Charles Blackwell (born Ramsey[1] 20 May 1940 – 14 August 2024) was an English arranger, record producer and songwriter.

He was later commissioned to orchestrate Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" for a recording to be played at every sitting of the European Parliament.

[2] His parents separated when he was young and he was sent to live with his grandparents, where he found solace in his grandmother's old upright piano and began picking out tunes.

TV and record producer Jack Good described Blackwell as "a mastermind and surely the only teenage music director in the business".

Blackwell had a huge roster of artistes that he has recorded with, including Shirley Bassey, Lena Horne, Buddy Greco, Billy Fury, Adam Faith, Marlene Dietrich, Paul Anka, Françoise Hardy, Brigitte Bardot, Lulu, Vera Lynn, Slim Whitman, Bobby Goldsboro, Dionne Warwick, Gene Pitney, Brook Benton, Del Shannon and Jackie DeShannon.

Blackwell arranged the title song for the 1960s television series, Fireball XL5, and wrote several film scores including A Place to Go (1963) and Some Girls Do (1969).

He wrote the music and lyrics for the 1962 UK chart-topper "Come Outside" recorded by Mike Sarne and Wendy Richards.

He was later commissioned by the European Parliament to orchestrate and conduct the Anthem of Europe ("Ode to Joy" by Beethoven) with a 70-man orchestra, for a new recording that is played at every parliamentary sitting.