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| | Yves Laferrière Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Francis Lai Born: 26 April 1932, Nice, France. Background: Hugely popular French composer whose light-jazz film scores were briefly "all the rage" in the early 1970s. Played piano as a child, and was active in the 1950s burgeoning music scene of Montmartre in Paris. Began to work as a composer, songwriter and arranger for artists such as Michel Magne and the legendary Edith Piaf, before being hired to score his first film, "A Man and a Woman" by director Claude Lelouch in 1966. Enjoyed brief international fame (and a hit instrumental single) following his Oscar win for "Love Story", but has since returned to work mainly in France, where he continues to score films and write songs. Highlight Scores: A Man and a Woman, Vivre Pour Vivre, Love Story, La Bonne Année, International Velvet, Bilitis, Dark Eyes, Les Ripoux, Les Uns de les Autres, Itinéraire d'un Enfant Gâté, Les Misérables, Chance or Coincidence. Awards: Academy Award and Golden Globe for "Love Story" (1970). Golden Globe nominations for "A Man and a Woman" (1966) and "Vivre Pour Vivre" (1967). BAFTA nominations for "Vivre pour Vivre" and "La Bonne Année" (1973). Four César nominations. Links: Official Site |
 | John Lanchbery Born: 15 May 1923, London. Died: 27 February 2003. Background: British-born ballet composer, who contributed signifant scores to several ballet-themed movies in the 1970s and 80s. Studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and began his career as a conductor with the London Metropolitan Ballet in 1948. Was subsequently appointed music director of Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet throughout the previous decade, and from there went on to be principal conductor for the Royal Ballet, music director of the Australian Ballet, and music director of the American Ballet until his retirement in 1980. Highlight Scores: Tales of Beatrix Potter, The Turning Point, Nijinsky. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Russ Landau Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Robert Lane Born: Background: The rising star of British film music, who has scored the majority of the highest profile TV drama series and prestigious TV movies of the last five years. First emerged into the film music scene in 1995, with his score for the quirky British movie "The Young Poisoner's Handbook". Has since gone to write over 30 scores, picking up several awards from the Royal Television Society, as well as Emmy, BAFTA and Ivor Novello Award nominations along the way. Highlight Scores: The Young Poisoner's Handbook, Hillsborough, David Copperfield, Forgotten, The Lost World, Love in a Cold Climate (TV), The Hound of the Baskervilles, Man and Boy, Daniel Deronda, Henry VIII, Charles II Awards: BAFTA and Emmy nominations for "The Lost World" (2001). |
| | Arthur Lange Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Bruce Langhorne Born: INSERT. Background: One of the most well-respected, successful and important session guitarists of the 1960s, having worked with ground-breaking artists such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Tom Rush, before turning his hand to film music in the 1970s, where he subsequently worked with directors such as Peter Fonda and Jonathan Demme. In addition to the guitar, Langhorne also played the giant Turkish tambourine, which subsequently inspired the famous Bob Dylan song "Mr. Tambourine Man". Interestingly, Langhorne also produced and markets his own brand of table condiment, called "Brother Bru-Bru's African Hot Sauce". Highlight Scores: The Hired Hand, Stay Hungry, Melvin & Howard. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Daniel Lanois Born: 19 September 1951, Hull, Canada. Background: Successful and acclaimed Canadian composer and record producer. As the owner of a recording studio in Hamilton, Ontario, Lanois's break came when the groundbreaking ambient composer Brian Eno used his facilities. Their subsequent friendship led to Lanois's emergence during the 1980s - his work with Eno and Toto on "Dune" led to his career as a film composer, while his collaborations with pop artists such as Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan and especially U2 (on their classic albums 'Joshua Tree' and 'Achtung Baby'), led to him being called "the most important record producer in the world" by Rolling Stone magazine. Has subsequently developed into a recording artist in his own right, releasing his debut album in 1996, and continues to "dabble" in film music, having recently worked with Marty Stuart on "All the Pretty Horses". Highlight Scores: Dune (TV), Until the End of the World, The Last of the Mohicans, Sling Blade, The Million Dollar Hotel. Links: Official Site |
| | Ken Lauber Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Hearts of the West, Wanda Nevada, Head Over Heels. Awards: INSERT. Links: Official Site. |
| Jørgen Lauritsen Born: 1966, Denmark. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Strings Links: Official Site. |
 | Angelo Francesco Lavagnino Born: 22 February 1909, Genoa, Italy. Died: 21 August 1987. Background: Prolific composer of music for Italian cinema, a contemporary of Nino Rota and Mario Nascimbene. Studied at Milan's Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music, and began his career as a serious classical composer, writing symphonies, operas, symphonic poems, and chamber music. However, a love of the cinema that began in childhood soon led him into the world of film. Made his debut in 1948, and by the time he retired from film composing in the mid-1970s, he had scored over 300 films, although very few of them were for non-Italian productions. As much a scholar as he was a composer, Lavagnino taught at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena from 1941 until 1963, wrote a novel about pirates, and was a skilled photographer. He died in 1987, aged 78. Highlight Scores: The Tragedy of Othello, Continente Perduto, Notre Dame de Paris, Vertigine Bianca, Legend of the Lost, The Last Days Of Pompeii, Conspiracy of Hearts, Five Branded Women, Gorgo, Il Colosso di Rodi, Campanadas a Medianoche. |
| | David Lawrence Born: Background: American composer who achieved a small degree of fame following his association with the unexpected smash hit movie "American Pie". First emerged into the film music scene in 1993, and quickly settled into a routine of slapstick comedy features, small-scale independents and movies of the week. Enjoyed some exposure when he wwas hired to write episodic underscore for the seventh season of "Beverly Hills 90210", and worked for Spelling for two years - until "American Pie" came along. Occasionally used the suffix "Nessim" before his surname to distinguish him from the twelve other David Lawrences who work in the film industry. Highlight Scores: Sleep With Me, Camp Nowhere, American Pie, Company Man, American Pie 2, Life Without Dick, The Shrink is In, Van Wilder. |
| | Bill Lee Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: School Daze, Do The Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Byung Woo Lee Born: 22 January 1965, Seoul, South Korea. Background: Korean composer and classical guitarist, famous in his native country but who has yet to break out beyond the confines of eastern Asia. Began his career as a member of the pop group One Fine Day in the 1980s, and quickly became in demand as a session guitarist. Subsequently undertook more in-depth musical studies in Austria, and at Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, before returning to continue his career in Korea. Began scoring films in Korea in the mid-1990s, and won a Golden Goblet award at the Shanghai Film Festival for his work on the 2003 film “The Scandal”, but has only recently begun to attract an international audience for his work, most notably via the critically acclaimed horror-thriller “A Tale of Two Sisters”. In addition to his film work, Lee has released a number of successful guitar-led pop instrumental albums (notably “For My Time Alone”, “Night Flight” and “Absortion”), performed with a number of world-renowned orchestras, and has produced a number of albums for other artists, notably the debut release of classical pianist Shin Yi Kyung. He is the head of his own record label, Musikdorf. Highlight Scores: Their World Alone, The Story of Mari, Three, The Untold Scandal, A Tale of Two Sisters. Links: Musikdorf Record. |
| Sang Ho Lee Born: South KOREA. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Phone. Links: INSERT. |
| | John Leipold Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: Academy Award for "Stagecoach" (1939). Links: INSERT. |
