Charles Blackwell was an English arranger, record producer and songwriter. He began his career in music publishing offices in Denmark Street, London. At the age of 18 he was music director of Joe Meek's record label. He became a prolific studio arranger and record producer in the 1960s and 1970s with a string of hits, and recorded with many famous artistes. He was later commissioned to orchestrate Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" for a recording to be played at every sitting of the European Parliament.