Apollo 100 is a British instrumental group founded in late 1971 by arranger and multi-instrumentalist Tom Parker. The group's initial lineup included drummer Clem Cattini, guitarist Vic Flick, guitarist Zed Jenkins, percussionist Jim Lawless, and bassist Brian Odgers. Parker had played multiple instruments from an early age and entered the music industry as a session musician by the 1960s. Apollo 100 released their debut single "Joy" in December 1971, an electrified arrangement of Bach’s "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". The single reached number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in early 1972. Following this success, Apollo 100 released several albums including Master Pieces, Rhapsody In Rock and Opus 2. Their subsequent singles such as "Mendelssohn's 4th" and "Telstar" did not achieve the same level of commercial success. Apollo 100 continued to release albums throughout their career, including With Love From... Apollo 100, and Melodies With A Beat. Despite their initial success, the group disbanded in 1973. Parker went on to form the New London Chorale. Apollo 100’s music has been featured in various films and television series, including Boogie Nights and The Man Who Fell to Earth.