 | Christopher Lennertz Born: 2 January 1972, Methuen, Massachusetts. Background: Talented and versatile young composer who looks likely to keep the traditions of symphonic scoring alive well into the 21st century. Studied trumpet, composition and jazz arranging in high school, and attended the film music scoring class at USC in Los Angeles. Began his career scoring horror movie remakes for cult producer Roger Corman, but has gradually built up an impressive resume of credits for TV series, movies of the week, and small-scale features. In addition to this, Lennertz has also undertaken orchestration duties for composers such as Basil Poledouris and David Newman, and has recently begun investigating the world of orchestral video game scoring. Highlight Scores: Piranha, A Diva's Christmas Carol, Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story, Beer Money, Clive Barker's Saint Sinner, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (VG), Soul Plane, Tortilla Heaven. Links: Official Site |
 | Jack Lenz Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: The Passion of the Christ. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Alan Jay Lerner Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: Academy Award for "Gigi" (1958). Links: INSERT. |
 | Sylvester Levay Born: 16 May 1945, Subotica, Yugoslavia. Background: Born in Yugoslavia, brought up in Hungary, but spent most of his working career as composer and arranger dividing his time between Germany and the USA. First came to prominence in the early 1980s through his association with the hit TV series "Airwolf", and enjoyed a successful career in the 1980s, specialising in the big, brash action movies that typified the decade. As the popularity of synthesiser music began to fall out of favour during the 1990s, Levay's career stalled: he returned to work in Germany, but has not scored a film since 1997. Recently, however, he has been increasingly involved with German musical theatre, collaborating with lyricist Michael Kunze on "Elisabeth" and "Mozart", based on the life of famous composer. Highlight Scores: Airwolf (TV), Creator, Cobra, Mannequin, Three O'Clock High, Werewolf, Navy SEALS, Hot Shots! |
 | Eric Levi Born: 1955, Paris, France. Background: Real name Eric Levisalles. First achieved fame as a member of the cult French band Shakin' Street, whose album "Vampire Rock" was a sleeper hit in 1979. Worked as a record producer in New York during the 1980s, collaborating with Marianne Faithfull Founder, before re-emerging as leader and composer of the popular French group Era, who specialise in mixing modern synthesiser and guitar sounds with Gregorian chant. Scored his first film in 1991, but scored a huge international success shortly thereafter with the comedy "Les Visiteurs", still one of the highest-grossing films of all time at the French box office. Now spilts his time equally between film work, and continuing to perform with Era. Highlight Scores: L'Opération Corned-Beef, Les Visiteurs, Les Anges Gardiens, Les Couloirs du Temps: Les Visiteurs 2. Links: Official Era Site |
| | Krishna Lévy Born: Background: To be completed... Highlight Scores: Ma Vie Sexuelle, Artemisia, Un Jeu d'Enfants, Ali Zaoua, 8 Femmes, Le Boulet. |
 | Shuki Levy Born: . Background: Israeli-born media mogul who, through his continued association with the Saban Entertainment company, has built a multi-faceted career as a composer, writer, director and producer. Began his career as a singer/songwriter, notably as a member of the popular singing duo Shuki & Aviva in the 1970s. Moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s, and quickly established himself as a reliable composer of music for animated TV series - between 1980 and 1990 he wrote music for hit shows such as "Ulysses 31", "The Mysterious Cities of Gold", "He-Man", "Inspector Gadget", "Pole Position", "Punky Brewster", "Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors", "Kissyfur", "The Real GhostBusters" and "DragonQuest". Began to diversify in the 1990s by adding occasional feature films to his composing resume, as well as dabbling in directing and producing for his friend and colleague Haim Saban. For his sins, Levy was one of the original creators of the "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers", and subsequently directed both "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie" (1997) and "Rusty: A Dog's Tale" (1998). Levy is married to actress Deborah Shelton. Highlight Scores: The Secret of the Sword, Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer, Blindfold: Acts of Obsession, dozens of Saturday morning kids cartoon shows. |
 | Michael J. Lewis Born: 1938, Aberystwyth, Wales. Background: Studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Won an Ivor Novello Award for his first film score in 1968, and worked solidly throughout the 1970s on many high-profile projects, often with acclaimed director Franklin J. Schaffner. His 1973 Broadway show, "Cyrano", earned him a Grammy nomination and the show's star, Christopher Plummer, a Tony Award. He currently divides his time composing, producing and recording between the USA and the UK. In the mid 1990s he formed his own company called Pen Dinas Productions, the first release in being a highly acclaimed double CD of his work. An avid supporter of Welsh music, Lewis often uses the landscape and sounds of his homeland as a musical inspiration. Recently wrote two Welsh symphonies, "The Romantic Splendour of Wales" and "In the Language of Heaven". Won an Emmy Award in 1979. Highlight Scores: The Madwoman of Chaillot, Julius Caesar, Theatre of Blood, 11 Harrowhouse, The Medusa Touch, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Passage, North Sea Hijack, Sphinx, Yes Giorgio, The Rose and the Jackal. |
 | Daniel Licht Born: Background: American composer in the same vein as Christopher Young, who favours gothic orchestras and choirs above all else. Made his film music debut in 1991, and has spent most of his career writing music in the thriller and horror genres, with some critical success. Highlight Scores: Children of the Corn II, Necronomicon, Children of the Corn III, Thinner, Hellraiser Bloodline, Permanent Midnight, Splendor, Cabin by the Lake, Soul Survivors. |
| | Joseph J. Lilley Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: G.I. Blues, Blue Hawaii, Girls Girls Girls, Fun in Acapulco, Paradise Hawaiian Style. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Michael Linn Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Breakin 2, American Ninja, Allen Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Olivier Lliboutry Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Michael Lloyd Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: The Pom Pom Girls, The Beach Girls, If You Could See What I Hear, Tough Enough, Tomboy. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Joseph Lo Duca Born: Background: Born in Michigan, Joseph Lo Duca's professional background was as a jazz guitarist and arranger, until he was approached by fellow Michigan resident and aspiring director Sam Raimi to score his debut film, a little low budget horror called "Evil Dead". The success of the film and its sequels ushered Lo Duca into a career in film music, which reached a peak in the mid-90s through his work on the long running cult TV fantasy series "Hercules" and "Xena: Warrior Princess", which were executive produced by Raimi. Is currently embroiled in an unprecedented legal battle with composer Daniel Kolton and Universal Studios over ghostwriting and copyright issues relating to the "Hercules" and "Xena" shows, the outcome of which could be very interesting for the industry as a whole. Highlight Scores: The Evil Dead, Crimewave, Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, Necronomicon, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV), Xena: Warrior Princess (TV), American Gothic (TV), Brotherhood of the Wolf, Boogeyman. Awards: Emmy for "Xena: Warrior Princess", further nominations for "Xena" and "Jack of All Trades". César nomination for "Brotherhood of the Wolf" (2001). |
 | Brian Lock Born: Background: Versatile English composer and arranger, whose four forays into film music highlight a talent which is sorely under-utilised by the industry. Wrote the music for the Polish film "Lagodna" in 1995, arranged the Strauss source music for Wojciech Kilar on "The Portrait of a Lady" (1996), collaborated with Gerard Schurmann on "The Gambler" (1997), and wrote the original score for "The Land Girls" (1998). Other than that, very little is known about his life, or career... further information to come. Highlight Scores: Lagodna, The Gambler, The Portrait of a Lady, The Land Girls Links: Ian Amos Music Management. |
