RENOWNED composer and producer David Courtney is calling on businesses to back young talent as he marks his 50th year in the music industry.

The music veteran, who has worked with Roger Daltrey, David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Sir Paul McCartney, wants companies to sponsor young underprivileged artists starting out in the industry who cannot afford expensive tuition fees.

He spoke as he reached the milestone of half a century in the music business with his autobiography ‘Giving it all Away’ and a 40-track anthology album to be released later this year.

The local legend is also acting as a “gun for hire” after launching a consultancy with him offering his skills for producing and songwriting and helping with contacts and know-how.

The David Courtney Organisation will offer exclusive music and entertainment services including record production, music publishing, event promotion, production, songwriting and artist development and mentorship.

He said: “I want to get the business community together to create a fund for working with kids from underprivileged who can’t afford to go to BIMM. Business backs music basically.

“Brighton is a great breaking ground for quite a few acts. I’d certainly like to try and source some new talent.”

On compiling his anthology, he added: “Music is like a time machine. As soon as you put it on, you’re on a colourful journey, through the ups and downs. There’s been a fair bit of trauma along the way.”

On the music industry he said: “When we started we didn’t do it for the money, we did it for the love of it. Now people just want to be famous. These kids are like pawns in the game.

“But it’s right that musicians do their own legwork. Recording companies used to give out £100,000 advances and youngsters would go through it like butter. I understand the industry had to change drastically.

“The internet has been good and bad for music. Albums used to be important, but they give it all away now. The royalties artists get for streaming on Spotify are just miniscule.

“Gigs used to promote records, now it’s the records that promote gigs.”

In 2010 he introduced The Brighton Music Awards (BMA), presented by industry figures including Roger Daltrey and Jimmy Page.

He also founded the Walk of Fame in the UK, bringing it to Brighton seafront last year, though the plaques were stolen within days.

He discovered international disco star Leo Sayer, from Shoreham, after placing a classified ad in the then Evening Argus in the 1970s.

He also co-wrote many of Sayer’s hits including ‘The Show Must Go On’, ‘One Man Band’, ‘Long Tall Glasses’ and ‘Giving it All Away’.