Paul Buckmaster

Paul Buckmaster is, along with his contemporary Richard Hewson, one of a relative handful of classically trained musicians who have managed to exert a huge influence on the shape and direction of rock music. As an arranger and conductor, and as a solo cellist, he has made notable contributions to hundreds of albums by dozens of major artists since the late '60s. Born to a musical family in London, Buckmaster showed natural musical aptitude at an early age, taking up the cello at age four. By six he was winning prizes for his musicianship, and at 11 he earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, from which he graduated at 16. Although his training on the cello was focused on classical music, Buckmaster was open to rock, jazz, and avant-garde music, and during the late '60s began playing with such progressive and experimental groups as The Third Ear Band, Suntreader, and Nucleus. As a serious musician with thorough classical training, he became known in popular music circles for having his feet in both the rock and classical camps, and for being willing to work with the former. As rock music became more ambitious late in the decade, Buckmaster suddenly found his skills in demand, and offers came his way as an arranger and orchestrator.

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