 | Frederick Loewe Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Henning Lohner Born: 17 July 1961, Bremen, Germany. Background: Talented and experienced German-born composer, currently plying his trade in Hollywood as part of Hans Zimmer’s Media Ventures empire. The son of a University professor, Lohner actually spent much of his childhood in California, before returning to Europe to study music. Played classical guitar, and attended the Goethe University in Frankfurt before completing his academic work at Berklee College of Music in Boston. During the 1980s Lohner was mentored by the Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, and acted as German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen’s assistant, working on such famous works as the opera "Licht", which premiered at La Scala in Milan. Having always had an interest in the cinema, Lohner began working both as a musical advisor and apprentice director with Louis Malle on the film "May Fools", and went on collaborate with a number of innovative musical artists, including Steve Reich (on "The Cave" and "Different Trains"), Giorgio Strehler (on "Goethe's Faust I & II"), Frank Zappa (on "Peefeeyatko" and "The Yellow Shark"), and John Cage ("one11”, “103") He made his film music debut in 1993, scoring and directing the Cage tribute film "The Revenge of the Dead Indians", and collaborated with composer Klaus Badelt on the German thriller “Der Eisbär”, immediately prior to his move to Los Angeles in 1996. Since then, Lohner has been a part of the Media Ventures fraternity, and has worked on such films as "The Ring” (2002) and “Lauras Stern” (2004) prior to making his Hollywood debut in 2005 with the horror sequel “The Ring 2”. Highlight Scores: The Revenge of the Dead Indians, Der Eisbär, 666: Traue keinem Mit Dem Du Schläfst, Lauras Stern, The Ring 2 |
| Steve London Born: Port Perry, Canada. Background: Canadian composer London studied composition, oboe and conducting at Queen's University in Kingston, Canada with John Burge, Marjan Mozetich and Kristi Allik, before accepting a place on the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television course at the University of Southern California in 1995. He worked as an assistant to composer Christopher Young following his graduation, and scored his first film in 1997. Since then, London has worked on a number of film and TV projects, mainly in his native Canada, notably the thriller Night Class, the police action movie Clover Bend, the TV series “The Ripping Friends” (for which he was nominated for Gemini Award (Canadian Emmy), and the recent horror hit Shallow Ground. Highlight Scores: Night Class, The Ripping Friends (TV), Shallow Ground. |
| | William Loose Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Supervixens, Up!. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Michal Lorenc Born: 1955, Poland. Background: One of many great Polish composers who remain undiscovered, and who seems to be forever in the shadow of the Preisners, Kilars and Kaczmareks of the world. Predominantly self-taught, Lorenc made his film music debut in 1987, and has since worked tirelessly in the Polish film industry, having collaborated on over 50 films with virtually no international recognition. Director Bob Rafelson made a valiant attempt to raise his profile by asking him to score his 1996 film "Blood and Wine", starring Jack Nicholson. Despite all efforts Lorenc remains firmly entrenched in Poland, but not without success: he was awarded two "Best Score" awards at the International Polish Film Festival in 1997 and 2001, and has been nominated for two Lion Awards (Czech Oscars). Highlight Scores: Psy, Psy 2: Ostatnia Krew, Blood and Wine, Exit in Red, Bandyta, Je Treba Zabít Sekala, Babí Iéto, Przedwiosnie. |
 | Jacques Loussier Born: 26 October 1934, Angers, France. Background: Prolific French composer and pianist who came to fame internationally through his jazz interpretations of the works of classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach, and the resulting albums "Play Bach" 1, 2 and 3. Studied at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris, where he was a piano prodigy, and subsequently went on to tour the world as accompanist for Catherine Sauvage and Charles Aznavour. Released the Play Bach albums in 1959, and such was their success that within fifteen years of their release, Loussier had sold over six million albums, an almost unheasd-of number for a jazz instrumentalist. Inevitably, the cinema moguls came calling, and he made his debut in 1961, and has since gone on to write music over fifty French movies and TV shows over four decades, while still remaining active in the classical, concert and jazz fields - and is still working! Although very few of his scores were written for films outside France, he nevertheless received a degree of acclaim for his work on the Jean-Paul Belmondo thriller "Le Doulos" (1961), and the Hollywood war movie "Dark of the Sun" (1968). Loussier also owns a state-of-the-art recording studio in southern France, which has been used by such pop luminaries as Sting, Elton John and Pink Floyd. Highlight Scores: Le Doulos, Five Miles to Midnight, Jeu du Massacre, Dark of the Sun, Snow Job, Les Demoiselles Ont Eu 25 Ans. |
| | Erik Lundborg Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | John Lunn Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Deborah Lurie Born: 9 March 1974, Boston, Massachusetts. Background: One of a number of talented young female composers attempting to break the "glass ceiling" for women in Hollywood music circles. Studied at USC in Los Angeles, and began her career as a composing assistant and orchestrator for composers such as Andrew Gross, Mark Snow and especially John Ottman. Made her solo composing debut in 1997, working on Disney's animated series "Hercules", and received critical acclaim for her work on the acclaimed short film "George Lucas in Love" (1999). In addition to her film music work, Lurie has been involved with a number of theatre projects in Los Angeles, including "Bare: The Musical" (which she co-wrote with Ottman and Damon Intrabartolo), and "Crane, Mississippi", directed by Kristin Hanggi. She also wrote a number of songs for the "Urban Legends: Final Cut" soundtrack, in collaboration with Intrabartolo, and has recently undertaken arranging work for singer/songwriter John Torres. Highlight Scores: George Lucas in Love, Evil Hill, Best Man in Grass Creekm Bubble Boy. Awards: Official Site. |
 | John Lurie Born: 14 December 1952, Worcester, Massachusetts. Background: Innovative jazz saxophonist and composer who has been art of the groundbreaking New York jazz ensemble The Lounge Lizards since 1978. Ingratiated himself with some of New York's underground cultural stars, which led to him both acting in and composing for films by directors such as Martin Scorsese, Jim Jarmusch, David Lynch and Wim Wenders. With The Lounge Lizards, he has released acclaimed albums such as "Voice of Chunk", "No Pain For Cakes" and "Queen of All Ears". As an actor, he has appeared in "Paris Texas", "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "Wild at Heart". As a TV presenter, he fronted the high-concept fishing show "Fishing With John", which featured him and some of his friends (Tom Waits, Matt Dillon, Dennis Hopper, Willem Dafoe) fishing in exotic locales. As a composer, his most high profils success was the gangster comedy "Get Shorty". John's brother Evan Lurie is also a film composer. Highlight Scores: Stranger Than Paradise, Down By Law, Get Shorty, Excess Baggage, Manny & Lo, Animal Factory. Links: John Lurie and the Lounge Lizards. |
 | Danny Lux Born: 1968, Los Angeles, California. Background: Veteran composer of over thirty primetime TV shows, since he first made his debut in the early 1990s. Received no formal schooling (he is a self-taught synth programmer). Began his career as an assistant to Mike Post, working with him on shows such as "Silk Stalkings" and "NYPD Blue", before branching out on his own. Was attached to a number of successful series such as "Sliders", "Ally McBeal" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", but remained a television specialist until, after writing uncredited 'additional music' for "Scary Movie 2" in 2001, was finally given his feature film breakthrough with the eighth Halloween movie, "Halloween Resurrection" in 2002. The recipient of two Emmy nominations. Highlight Scores: Sliders (TV), NYPD Blue (TV), Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV), Ally McBeal (TV), Profiler (TV), Crisis Center (TV), Halloween Resurrection. |
