John Barry: Remembering an iconic film composer

Film composer John Barry died from a heart attack on Sunday, January 30, 2011.  He was 77 years old.  Born John Barry Prendergast on November 3, 1933 in York, England, he received piano lessons at a young age.  He soon found a new passion in the trumpet.  Barry lived most of his adult life in Oyster Bay, Long, Island, New York.

Barry is best known for arranging the James Bond theme composed by Monty Norman.  Barry went on to score eleven James Bond films.  Barry perfected the "Bond Sound," a mixture of brass, jazz and sensuous melodies, with the score for Goldfinger the third film of the series.  His last Bond score was The Living Daylights from 1987, Timothy Dalton's first turn at James Bond.

In his career Barry won five academy awards.  Two for the movie Born Free in 1966 for Best Original Song "Born Free" and Best Original Score.  He won Best Original Score for The Lion in Winter in 1968, Out of Africa in 1985 and Dances With Wolves in 1990.  Barry's other awards include four Grammy awards and one BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award.

Barry's music had a distinctive style concentrating on lush strings and extensive use of brass.

John Barry was more than a film composer.  He also composed concert music.  In 1998 Decca Records released The Beyondness of Things, a musical journey of non-film programmatic music.

In 2002 Barry was named an Honorary Freeman of the city of York.  This honor, also referred to as "Freedom of the City," is similar to the "Key to the City" that is given in the United States.

John Barry is survived by his wife of 33 years as well as four children and five grandchildren.

  
  

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