FILM COMPOSERS | Sally Stevens

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Burt Bacharach

Burt is truly one of the legends of the music business. After great success as a song writer/record producer, he began his own ‘artist’ career in the late sixties, performing in concert worldwide.

He won an Academy Award for the score of “BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID” in 1969. Burt also won Best Song Oscars for the song from that same score, “RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD”, (lyrics by Hal David) and for “ARTHUR’S THEME” (“Best That You Can Do”, lyrics by Carol Bayer Sager) from the film “ARTHUR”. He composed the scores and was nominated for Academy Awards for “ALFIE”, “CASINO ROYAL”, and “WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT?”

His Grammy Awards, Golden Globes, EMMY Awards, and million-seller hits over the years are too numerous to count accurately. His long time collaborator and lyricist on many of the early hits was Hal David, but over the years he has also collaborated with Carol Bayer Sager, Elvis Costello, Ronald Isley and numerous other artists.

Burt continues to recreate himself, continually finding fresh, new musical expressions. He still performs in concert, and recently won a Grammy in 2005 for his CD “AT THIS TIME”, released on Sony Records. This was the first project for which Burt wrote his own lyrics.

I had the great pleasure of performing in concert with Burt during the seventies, touring the United States, South America and Canada. I also sang lead on the vocals for “BUTCH CASSIDY” and performed on many of his recordings over the years, the most recent one being the recent Grammy Winner “AT THIS TIME”.

These shots of Burt were taken at Oceanway Recording Studio, Hollywood, during the production/recording of that Grammy Award winning CD. Quite a remarkable run, this fine gentleman’s career has had. And it’s still going strong.

Klaus Badelt

Klaus was born in Frankfurt, Germany and began his work in film scoring there, with many successful films and commercials. He came to the United States in 1998, at the invitation of Hans Zimmer, and contributed music to Hans’ scores for the features “GLADIATOR”, “THE THIN RED LINE”, and “PRINCE OF EGYPT. Klaus’s own film score credits include “PREMONITION”, “K19: THE WIDOW MAKER”, and “CATWOMAN” among a rapidly growing list.

This shot of Klaus was taken during the recording of his score for “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES”, on the Clint Eastwood scoring stage, Burbank Studios, California.

Christophe Beck

Christophe received an Emmy nomination for his work on the popular series “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” His music has been widely heard in such films as “”PINK PANTHER, “THE SENTINEL”, “WE ARE MARSHALL”, “LICENSE TO WED”, “TAXI”, “THE PERFECT MAN”, “CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN” and “UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN”.

This shot of Christophe at work in the control booth at 20th Century Fox was taken during the scoring of the film “PERFECT MAN”.

Marco Beltrami

This fine young composer while studying at USC had the opportunity to train closely with the legendary Jerry Goldsmith, a rare opportunity indeed. Marco’s own scoring credits include: “3:30 TO YUMA”, for which he received an Oscar nomination, “ABBEY ROAD SESSIONS”, “THE OMEN”, “HELL BOY”, “xXx STATE OF THE UNION”, “I ROBOT”, “RESIDENT EVIL” and “TERMINATOR 3”. He also scored many episodes of the TV Series “THE PRACTICE”. I’m sure Jerry would be proud!

The photograph of Marco was taken in the control booth on the Newman Stage, 20th Century Fox, Century City. CA. during the recording of his score for “FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX”.

Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard is esteemed world-wide, both as a Jazz player (trumpet) artist, and for his fine film score compositions for many of Spike Lee’s remarkable films…theirs is a long time creative partnership. His score for “25th HOUR” was nominated for a Golden Globe, and his other score credits include: “MO BETTER BLUES” (he also played trumpet for Denzel Washington’s character in the film), “DRUM”, “DARK BLUE”, “WHO THE @#!&%# IS JACKSON POLLOCK”, “GLITTER”, and “ORIGINAL SIN”. Terence also wrote the score for Spike’s
powerful TV documentary “WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS”, which covered the tragic events in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina.

Bill Conti

Bill is a brilliant and prolific writer, and has won many ASCAP awards over the years for “MOST PLAYED TV THEMES. He is probably most famously known for the familiar “Gonna Fly Now” theme, which has been used in all the continuing Rocky series of films. Bill won an Oscar for “THE RIGHT STUFF” and two Oscar nominations for Best Song, “For Your Eyes Only”, (lyrics, Michael Leeson) and Best Song for “Gonna Fly Now (Rocky’s Theme, lyrics, Carol Connors, Ayn Robbins). His other film score credits include “TORTILLA SOUP”, “THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR”, “SPY HARD”, “NAPOLEON”, “KARATE KID”, “THE ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN”, “YEAR OF THE GUN” and “LEAN ON ME”, to list only a few.