 | Egisto Macchi Born: 4 August 1928, Grossetto, Italy. Died: 8 August 1992. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: The Assassination of Trotsky, Padre Padrone, The Rose Garden. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Mader Born: 1958, St Paul de Vence, France. Background: Reclusive, single-named French-born composer whose work in independent cinema has revealed a strong, if quirky, talent. First entered the music scene as the assistant to famed French composer Michel Magne in the mid-1970s. After a period living in an artists commune with (among others) eccentric avant-garde musician Hector Zazou, Mader moved to New York to form his own group, Band Apart. Began recording as a solo artist in the 1980s, and received a great deal of critical acclaim for "Tangobidet", his pastiche '30s and '40s cabaret music. Began composing for film in the late 1980s, first coming to prominence through his score for Alexandre Rockwell's "In The Soup" (1992), and his work for director Ang Lee's pre-Hollywood successes "The Wedding Banquet" (1993) and "Eat Drink Man Woman" (1994). His real name remains a mystery. Highlight Scores: In The Soup, The Wedding Banquet, Eat Drink Man Woman, Clockwatchers, Little City, A Slight Case of Murder, Steal This Movie, For All Time. |
 | Michel Magne Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Anu Malik Born: Background: One of the most high-profile and respected composers and music directors in 'Bollywood', the Indian film industry. Son of veteran music director Sardar Malik, Anu followed in his father's footsteps and began scoring films in 1981, and plugged away in Bollywood's lower leagues until receiving critical acclaim for his work on "Baazigar" in 1993. Success came quickly, and soon Malik was the most in-demand composer in the industry - the Indian equivalent of John Williams or James Horner. In addition to scoring around ten movies every year since 1994, Malik has also found time to release an album of original music entitled "English Eyes", and occasionally sings on his own scores. He has also been nominated for five Filmfare Awards, the Indian equivalent of the Oscars, winning on two occasions. Highlight Scores: Baazigar, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Ram Jaane, Ghatak, Judwaa, Virasat, Ishq, Josh, Hera Pheri, Fiza, Lajja, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, Asoka. |
 | Johnny Mandel Born: 23 November 1925, New York, New York. Background: Studied at the Berklee School of Music, where he played piano, trumpet and trombone. Was writing big band arrangements at 12, and by the time he was 16, was working in bands in the Catskill Mountain resorts during his summer vacations. Graduated on to doing jazz and band arrangements for Stan Getz, Max Roach, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. Was a session player in Los Angeles when he was asked to score his first film in 1958. His most famous work is arguably the song "Suicide is Painless", the main theme from "MASH". Spent most of the 1980s and 90s away from film music, producing artists such as Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Barbra Streisand and Natalie Cole instead. Highlight Scores: I Want To Live!, The Sandpiper, An American Dream, Point Blank, MASH, The Last Detail, Escape to Witch Mountain, Freaky Friday, Being There, Caddyshack. Awards: Oscar for the song Shadow of Your Smile from "The Sandpiper" (1965), nomination for "An American Dream" (1966). Three-time Golden Globe nominee, four Grammies from six nominations, and three Emmy nominations. |
 | Harry Manfredini Born: 25 August 1943, Chicago, Illinois. Background: Veteran composer, musician, jazz arranger and songwriter, most famous in Hollywood for his many scores in the horror genre. Grew up in a jazz-friendly household, and as a student was influenced equally by jazz arranger Stan Kenton, and classical composers such as Stravinsky and Bela Bartok. Began his career in film in the late 1970s, but first came to prominence in 1980 with his work on the slasher classic "Friday the 13th" directed by Sean S. Cunningham. Has since been somewhat typecast as a horror composer, having scored eight of the ten 'Jason' movies to date, but ironically has frequently stated he dislikes the Friday the 13th series, and only scores them to pay the mortgage! In addition to his film work, Manfredini has also scored a Broadway musical, "Play Me a Country Song", which premiered in 1982. Highlight Scores: Friday the 13th, Friday the 13th Part 2, Swamp Thing, Friday the 13th Part 3, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, House, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, Deep Star Six, Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, Wishmaster, The Omega Code, Megiddo, Jason X. |
 | Chuck Mangione Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Hummie Mann Born: 29 October 1955, Montreal, Canada. Background: Talented Canadian composer and orchestrator, who began his career as back-up for some of Hollywood's top composers, before making a name for himself as comedy director Mel Brooks's composer-of-choice. Specifically, he was instrumental in helping develop the career of Marc Shaiman, having worked with him as an orchestrator/conductor on seven of his earliest scores. After scoring several small features, and episodes of the TV series "Moonlighting", he first came to prominence as a composer in his own right with the Irish-flavoured "Year of the Comet" in 1992 (where he replaced John Barry). He has since written for numerous movies, both theatrical and for television, including the eight movies-of-the-week in the 'Rebel Highway' series in 1994. In addition to his film work, Mann is an active participant in film music politics, and is the principal instructor of the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program. Highlight Scores: Year of the Comet, Fall Time, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, P.T. Barnum, Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Awards: Emmy for "Picture Windows" (1995). Three further nominations for various work as a musical director. Links: Composers Net |
 | Franco Mannino Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Death in Venice, Ludwig, Conversation Piece. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Clint Mansell Born: 7 November 1963, Coventry, England. Background: Indie-style composer and musician from the West Midlands of England. First emerged in 1986 as the face of the rap/pop fusion band Pop Will Eat Itself, who enjoyed almost a decade of underground success, releasing albums such as "Box Frenzy", "Weird's Bar and Grill" and "Two Fingers My Friend". Re-invented himself as an electronica composer after PWEI disbanded, and scored his first movie in 1998. Has since built up a respectable resume of credits, becoming Darren Aronofsky’s composer-of-choice through films like “Requiem for a Dream” (2000) and “The Fountain” (2006), but is probably most famous for writing the music heard in the trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", and the rousing score for the 2005 action/adventure hit “Sahara”. Highlight Scores: Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Hole, Knockaround Guys, Murder By Numbers, Abandon, Sonny, Suspect Zero, Sahara, Doom, The Fountain. Links: Official Site |
 | David Mansfield Born: Background: Composer and musician with a definite country 'n western flavour, Mansfield first came to prominence as a member of Bob Dylan's musical ensemble in the 1970s. Bounced around the music world as a solo artist, a studio musician, and as a member of numerous bands at different times, working with Bruce Hornsby, Cindy Bullen, T-Bone Burnett and the improbably-named 'Quacky Duck and his Barnyard Friends', before scoring his first film, "Heaven's Gate" in 1980. Despite the film being an enormous flop, Mansfield has continued to work regularly in Hollywood, specialising in quiet, country-style, guitar-led scores for westerns and family dramas. Highlight Scores: Heaven's Gate, Year of the Dragon, Club Paradise, Desperate Hours, The Ballad of Little Jo, Deep Crimson, The Apostle, Tumbleweeds, Songcatcher, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Awards: Golden Globe nomination for "Year of the Dragon" (1985). Links: Official Site (warning! garish colours!!) |
