He was educated at the Royal Academy of Music where he studied piano and composition. In 1960 he joined the BBC as a sound mixer, before transferring, in 1963, to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop where he remained until 1974. He was the most prolific of the early Workshop composers, developing a trademark style, creating music by manipulating tapes of everyday sounds such as blowing across the top of an empty bottle.
He studied piano and composition at the Royal Academy of Music. In 1960, he started working with the BBC as a sound mixer; in 1963, he transferred to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, where he remained until 1974. He was one of the most prolific early composers for the workshop, creating music by manipulating tapes of everyday sounds like blowing across an empty bottle.