An Introduction to Library Legend: John Cameron
- Adam Weitz
- Mar 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 28
If there were a Hall of Fame for British library music composers, the first inductees would surely include Keith Mansfield, Alan Hawkshaw, Alan Parker, Johnny Pearson, Brian Bennett, and the legendary John Cameron.
John Cameron is one of those behind-the-scenes legends that you’ve probably never heard of—but you’ve definitely heard his work. His songwriting career began in 1964 while he was a student at Cambridge, where he collaborated with Monty Python’s Eric Idle. Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after arrangers in London, in 1965 Cameron enlisted iconic musicians John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page to record Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman.” His contributions can also be heard on hits like Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” and Heatwave’s “Boogie Nights.” Additionally, as the leader of his own band, CCS, he worked alongside bass legend Herbie Flowers—also a staple of the KPM catalog—who is known for his epic contributions to Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” and A Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It?”
In a recent interview, Cameron shared how he was introduced to library music: “After CCS, I sat down with Robin Phillips of KPM and realized that the library music he was putting out with people like Keith Mansfield, Brian Bennett, and Hawk (Alan Hawkshaw) wasn’t the kind of ‘elevator music’ that other libraries often specialized in. Robin actually gave musicians a bit more creative freedom. I said, ‘I’ve just recorded this band, CCS. If it’s successful, others will rip us off, so why not rip off our own sound?’ That’s how the jazz-rock album Afro Rock (KPM 1130) came about. The Afro-rock sound, for example, was really shaped by Harold McNair and Tony Carr. Even with library music, Robin didn’t mind how personal you made it. If I used my favorite musicians, he encouraged it. We even did a spy album, Espionage (Bruton Music BRJ 25).”
Cameron’s work has been sampled by several luminaries including Logic on “Like Woah” (sampling “Liquid Sunshine”), Busta Rhymes ft. Kendrick Lamar “Look Over Your Shoulder” (sampling “Sympathy”), and Common “Unfamiliar”, Cee-Lo Green’s “Is It?”, and 50 Cent’s “Wanksta (Alchemist Remix”) (all sampling “Half Forgotten Daydreams”).
His music has appeared in over 500 films and television series, including Emmy-winning series Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, Spongebob Squarepants, Ren & Stimpy, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations & Parts Unknown, American Idol, How to with John Wilson, and in the Oscar-nominated films Crip Camp and Wonder.
Over the past year, APM has re-issued 32 John Cameron albums originally recorded from 1978-1982, newly digitized, remastered and available in the United States for sampling for the first time.
APM is thrilled to be the exclusive licensor of 350+ John Cameron songs.
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