 | Dario Marianelli Born: Pisa, Italy. Background: Italian-born composer who has, oddly, spent the majority of his professional career working in Britain and Ireland. Spent much of his early career composing for the concert hall, the theatre and contemporary dance choreographers such as Emma Diamond and Henri Oguike. He made his film music debut in 1994, scoring "Ailsa" for Irish director Paddy Breathnach, and received a great deal of critical acclaim for his score for "The Warrior", which won the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film at the 2002 BAFTA Awards. Continues to make a name for himself in all areas of the classical music world, having recently completed a commission for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and recorded his first original symphony, entitled "The Art of Road Crossing". 2005 and 2006 were his breakout years internationally in terms of film scores, following his work on Terry Gilliam’s fantasy “The Brothers Grimm”, the critically-acclaimed costume drama “Pride & Prejudice” (for which he received his first Oscar nomination), and the action thriller “V for Vendetta”. Highlight Scores: I Went Down, Pandaemonium, The Warrior, In This World, I Capture the Castle, The Brothers Grimm, Pride and Prejudice, V for Vendetta, The Return, The Brave One, Atonement. Awards: Oscar nomination for “Pride & Prejudice”. |
 | Anthony Marinelli Born: 1962, Los Angeles, California. Background: Born into a musically literate family (his father was a stage manager at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion), Marinelli enjoyed a classical music education as a child, before discovering keyboards and synthesisers in his teens. After graduating from USC, he began his career as an in-demand studio keyboard player, and was already collaborating with the likes of Michael Jackson, James Brown, Lionel Ritchie, Van Halen and Supertramp while still in his early 20s. Got his first taste of the film music world the early 1980s, playing keyboards for Jack Nitzsche on "Starman", and went on to aid composers such as Quincy Jones and Arthur B. Rubinstein before making his solo composing debut in 1986. Since then, Marinelli has juggled a successful career as a composer in his own right with further work orchestrating and arranging for others (composer/director Mike Figgis is a regular client). He is married to actress Jill Schoelen. Highlight Scores: Young Guns, Graveyard Shift, Internal Affairs, 2 Days in the Valley, Masterminds, Gideon, 15 Minutes, The Man from Elysian Fields. |
 | Jack Marshall Born: 23 November 1921, El Dorado, Kansas. Died: 20 September 1973. Background: American film and TV composer of the 1950s and 60s, best known as the composer of the theme music for the popular horror sitcom, "The Munsters". Originally a jazz guitarist, Marshall began his career as a producer and arranger for Capitol Records in the 1950s, releasing a number of solo albums, as well as arranging and performing for artists such as Howard Roberts and Barney Kessel. Made his film music debut in 1958, scoring a number of low-budget thrillers and monster movies, before becoming a TV stalwart in the 1960s, where in addition to "The Munsters" he wrote music for popular series such as "The Investigators", "It's a Man's World" and "Going My Way", as well as being music director on "The Debbie Reynolds Show". Died suddenly at the age of 51 at his home in Newport Beach, California. He was the father of the successful Hollywood screenwriter and director Frank Marshall. Highlight Scores: Thunder Road, The Giant Gila Monster, Munster Go Home, Stay Away Joe, Something for a Lonely Man. |
 | George Martin Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Peter Martin Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Hope and Glory. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Cliff Martinez Born: 5 February 1954, Bronx, New York. Background: Hugely successful composer and percussionist, who has made a smooth transition from the world of rock to independent cinema. First entered the musical world as a drummer-forhire, working with the likes of The Weirdos, Lydia Lunch and Captain Beefheart, before rocketing to world-wide fame as the beater with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After touring with the Chilis for several years, Martinez "decided he didn't really want to be wearing a sock on his weiner for the rest of his life," and made a sideways move into film composition. After battling through episodes of "Pee Wee's Playhouse" and dabbling in sound design on "Alien Nation", his droning, ambient, synth-driven scores caught the ear of director Steven Soderbergh, who hired him to score "Sex Lies & Videotape" in 1989. Since then, the two have worked on numerous occasions, and Martinez has risen to become one of the most in-demand electronic composers in Hollywood today. Highlight Scores: Sex Lies & Videotape, Pump Up the Volume, Kafka, King of the Hill, The Limey, Traffic, Solaris, Narc, Wicker Park, Havoc. Awards: Grammy nomination for "Traffic" (2000). |
 | Richard Marvin Born: Background: Talented American composer whose career has "stuttered" several times when it looked to be on the brink of success. Scored his first film in 1991, and achieved a modicum of exposure through the moderately successful "3 Ninja Kids" series of movies, but spent the majority of his career writing music for straight-to-video and TV action movies. Established a relationship with director Jonathan Mostow in the 1990s, and scores his one large success - "U-571" (2000) for him. Is currently enjoying his work as resident composer on the hit HBO series "Six Feet Under". Highlight Scores: 3 Ninjas, 3 Ninjas Kick Back, U-571, Six Feet Under, The Lost Batallion, Brian's Song, Desert Saints, The Battle of Shaker Heights. |
| | Claudio Mattone Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Peter Matz Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Peter Maxwell-Davies Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Billy May Born: 10 November 1916, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Died: 22 January 2004. Background Played trumpet in high school, and got his big break as the main arranger and lead trumpeter for Charlie Barnet, writing his biggest hit "Cherokee". Subsequently worked with Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Perez Prado, and with Frank Sinatra on the legendary "Come Fly With Me" album. Toured with his own big-band orchestra during the 1940s and 50s. Gained a degree of new fame amongst film music fans by creating the big band arrangements for James Horner on scores such as "Cocoon" and "Batteries Not Included" during the 1980s. Was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988. Died of heart failure aged 87 at his home in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Highlight Scores: The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown, Johnny Cool, Tony Rome, The Front Page, TV themes for The Naked City and The Mod Squad. |
 | Brian May Born: 28 July 1934, Adelaide, Australia. Died: 25 April 1997. Background: One of Australia's most respected composers of the 1970s and 80s, Brian May (not to be confused with the Queen guitarist) studied piano, violin and composition at the Elder Conservatorium in Melbourne. Began his career working as an arranger for Australian TV channel ABC's dance band variety shows, and quickly diversified into writing themes and underscore for episodic TV. Despite being a popular and successful artist in Australia, May only got his international big break in 1979, with the score for "Mad Max", and was occasionally employed in Hollywood until his death. Died suddenly of a heart attack while staying with friends. Highlight Scores: Mad Max, Roadgames, Gallipoli, Mad Max II, Cloak & Dagger, The Quest, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Dr. Giggles, Blind Side. |
 | Toshiro Mayazumi Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Curtis Mayfield Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Superfly, Claudine, Let's Do It Again. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Matthew McCauley Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | John McCusker Born: 1974, Glasgow, Scotland. Background: One of Scotland's foremost traditional musicians, McCusker has been a member of the internationally renowned Battlefield Band since he was seventeen. Passed up the opportunity to attend the Scottish Royal Academy of Music to embrace folk music. Best known as a fiddle player, McCusker has successfully collaborated with the cream of the British folk scene, having worked with artists such as Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits, Danny Thompson, Eddi Reader, The Silencers, Tim O'Brien and Linda Thompson. Released his first solo album, "Yella Hoose", in 2000, and entered the world of film music in 2003, writing the score and playing on the soundtrack of "Heartlands", in conjunction with his most ardent fan, most regular collaborator, and wife, Kate Rusby. Highlight Scores: Heartlands. Links: Official Site |
