Everybody knows John Altman''s music, but not so many people know his name. Yet he is one of the most prolific composers, conductors and arrangers in history, and his saxophone playing has been heard live or on record with many great artists. This vivid account of over fifty years in the world of popular music spans the worlds of live performance, recording and composing. His scores include such well-known film sequences as ''Always Look on the Bright Side of Life'' from Life of Brian, which he arranged, conducted and was one of the whistlers; James Bond''s tank chase through St. Petersburg in Goldeneye and the ship sinking in Titanic, as the orchestra plays.

In all, he has composed the music for over fifty movies, and won most major film awards in his long and distinguished career. His orchestrations can be heard in film scores by legends like Elmer Bernstein and Jule Styne, and he was musical director for several television series, notably Miss Marple, starring Joan Hickson, as well as every episode of Peak Practice. His television and recording work included all the arrangements for the Grammy-nominated Rutles, and he recounts his lively half-century of collaboration with members of the Monty Python team, and Neil Innes. As an arranger/conductor he has worked on hit records for stars including Rod Stewart, George Michael, Tina Turner, Barry White, Diana Ross, Björk, and Alison Moyet. As a saxophonist, flautist and clarinet player he has performed with an equally stellar list of musicians, and this entertaining, fast-paced memoir includes many tales of life on the road with, among others, Hot Chocolate and Van Morrison.

John Altman has also written, produced and arranged over 4,000 commercials worldwide, many of which have been whistled and hummed by those who had no idea of the composer. Such anonymity coupled with universally-known themes is why Monty Python''s Terry Gilliam named Altman the ''Hidden Man''.