About The Author - Alan Ashton

Upon leaving school he became a trainee cinema projectionist: a profession he followed for over 40 years. Even before leaving school he had always enjoyed the thrilling sight and sound of the cinema organ, and commenced collecting organ recordings from around the world. Until recently that collection, together with tapes, cassettes and CDs, was one of the largest and most comprehensive in the UK.

However, the entire tape library has been accepted as a gift to the American Theatre Organ Society and now forms part of their vast archives. After leaving school he was employed by Associated British Cinemas, a leading cinema chain, and remained with them, excluding a three period in the Royal Air Force, for 15 years.

It was during this period he began broadcasting for a local Hospital Radio Network in Lancashire. In 1971, by this time employed at the huge Granada Television Studios in Manchester, he was invited by the BBC in Manchester to produce and present a 13 week trial series of theatre and electronic organ music programmes.That programme, PEDAL, PERCUSSION & PIPES: the title was changed to ORGANISED KEYBOARDS when BBC Radio Manchester began transmitting in stereo, remained part of the North West airwaves for close on 18 years.

In excess of 600 programmes were produced and presented: the early years saw them recorded in advance of transmission, but eventually the programmes, by now 60 minutes a week, were transmitted live. In the early 1980's he co-founded the Association of Organ Enthusiasts, and as their Vice Chairman was actively involved in the production of some of the very first electronic organ music Festivals which took place in England, Spain & Holland.Around this same period he was invited to review the latest organ recordings and wrote articles for a number of leading commercial organ world magazines, including AOE Organ Times magazine and the MSS Studios "ORGAN1st" magazine. See their web site at www.organ.co.uk

Now retired, he and his wife Dorothy have moved to Cornwall from where he continues to have a consuming interest in the world of organ music. You are invited to write with any comments, corrections or additions for the Klaus Wunderlich Discography, and your letter will be personally acknowledged.