To begin this thread we have a most popular honoree. Happy 74th Birthday, John Williams! Personally, I'm spinning some of the man's Star Wars music to celebrate. You might be satisfied just to read some trivia about him that I found on IMDb.
Some people nowadays don't even realize that he's the man behind the music from not only all Star Wars films, but all the Indiana Jones movies, Close Encounters, E.T., and the memorable parts of Superman, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter*.
*Those last three series he did the scores for the first movie or two then lesser composers adapted his themes for later installments.
Quote:
Composed for all but two of Steven Spielberg's feature films.
Father of composer Joseph Williams . The two worked together on Return of the Jedi, collaborating on [Lapti Nek]. However, the song was replaced for the Special Edition.
Son of jazz musician Johnny Williams, who was best known as the drummer in The Raymond Scott Quintette.
2002 distinguished him as the most Oscar-nominated living individual, with an astounding 41 nominations. In 2003 his total increased to 42, after receiving a nomination for Catch Me If You Can (2002). In 2004, he received his 43rd nomination, for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".
Only composer-conductor Alfred Newman has received more Oscar nominations. Newman, who passed away in 1970, received 45 nominations during his lifetime - 9 of which he won - 2 more than Williams has received (as of 2005). However, it is possible that Williams will eventually receive more, and quite probable that he will overtake Newman's record someday.
Composer of the biggest-selling instrumental single of all-time, and the only one to be officially awarded Platinum status - 2 million units by the RIAA, Meco's recording of "Star Wars Theme and Cantina Band". And, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, Meco's "Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk" album also outsold Williams' soundtrack by 300,000 units.
Some people nowadays don't even realize that he's the man behind the music from not only all Star Wars films, but all the Indiana Jones movies, Close Encounters, E.T., and the memorable parts of Superman, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter*.
*Those last three series he did the scores for the first movie or two then lesser composers adapted his themes for later installments.
