Perhaps best known for his legendary Bond scores, composer John Barry has died of a heart attack aged 77. Born John Barry Prendergast in London in 1933, he first started playing music during his National Service, and afterwards formed the John Barry Seven, which had some success in the late 50s and early 60s.
Around the same time he also got his first film gig, composing, arranging and conducting the score on the Adam Faith movie, Beat Girl. That, along with work arranging scores for EMI caught the attention of the producers of Dr. No, who were dissatisfied with the theme for the movie given to them by Monty Norman and asked Barry to come up with something else. He reworked Norman’s tune, and a legendary track was born (although disputed, it’s believed the tune was Norman’s, but the famed strings and brass flourishes were brought in my Barry). He then scored 11 of the next 14 Bond movies, becoming one of the most sought after composers in Hollywood in the process.
His work outside Bond saw him win five Oscars, including Best Score and Best Song for Born Free, and Best Score for The Lion In Winter, Out Of Africa and Dances With Wolves. He also worked on everything from Zulu and The Ipcress File to Indecent Proposal and Peggy Sue Got Married. His final score was for Enigma in 2001, although he received a BAFTA fellowship for his body of work in 2005 and had been made an OBE in 1999.
With his orchestral swells, strong themes and unique mix of brass and strings, Barry’s music sounded like nobody else’s. Indeed many have tried to match what he did with the likes of Bond, but few have matched it – indeed with 007 he managed the holy grail of film composers, creating something where the music is almost as famous as the films. He may not have worked for a few years, but he will still be missed sadly.
John Barry – November 3rd, 1933-January 30th, 2011 – RIP