This photograph of Bill was taken on the Newman Scoring Stage, 20th Century Fox, as he conducted the scoring session for the most recent “Rocky” series of feature films, “ROCKY BALBOA”.

Bruce Broughton

Bruce’s remarkable work over the years can be heard on such fine scores as “SILVERADO”, for which he won an Oscar in 1985, and the scores for “TOMBSTONE”, “LOST IN SPACE”, “SHADOW CONSIRACY”, “CARRIED AWAY”, and also for the TV Series JAG, among his many projects.

He received an Emmy Award for his score for the TV Mini Series “WARM SPRINGS”, on the life of
Franklyn Delano Roosevelt. He is currently serving as a Governor in the Music Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

This photograph of Bruce at work in his home studio was taken during a special “shoot” between projects, when Bruce allowed me to photograph him at home.

Don Davis

Don is an amazing composer whose talents can be heard both in his film scores, and in his classical works. Probably his best known works are the scores of the Matrix series of films, “MATRIX”, “MATRIX REVOLUTIONS” and “THE MATRIX RELOADED”. His film credits also include “BEHIND ENEMY LINES”, “THE GOOD LIFE”, “THE MARINE”, “FINAL FLIGHT OF THE OSIRIS”, and “HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL” among many others. He worked extensively in television scoring prior to his entry into film composition, and he is one of the few composers these days who conducts his own scores rather than supervise from the booth.

Don in addition to his long list of film score credits, is also the composer of a recently premiered opera, RIO DE SANGRE, libretto by Kate Gale.

This photo of Don was taken on the Newman Scoring Stage, 20th Century Fox, as he conducted the orchestra for the recording of his score for “MATRIX REVOLUTIONS”.

John Debney with Rob Schneider

John grew up around the film business,
his father being a producer of numerous
Disney Studio projects. His interest in music
began at an early age and he received his
formal musical training at California School
Of The Arts. He soon began to develop his
professional career under the tutelage of
Mike Post, the producer of music for such
TV hits as “Rockford Files”, “Magnum PI”,
and “Law and Order”. Soon John was scoring
his own TV projects, and in 1993 was hired to
do his first major film score for the Bette Midler
film, “HOCUS POCUS”.

John’s career has flourished, and his ability with
diverse styles of music has contributed to the
long list of film credits, among which are:
”THE SCORPION KING’, “ELF”,
“BRUCE ALMIGHTY”, “THE EMPEROR’S
NEW GROOVE”, “THE PRINCESS
DIARIES”, “THE HOT CHICK”,
“DRAGONFLY”, and “CHEAPER BY
THE DOZEN”. He received an Oscar
nomination for his lush and beautiful score for
“PASSION OF THE CHRIST”.

This shot of John, with Rob Schneider the
producer/star of the film “HOT CHICK”, was
taken on the Clint Eastwood Scoring Stage,
Burbank Studios.

John Frizzell

John is another of the talented young film composers establishing themselves in the film scoring world.

John’s film credits include: “HENRY POOL IS HERE”, “THE REAPING”, “THE WOODS”, “STAY ALIVE”, “BLACK IRISH”, “CARELESS” “FIRST BORN”, and “THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO”, among a growing list of numerous film and television projects.

This photo of John was taken in the booth on the Clint Eastwood Stage, Burbank Studios, where he recorded the score for “CRADLE TO THE GRAVE”.

Michael Giacchino

Michael is well known for his scores for the animated features “THE INCREDIBLES” and “RATATOUILLE”, the latter of which was nominated for an Academy Award. Some of his other scores include “LIFTED”, “BLACK”, “MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III”, “THE FAMILY STONE”, “ONE MAN BAND”, “SKY HIGH”, “SIN”, “THE TROUBLE WITH LOU”, “LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD”, and the soon to be released “SPEED RACER”.

He currently scores the enormously popular TV Series “LOST”, and has scored multiple episodes of the TV series “ALIAS”, “WHAT ABOUT BRIAN?” and “SIX DEGREES”. He won ASCAP Top TV Series awards in 2005 and 2006 for his scores for “LOST”.

This shot of Michael was taken at O’Henry Studios in Burbank, CA. during a scoring session for one of the episodes of “LOST”.

Jerry Goldsmith

Jerry was, and is, one of the most respected talents in the business, a true legend among film composers all around the world. He embraced an active career which spanned from the fifties through 2004, when he passed away of cancer.