 | David McHugh Born: 29 May 1941, Brooklyn, New York. Background: American composer who enjoyed a career "purple patch" in the late 1980s before vanishing from the scene. Studied at SUNY-Fredonia in New York, and at Queens College, and undertook private study with Jacob Druckman and Leopold Mitman. Began his career in New York composing chamber music and music for theatre, while making a living writing TV and radio jingles, before moving to Los Angeles with his sights set on work as a film and TV composer. Scored his first film in 1981, and enjoyed several box office successes between 1984-1989, but has not now scored a film since 1996. Is now teaching film composition at the North Carolina School of Arts in Winston-Salem. Highlight Scores: Moscow on the Hudson, Mr. North, Mystic Pizza, Three Fugitives, The Dream Team, Mannequin: On the Move. |
 | James McKee Smith Born: Toronto, Canada. Background: A classically-trained guitarist and composer, Smith began his career in film music scoring films and TV projects in his native country, before relocating to Los Angeles to concentrate on making a career in Hollywood. Took part in the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop in 1990, and joined Hans Zimmer's Media Ventures organisation shortly thereafter, and has since worked extensively on a number of successful projects, often in collaboration with John Powell. Although he has not yet completed a solo assignment, some of the titles Smith has worked on - "The Road to El Dorado", "Chicken Run", "Shrek", "The Bourne Identity", "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Paycheck" - indicate that he is not without talent, or a future. Highlight Scores: Additional music on over 20 Media Ventures scores. |
 | Rod McKuen Born: 29 April 1933, Oakland, California. Background: Composer, songwriter, author, poet and occasional actor, McKuen is a film music everyman who tried his hand at a number of professions before finding success in film music in the late 1960s and early 70s. Prior to becoming known as a poet and songwriter, he worked on a building site, as a stunt man, was a disc jockey, a newspaper columnist, and appeared in three films at the end of the 1950s, his most famous role being as 'Ox Bentley' in the 1956 teen-rebel movie "Rock Pretty Baby" with Sal Mineo. He had already contributed additional music and song lyrics to two of his acting films prior to making his film music debut in 1968, but hit the big time the following year with his work on the Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe-winning "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie". Although he only scored six more films in his career, McKuen successfully maintained his wider interests, notably writing a book entitled "Finding My Father: One Man's Search for Identity", which subsequently became an important landmark work on the subject of illegitimate births. He is also the author of seven novels, has published 25 books of original poetry, and has released dozens of albums of songs, classical music and folk music. Highlight Scores: Joanna, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, The Borrowers, Emily. Awards: Oscar nominations for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) and "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (1969). Golden Globe for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie". Links: A Safe Place to Land: Official Site |
| | Bill Melendez Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Gil Melle Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Peter Rodgers Melnick Born: July 1958, New York, New York. Background: Peter Rodgers Melnick is a composer whose work can be heard both on the live stage and in feature films. Early exposure to the world of musical theatre (his grandfather was Richard Rodgers) fuelled Melnick's keen sense of the interplay between music and drama. While attending Harvard University, Melnick wrote for a wide range of theatre and dance productions in Boston and New York. He later studied composition, orchestration and conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and film scoring at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Melnick's film music credits include "The Only Thrill" (1997), starring Diane Keaton and Sam Shepard (a score that includes the main title song, "Time" in collaboration with lyricist Norman Gimbel); Horton Foote's "Convicts" (1990), with Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones; "L.A. Story" (1991), the Steve Martin comedy; and "Arctic Blue" (1993), the Peter Masterson film starring Dylan Walsh and Rutger Hauer. His cable and television credits include the Emmy-winning "Indictment: The McMartin Trial" (1995), "Grand Avenue", "Lily Dale", "Mermaid", and numerous PBS documentaries such as the four-part series "The Dinosaurs" and the recent American Masters portrait of Robert Rauschenberg. Melnick's theatre/dance credits include The Ark Hasn't Left Yet, a new musical performed in workshop last summer by the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera; Chinese Cabaret, a chamber opera mounted as part of the 1993 Los Angeles Festival; and Sextet, a dance piece choreographed by Twyla Tharp that premiered at New York's City Center. Melnick is currently preparing for a September 2001 workshop of two musical one-acts, "Macao The Musical" and "Simple Arithmetic," with collaborators Christopher Durang and William Squier respectively. He is also developing “Esther Plays The Palace”, with book and lyrics by Sherman Yellen ("Say Yes!" and "The Rothchilds"). Melnick lives in Montecito, California, with his wife, Laini, thirteen-year-old son, Daniel, and six-year-old daughter, Reine.. Highlight Scores: LA Story, Arctic Blue, 12:01, Indictment: The McMartin Trial. Links: Official Site |
| | Michael Melvoin Born: 10 May 1937, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Ashanti, The Main Event, King of the Mountain, The Big Town. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Wendy Melvoin Born: 26 January 1964, Los Angeles, California. Background: One half of the composing duo Wendy & Lisa, along with Lisa Coleman, who was a childhood friend growing up in Los Angeles (both their fathers were studio musicians). Joined Prince's backing group, The Revolution, in the early 1980s and collaborated with the diminutive star on all his hit records, from "1999" to "Kiss", and contributed additional music to his film "Purple Rain", before embarking on dual a career as a film composer and pop artist when the band disbanded. Had a minor pop hit, "Satisfaction", in the UK in 1989, sang on the soundtrack of Hans Zimmer's "Toys" in 1992, and first came to prominence in the world of film music with the score to the Michelle Pfeiffer hit "Dangerous Minds" in 1995. Has since become best known for contributing scores to comedies and dramas with an African-American twist, while remaining active in the pop and rock scene, having worked with artists including KD Lang, Sheryl Crow, Tricky, Seal, Neal Finn and Meshell Ndegeocello. Highlight Scores: Purple Rain, Dangerous Minds, Hav Plenty, Soul Food, Juwanna Mann. Awards: Grammy for "Purple Rain" (1984). Links: Official Site |
 | Bingen Mendizábal Born: 12 May 1962, Bilbao, Spain. Background: Popular and successful composer from the Basque region of Spain. First emerged into the film music scene in 1991, with the first of his many collaborations with separatist director Juanma Bajo Ulloa, and has since gone on to become an established member of the "new breed" of Spanish composers making international names for themselves, but has yet to score a film outside of Spain. Is an accomplished violinist himself, and also has a healthy interest in folk music, having recently turned up at a festival in the Shetland Islands! Highlight Scores: Alas de Mariposa, La Madre Muerta, Èxtasis, Secretos del Corazón, Airbag, Vigo, Pantaleón y la Visitadoras, El Arte de Morir, Kamchatka. |
 | Giancarlo Menotti Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Mahlon Merrick Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Pat Metheny Born: 12 August 1954, Lee's Summit, Missouri. Background: World renowned jazz guitarist who dabbles in film, sometimes as a composer, sometimes as a guest performer. Began his career performing in the jazz clubs of Kansas City, and was quickly discovered as one of the most breathtaking talents of his generation. He was teaching guitar workshops at Berklee by the age of 19, released his first solo album aged 21, and has subsequently worked with artists as diverse as Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock and David Bowie. His jazz albums have won fifteen Grammy awards, including seven consecutive Grammts for Best Contemporary Jazz Recording. Began working in film in the early 1980s, famous collaborating with Jerry Goldsmith on "Under Fire" (1982), before scoring his first film solo in 1985. Highlight Scores: The Falcon and the Snowman, Twice in a Lifetime, Lemon Sky, Passaggio Per il Paradiso, A Map of the World. Links: Official Site |
