long after it was written, with Nina

Simone’s definitive 1965 version followed by hit revivals by the likes of Muse (2001) and Michael Bublé (2005). Unusually, the Pinner-born Bricusse wrote both music and lyrics in collaboration, but also wrote alone, notably on 1967 film musical Doctor Dolittle. His other classics include Pure Imagination and The Candy Man from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, Bond themes Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice, and the frequently covered If I Ruled The World.

Jim Irvin