Harry Mortimer, born April 10, 1902, in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, England, was a British composer and conductor specializing in brass band music. Taught by his father Fred Mortimer and William Rimmer, Harry began his career as a cornet soloist with the Luton Brass Band and later became the conductor of the Luton Red Cross Junior Band when he was 14. Mortimer led several notable bands, including the Fairey Aviation Band, which he directed to eight successes in the British Open Championship. He became Musical Director of the Morris Concert Band in 1945 and created the weekly BBC program Listen to the Band. Notable albums include Sounding Brass (1958), Bright As Brass (1959), and Sousa The Great (1966). Mortimer passed away on January 23, 1992.