| | Michel Michelet Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Cynthia Millar Born: Background: British born musician, best known for her performances of the ondes martenot, an electronic keyboard instrument invented in 1928 by Frenchman Maurice Martenot. Studied music and English at Oxford University, and played piano and viola, but embarked upon her career as an ondist following an unexpected meeting with Elmer Bernstein at a music festival in the early 1980s. Hearing a recital by Jeanne Loriot, Bernstein asked Millar to investigate the instrument further; Millar subsequently learned to play the Ondes from Loriot and John Morton, and Bernstein, having fallen in love with the instrument, has employed her on virtually all his scores since then. Millar is now one of the most in-demand musical soloists in the world, as one of less than a dozen professional ondists. In addition, and thorough her many collaborations with Bernstein, Millar has herself gone on to score a number of semi-successful features. Highlight Scores: Crazy in Love, Three Wishes, The Run of the Country, Digging to China, Brown's Requiem, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. |
 | Marcus Miller Born: 14 June 1959, Brooklyn, New York. Background: Popular and acclaimed jazz artist whose work in film has not yet matched his success in other arenas. Played clarinet, bass and piano as a child, and was performing with the Harlem River Drive band in his teens. Went on to become a jazz session musician in New York, and spent much of the 1970s and 80s performing with, and later producing for, the likes of Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Bob James, David Sanborn, Miles Davis and Luther Vandross. Enjoyed brief chart success as a member of The Jamaica Boys, around the same time he made his film music debut in 1990. Has since juggled a triple career as a touring musician, record producer and arranger, and film composer - although his work in the latter has been limited mainly to "black comedies", which have given him very little exposure despite some box office success. Highlight Scores: House Party, Boomerang, A Low Down Dirty Shame, The Great White Hype, The Ladies Man, The Brothers, Two Can Play That Game, Serving Sara, Deliver Us from Eva, Head of State, Breakin' All the Rules, King's Ransom. Links: Official Site |
 | Randy Miller Born: Ellenville, New York. Background: Studied at Berklee College of Music, and at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and entered the film music world almost immediately, composing for his own projects, and undertaking orchestration duties for composers such as Robert Folk, David Newman and, recently, Brian Transeau. Began to make significant in-roads into the upper echelons with his score for "Hellraiser III" (1992), received critical acclaim for his work with Kitaro on the Golden Globe-winning "Heaven & Earth" (1993), and won a Hong Kong 'Oscar' in 1997 for his second collaboration with Kitaro, "The Soong Sisters". In addition to his film and TV work, Miller has also composed music for theatre companies across the United States, and conducted orchestras throughout the world. Highlight Scores: Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, Without Limits, Heaven & Earth, Darkman II: The Return of Durant, Darkman III: Die Darkman Die, The Soong Sisters, Go Tigers!, Firestarter Rekindled. Links: Official Site |
 | Mario Millo Born: May 1955, Sydney, Australia. Background: Talented young Australian composer of Italian heritage, who has yet to make an international breakthrough. After a childhood spent playing guitar and mandolin, Millo first came to prominence as a member of the 1970s Australian prog-rock bands Sebastian Hardie, and the spin-off Windchase. When Windchase split in 1978, Millo diversified into film composing, and has since gone on to be a successful member of the Australian composing fraternity, winning numerous domestic awards. Millo also continues to record as a solo artist. Highlight Scores: The Lighthorsemen, Brides of Christ, Paws, See How They Run, Changi. Links: Official Site |
 | Paul Misraki Born: 21 January 1908, Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey. Died: 31 October 1998. Background: Successful and influential French composer, born in Turkey, but who spent most of his working life in Paris. Began his career as a pianist and arranger for the French bandleader Ray Ventura, and was instrumental in bringing the sound of swing music to the French public in the 1930s. Began to develop a solid reputation as a songwriter, working with popular French artists such as Edith Piaf, Yves Montand and Juliette Greco, but fled into exile in Argentina during WWII, where he side-stepped into composing for films. Post-war, Misraki went on to score over 150 films in a 40-year career, and worked with some of the biggest names in both French and American cinema, including Orson Welles, Luis Buñuel, Jean-Luc Godard, and Claude Chabrol. Among his best-known works are films such as "Alphaville" (1964), "And God Created Women" (1956, the screen debut of Brigitte Bardot), and the Laurel and Hardy classic "Atoll K" (1950). Away from film, Misraki continued to be a successful classical composer, having written several chamber pieces, ballets, and operas. He was also a recognised expert on UFOs, and wrote books about that subject under the pseudonym Paul Thomas. Retired from scoring films as late as 1993, and died just five years later, 90 Highlight Scores: Atoll K, Mr. Arkadin, And God Created Women, Le Mort en ce Jardin, Les Cousins, Faibles Femmes, Les Bonnes Femmes, Le Doulos, Alphaville. |
 | Richard G. Mitchell Born: Background: Innovative British composer whose star is slowly coming into the ascendancy. First emerged in the mid-1980s as something of an avant-garde composer for television, and has gone on to be a familiar figure in the British TV industry who is gradually making a name for himself in features. Has also been responsible for a number of large-scale musical events, including acting as music director for the opening ceremony of the Euro 96 football championship, and composing a jazz suite for the highly acclaimed Francis Bacon retrospective at the Tate Gallery in London. He is also the recipient of an Ivor Novello award, and an award from the Royal Television Society. Highlight Scores: Born American, The Bridge, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Invasion: Earth, Trial By Fire, The Glass, To Kill a King, Grand Theft Parsons, A Good Woman. |
 | Vic Mizzy Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Cyril Mockridge Born: 6 August 1896, London, England. Died: 18 January 1979. Background: Stalwart English composer who found more success in Hollywood than he did at home. Studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Moved to the United States in the early 1930s and made his film music debut in 1934, eventually becoming a staff composer and music director for 20th Century Fox. During his wide and varied career, Mockridge composed music for over 150 films, enjoying his most prolific period during the 1940s and 50s. Despite his undoubted talent, and despite writing music for numerous highly successful films for directors such as John Ford, Otto Preminger, Jean Negulesco and Howard Hawkes, Mockridge never enjoyed the success of contemporaries such as Alfred Newman, receiving just one Oscar nomination in 1955, and today is almost a 'forgotten man' in Golden Age film music terms. Was a television pioneer in the early days of the medium, and was a regular contributor to early western shows such as "Wagon Train" and "Laramie". Spent most of the 1960s in this vein, writing episodic underscore for popular series such as "Lost in Space", "Peyton Place". Scored his final big-screen feature in 1963, and retired to Hawaii, where he died in 1979 aged 82. Highlight Scores: The Ox-Bow Incident, My Darling Clementine, Miracle on 34th Street, I Was a Male War Bride, River of No Return, Guys and Dolls, Bus Stop, Desk Set, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Donovan's Reef. Awards: Oscar nomination for "Guys and Dolls" (1955. |
 | Charlie Mole Born: Background: Young British composer who has an unusual career, mixing period films with pop songs. First emerged into the music world as a songwriter and, since making his debut, has worked with artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Savage Garden, Angie Stone, Ultra Nate, Chaka Khan (for whom he wrote the No.1 hit "Loving Every Minute", and Kylie Minogue (for whom he wrote "Surrender", from the Deconstruction album). Having scored several short films for his friend, director Oliver Parker, he made his film music debut in 1996, on Parker's "Othello", and has gone on to become a familiar face on the British scoring circuit. Highlight Scores: Othello, An Ideal Husband, Paranoid, High Heels and Lowlifes, The Importance of Being Earnest, Only Human, Goose. |
