John Barry, OBE (born John Barry Prendergast on November 3, 1933 in York, England) is a highly successful composer, chiefly known for his film scores.

His family was in the cinema business, but it was during his National Service that he began performing as a musician. After taking a correspondence course and arranging for some of the bands of the day, he formed the "John Barry Seven". Barry then met Adam Faith, and composed songs and film scores on the singer's behalf.

In his long career, spanning almost half a century, Barry has won five Academy Awards and four Grammys.

His compositions, which make extensive use of strings, are noted for being lushly atmospheric with great emotional resonance.

James Bond franchise

It was almost a fluke that Barry was selected to assist in writing the theme for the first James Bond film, Dr. No. The James Bond theme is, however, credited to Monty Norman. Barry would go on to compose the soundtrack for 11 more James Bond movies and The 007 Theme. Barry's last James Bond score was 1987's The Living Daylights.

• Dr. No (1962)
• From Russia With Love (1963)
• Goldfinger (1964)
• Thunderball (1965)
• You Only Live Twice (1967)
• On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
• Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
• The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
• Moonraker (1979)
• Octopussy (1983)
• A View to a Kill (1985)
• The Living Daylights (1987)

Eric Serra would compose the score for GoldenEye in 1995. David Arnold, a young British composer, saw the result of two years work in 1997 with the release of Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project, an album of new versions of the themes from various James Bond films. Almost all of the tracks were originally composed by John Barry and the revision of his work obviously met with his approval - he contacted Barbara Broccoli, producer of the upcoming Tomorrow Never Dies, to recommend Arnold as the film's composer. He has went on to score every subsequent film; The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day and has been confirmed as the composer for Casino Royale.

Other major film scores

• Beat Girl
• Born Free (Two Academy Awards - Best Music, Original Song & Original Music Score)
• A Moment in Time
• The Ipcress File
• The Lion in Winter (Academy Award - Best Music, Original Score for a Motion Picture)
• Robin and Marian
• The Deep
• Somewhere in Time
• Jagged Edge
• Out of Africa (Academy Award - Best Music, Original Score)
• Dances with Wolves (Academy Award - Best Music, Original Score)
• Indecent Proposal
• The Specialist
• Playing by Heart
• IAcross The Sea of Time (3D IMAX MOVIE)

Television Themes

• Vendetta
• The Persuaders

Other Works

• The Beyondness of Things

External links

• Biography of John Barry
• Filmtracks' Tribute to John Barry
• John Barry: A Life in Music
• The John Barry Resource
• John Barry site in Spanish