Tim’s ventures into book publishing included being a co-founder of the hugely successful Guinness Book Of Hit Singles (and related volumes) with his brother Jonathan, Paul Gambaccini and Mike Read. Until the arrival of the internet their Guinness works were the bibles of the British music industry. Tim also founded Pavilion Books in 1981 with Michael Parkinson and Colin Webb which held its own in the literary marketplace for over a decade. He is also well known for his passion for cricket, having been president of MCC and the Lord’s Taverners (and also of the splendid 180-plus years old London Library). 

His passion for rock and roll and popular music began in 1957. The first record he bought was Tommy Steele’s version of ‘Singing The Blues’. Elvis was riding high in the charts with every single he released. That year also saw the debut hits of Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. To Tim, a 13 year old English schoolboy, American music stars such as Buddy Holly and the Everlys seemed to come from another planet – inaccessible, irresistible and mysterious.

In 2009, Tim participated in the two days of music and tribute to the three rock musicians who died in the plane crash near Mason City, Iowa, exactly half a century before, on 3 February 1959. Exactly 50 years later the legacy and works of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper were remembered by a host of leading musicians including the Crickets, Bobby Vee, Bill Haley’s Comets, Graham Nash, Peter and Gordon, Brian Hyland, Johnny Tillotson and many others.