A composer who wrote songs for the likes of Elvis Presley and played a role in the early career of Phil Collins has been remembered.

Ken Howard died suddenly at his home in Arkwright Road, Hampstead, aged 84.

Ken and his schoolfriend Alan Blaikley wrote a series of top-ten hits, beginning in the 1960s with The Honeycomb’s Have I The Right?.

The duo’s success continued into the 1970s and they wrote a hit for Elvis Presley, I’ve Lost You, which reached the British top ten in 1970.

Ken’s partner Benjamin Shorten described the collaboration with Elvis as “his greatest achievement".

Ken wrote hits for the likes of Elvis PresleyKen wrote hits for the likes of Elvis Presley (Image: Benjamin Shorten) He told the Ham and High it was music that brought him and Ken together, quite literally, as they met “over the jukebox” at the King William IV pub in Hampstead and bonded by discussing songs.

According to Benjamin, Ken was “born and bred” in Hampstead, attending University College School and later living above the Holly Bush pub in Holly Mount.

Ken grew up in a musical household - his mother was a concert pianist and inspired him to start playing.

Ken Howard (far right) next to Frankie Howerd and Alan Blaikley (second left) in 1971Ken Howard (far right) next to Frankie Howerd and Alan Blaikley (second left) in 1971 (Image: Benjamin Shorten) Ken and Alan began writing songs in 1963 while working at the BBC.

Shortly afterwards, they came across The Sheratons, later to become The Honeycombs, at The Mildmay Tavern, a pub in Islington.

They then decided to write their chart-topping song Have I The Right?

A second UK number one was The Legend of Xanadu, written for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich in 1968.

Ken also wrote songs for Petula Clark, Lulu and Engelbert Humperdinck.

Alongside I’ve Lost You, Ken and Alan wrote a second song for Elvis, The Heart of Rome, released in 1971.

They later branched into musicals and TV themes, writing the theme for the long-running show Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and the musical The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, which ran in the West End from 1984 to 1986.

One of Ken’s early bands, Flaming Youth, helped start the career of singer and drummer Phil Collins.

Collins worked with Ken in 1969, the year before he joined Genesis.