Lanza, one of the record industry's most colourful characters, spent more than two decades at EMI, working under a succession of chairmen and managing directors, including Sir Joseph Lockwood, L G Wood, Ken East, Leslie Hill, Cliff Busby and Gerry Oord.

Lanza started his career as a classical violinist, working in the orchestra for several West End shows back in the Fifties. After a stint working for HMV's then-flagship store in London's Oxford Street, he moved to EMI Records where ...