I had the great pleasure of working with him as a singer on many projects over the years. One was an early project, “THE SECRET OF NIHM” for which I sang the solo voice for the animated character of the mother rat, singing the lullaby “Flying Dreams”.

Some of Jerry’s film scores included the “STARTREK” series, “POLTERGEIST”, “SAND PEBBLES”, “PSYCHO 2” “GREMLINS”, “THE OMEN”,”LOGAN’S RUN”, “RAMBO”, “CHINATOWN”, “BASIC INSTINCT”, “THE UNTOUCHABLES”, “SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION”, “HOOSIERS”, “KING SOLOMON’S MINE”, “THE OMEN”, “ALIEN”, “EXTREME PREJUDICE”, “LILIES OF THE FIELD”, “LOGAN’S RUN”, and “ESCAPE FROM PLANET OF THE APES”, only a partial list of the many films he has scored over the years.

Jerry also wrote many of the best known TV themes during the 60s, 70s and 80s, including “THE WALTONS”, “ROOM 222”, “THE MAN FROM UNCLE” and “TWILIGHT ZONE”.

This shot of Jerry was taken in 2002 on one of the last film scores he completed, “STARTREK:NEMESIS”, while he was conducting his scoring session on the Paramount Lot, Stage M.

Dave Grusin with Chris Botti

Dave’s long list of film scoring credits include “MILAGRO BEAN FIELDS WAR”, for which he won an Oscar in 1989. He received seven other Oscar nominations for “THE FIRM”, “HAVANA”, “TOOTSIE”, “ON GOLDEN POND”, “THE CHAMP”, AND “HEAVEN CAN WAIT”. Some additional film credits include “MULHOLLAND FALLS”, “HOPE FLOATS”, “BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES”, “A DRY WHITE SEASON”, “THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL”, “RACING WITH THE MOON”, “THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN”, “THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR” and “ABSENCE OF MALICE”, to mention only a few. He received four Golden Globe nominations for Best Score, and he received nine Grammy nominations, winning two for Best Album of Original Score Music, for “THE GRADUATE” and “FABULOUS BAKER BOYS”.

Dave came to California from New York originally to work as Musical Director for the Andy Williams TV show, and like so many fine film composers early in their careers, did considerable work in TV including episodes of “THE GIRL FROM UNCLE” and “GIDGET”.

I had the great pleasure of working with Dave on many projects through the years as a singer, and was delighted when he hired me to coach Michelle Pfeiffer for her singing role in “THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS”. I also had an opportunity to write a lyric for him for the film “ABSENCE OF MALICE”. Twenty-five years later he asked me to write a second verse, and we were thrilled to have James Taylor include it in his first Christmas CD, in 2005.

This photograph of Dave, with Chris Botti who played trumpet solos on the session, was taken at Capitol Records, Hollywood, in 2005 during the recording of James Christmas CD, which Dave also produced and arranged.

James Horner

James has created an impressive body of work with his scores for such films as “TITANIC” (for which he won a Best Score Oscar and a Best Original Song Oscar in 1997), “A BEAUTIFUL MIND,” “DEEP IMPACT,” “HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG,” “BEYOND BORDERS,” “APOLLO 13,” “BRAVEHEART,” “SNEAKERS,” “HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS,” “ENEMY AT THE GATES,” “MIGHTY JOE YOUNG,” and “PATRIOT GAMES.”

I have a lovely memory of working on one of James’ earliest scores, when he was very young and was doing a small film at the Disney Studios scoring stage. The film was called “STONE BOY,” and it was a sparse, lovely score that included my solo vocals and the featured guitar work of Tommy Tedesco, a much-respected and beloved musician who was very active in the sixties, seventies, and into the eighties.

James has certainly risen to the heights I imagine he aspired to in those early days, and deservedly so. This photograph of James was taken at TODD-AO Studios, Studio City, CA, as he conducted the orchestra for the recording of his score for “BEYOND BORDERS.”

Steve Jablonsky

Steve has scored a number of films, including “THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE,” “TRANSFORMERS,” and “THE AMITYVILLE HORROR” (2005 remake).

He has many credits in the Adventure/Supernatural category, but he also writes the remarkably smart, sophisticated, and humorous scores for the smash TV series success, “DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.”

Steve won a BMI TV Music Award for his work on “DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES,” and a BMI Film Score Award for “THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE.”

This photograph of Steve was taken on the Sony Scoring Stage during the recording of his score for “TRANSFORMERS.” The demand for a CD release of the score music from “TRANSFORMERS” was so great among Steve’s fans that a 5,000-signature petition was circulated, and the CD of the score was finally released four months after the film had been released!

