Fred Tomlinson was a singer and arranger best known for leading a group of vocalists on the British television series Monty Python’s Flying Circus. The vocal group, called the Fred Tomlinson Singers, sang comical lyrics to pieces with titles like “Spam Song” and “The Lumberjack Song.”

Tomlinson also served as a choral director on the British series The Ken Dodd Show, Monty Python’s Fliegender Zirkus, The Goodies and The Two Ronnies.

His songs were used on shows including Himalaya with Michael Palin, Timeshift, The Amazing Race Australia and the miniseries Monty Python: Almost the Truth — The Lawyer’s Cut. He also had a few on-screen parts, in the series Dad’s Army, Flying Circus. The Two Ronnies, and Only Fools and Horses.

Tomlinson studied music at Leeds University, where he also studied Italian, mathematics and statistics. He trained to be a teacher before serving in the Royal Air Force.

He founded his singing group in the 1960s, after moving to London.

Tomlinson died July 17, 2016. He was 88.