Alan Menken

Alan is best known for his wonderful Disney musicals, all of which have been nominated for, or have won, Academy Awards over the years. “POCAHONTAS,” “THE LITTLE MERMAID,” “THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME,” “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST,” “HERCULES,” “ALADDIN,” and “ENCHANTED” are examples of what has made him the star of the Disney theatrical animated film catalogue.

This photograph of Alan was taken in the booth at TODD-AO Studios during the recording of his score for “THE SHAGGY DOG,” a Disney live-action film.

Randy Newman

Randy Newman, the songwriter/singer/recording artist/composer, is so multi-talented it’s hard to know in which area to begin with the words of praise. The brilliantly ironic, insightful, and irreverent lyrics he is so well known for, the magnificent film scores he has created—he is truly a man for all seasons.

He charms the orchestra members from the podium with his wry comments between downbeats as he conducts.

Randy holds the record for the number of Oscar nominations, his being 16. His film score credits include: “MEET THE FOCKERS,” “CARS,” “MONSTERS, INC.,” “TOY STORY,” “JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH,” “A BUG’S LIFE,” “SEABISCUIT,” “THE NATURAL,” among many others. He won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “If I Didn’t Have You,” from “MONSTERS, INC.” He also wrote the wonderful theme song “It’s a Jungle Out There” for the hit TV series “MONK.”

This photograph of Randy on the podium was taken at the Sony Scoring Stage during the recording of his score for the animated feature “CARS.”

Thomas Newman

Thomas (Tom) Newman is one of the most respected composers in film scoring. His film credits include: “ROAD TO PERDITION,” “WHITE OLEANDER,” “JARHEAD,” “CINDERELLA MAN,” “LEMONY SNICKET,” “THE GOOD GERMAN,” “PAY IT FORWARD,” “FRIED GREEN TOMATOES,” “THE HORSE WHISPERER,” “THE GREEN MILE,” “ERIN BROCKOVICH,” “AMERICAN BEAUTY,” “THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION,” “HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT,” and “MEET JOE BLACK,” among many others. He wrote the score for the powerful TV miniseries “ANGELS IN AMERICA,” and he also wrote the theme for the innovative and popular HBO series “SIX FEET UNDER.”

Tom’s music is emotional, sensitive, and powerfully effective, and the films he has been offered, and has chosen to do, stand out as projects of depth and significance.

Tom has had eight Oscar nominations. His diverse talents allow him to move from heavy dramatic storylines to light-hearted animated films.

This photograph of Tom was taken on the Sony Scoring Stage in Culver City as he was on the podium conducting his score for “FINDING NEMO.”

James Newton Howard

James is another of the gifted composers who, to our delight, often uses vocal colors in the compositions of his scores. His magnificent score for “SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS” included a choir of 72 voices, and he has used voices effectively in other film scores such as “KING KONG” and “THE SIXTH SENSE,” as well as in his recent unique treatment of “AND HE SHALL PURIFY” from Handel’s MESSIAH, which was performed against a heavy contemporary rhythm track under a scene that cut back and forth between an upscale Christmas-season cocktail party in Washington, DC, and scenes of violent battle in Afghanistan in his score for “CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR.”

James was nominated for seven Academy Awards and numerous BMI, ASCAP, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Grammy Awards. Among his other film credits are “I AM LEGEND,” “MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING,” “DAVE,” “MICHAEL CLAYTON,” “THE SIXTH SENSE,” “PRIMAL FEAR,” “RUNAWAY BRIDE,” “WATERWORLD,” “FRENCH KISS,” “PRETTY WOMAN,” “DINOSAUR,” and “ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE.” He also composed the theme and scored many episodes of the TV hit “ER.”

James studied film music composition at USC but began his musical career touring with Elton John and also worked with the rock group “TOTO.”

This photograph of James was taken in the booth on the Sony Scoring Stage in Culver City during the recording of his score for the film “HIDALGO.”

John Ottman

John Ottman is a multi-talented gentleman who, in addition to his film score credits, has also earned credits as a director, producer, and sound editor. It is amazing to see such diverse talents in one individual!

Some of his prestigious film score credits include “SUPERMAN RETURNS,” “FANTASTIC FOUR,” “HIDE AND SEEK,” and “THE INVASION.” He is also scheduled to score “SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL” and “THE AVENGERS.”

This photograph of John was taken in the booth at TODD-AO Scoring Stage during the recording of his score for “SUPERMAN RETURNS.”