 | Fred Mollin Born: 10 February 1953, Amityville, New York. Background: Self taught-guitarist and percussionist who began his career as a record producer in Canada, working with artists such as Dan Hill and Jimmy Webb, before becoming involved in film and TV music in the late 1970s. First came to prominence as the lead composer of the short-lived "Friday the 13th" TV series, and for his work on two of the endless big screen sequels, as well as the cult vampire action series "Forever Knight". In addition to his film work, Mollin is also quite prolific in producing albums of music for children, including two CDs of Disney-inspired lullabies for babies. Highlight Scores: Friday the 13th (TV), Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, Forever Knight (TV), TekWar (TV), Little Criminals, The Fall, The Time Shifters, Pilgrim. |
 | Deborah Mollison Born: Background: Studied composition, piano and flute at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and then at UCLA and Middlesex University where she gained her doctorate. Began composing music for film and television in the early 1990s, after spending her early career as a jobbing composer and songwriter around London. First came to prominence with her score for the popular British comedy "East Is East" (1999), and has now become one of Britain's most in-demand female composers, with regular commissions from the BBC and Channel 4, specialising in documentaries. In addition to her film work, Mollison has written a violin concerto, a horn concerto, Highlight Scores: Earth Story, East Is East, Simon Magus, The Boys of Sunset Ridge, The Thing About Vince, No Tears. |
 | Paddy Moloney Born: 1 August 1938, Donneycarney, Ireland. Background: Legendary Irish composer and mult-instrumentalist who, for many years, has been the leader of the popular band The Chieftains. Interested in music since childhood, Moloney initially worked as an accountant, playing in pub bands on the side, before forming The Chieftains in 1963. Worked for Irish record label Claddagh Records while promoting his new group, which gradually brought the sound of traditional Irish music to the world, and eventually emerges as the best known and most popular Gaelic band internationally. Moloney wrote his first film score in 1985 for "Ballad of the Irish Horse", a popular episode of the National Geographic TV specials, and scored an international success in 1999 with the Anjelica Huston movie "Agnes Browne". In addition, Moloney has performed as a soloist with a number of renowned pop artists, including Mick Jagger, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and Jackson Browne, as well as on John Williams' score for "Far & Away" (1992). Highlight Scores: The Year of the French, Treasure Island, Under the Sun, Agnes Browne |
| | Hugo Montenegro Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: The Ambushers, The Undefeated. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Dudley Moore Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Six Weeks. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Lennie Moore Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Mike Moran Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Time Bandits, The Missionary, Water. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Lucien Moraweck Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Jaques Morelenbaum Born: . Background: One of the most high profile classical arrangers and performers in Brazil, Morelenbaum began his career as a virtuoso cellist. After completing his stufdied, he became heavily involved in the life and work of Antonio Carlos Jobim, performing on a number of the composer's most acclaimed works. As an individual performer, Morelenbaum has been involved in over 400 recordings, having worked with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Sting and Milton Nascimento among others. As an arranger, Morelenbaum is the most in-demand artist in Brazil, and counts international names such as Dulce Pontes and David Byrne among his regular collaborators. As a film composer, he made his debut in 1995, working again with Caetano Veloso on the award-winning "O Quatrilho", before reaching an international audience through his work on the Oscar-nominated "Central Station" (1998), which he co-wrote with Antonio Pinto. He is married to Brazilian singer Paula Morelenbaum. Highlight Scores: O Quatrillho, Tieta do Agreste, Central Station, A Paixão de Jacobina. |
 | John Morgan Born: 21 October 1946, Los Angeles, California. Background: Acclaimed composer and conductor, best known in the film music world for the on-going series of classic score reconstructions he has undertaken with fellow composer Bill Stromberg, released on CD by Marco Polo. Studied at San Diego State University, and began his career teaching music and composition there in the 1960s, before moving back to Los Angeles to work as an orchestrator in Hollywood for composer such as Alex North, Fred Steiner and Bruce Broughton. Scored his first solo feature, “The Aftermath”, in 1979, and worked on several other features during the 1980s, mainly low-budget crime thrillers and action movies (one of which starred a pre-fame Pamela Anderson). Enjoyed a brief taste of success through his work on the series of critically acclaimed 'Atomic Bomb' documentaries produced by special effects guru Peter Kuran. Recently, Morgan has completed work on the straight-to-video sequel to "Starship Troopers”. Highlight Scores: The Aftermath, Edge of Honor, Killing Streets, Trinity and Beyond, Starship Troopers 2. |
 | Angela Morley Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Andrea Morricone Born: Rome, Italy. Background: Son of the legendary composer Ennio Morricone. Surrounded by film music as a child, it was inevitable he would follow in his father's footsteps. After completing his studies in Rome, he made his film music debut writing additional music for his father's score "Cinema Paradiso" in 1989. Worked with his father throughout the early 1990s until making his solo debut in 1995. Ironically, has worked more frequently than his father in America in recent years and, as he shares some of Morricone Sr.'s stylistics in is writing, looks sure to carry on the success of the family name. Highlight Scores: Cinema Paradiso, L'Uomo Proiettile, Il Quarto Re, Ultimo, Liberty Heights, Here on Earth, Capturing the Friedmans, Al Cuore si Comanda. |
 | John Morris Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, The Elephant Man, To Be or Not To Be, The Woman in Red, Clue, Haunted Honeymoon, Spaceballs, Dirty Dancing, Ironweed. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Boris Morros Born: INSERT. Died: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: INSERT. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | William Motzing Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Newsfront, Cathy's Child, Young Einstein. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
 | Dominic Muldowney Born: 19 July 1952, Southampton, England. Background: Studied music at Taunton Grammar School and Southampton University, and in London with Harrison Birtwistle, making his professional debut aged 14. After spending much of his early career in the classical realm, Muldowney made his film music debut in 1978, and achieved a small amount of notoriety six years later when the majority of his score for "Nineteen Eighty-Four" was replaced with music by the Eurythmics. Since then, his output has been small but high quality, his most notable works being for the long-running TV series "Sharpe", starring Sean Bean as a British soldier in the Crimean War. Muldowney has also been prolific in composing for the concert hall and stage in England, having written numerous orchestral and chamber pieces, and having been Music Director and Composer-in-Residence at the Royal National Theatre since 1976. Highlight Scores: Betrayal, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Sharpe (TV), King Lear, Emma, Bloody Sunday. Links: Ian Amos Music Management |
 | Joseph Mullendore Born: 21 October 1914, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Died: 19 June 1990. Background: Played the piano from an early age. Educated at the Philadelphia Conservatory, and undertook further study with Arnold Schoenberg, Ernst Toch, and Mario Castelnuova-Tedesco. Phenomenally prolific as a television composer in the 1960s, writing for all Irwin Allen's classic series, as well as for the original incarnation of Star Trek. Nominated for 1962-1963 Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music for "The Dick Powell Theater". Highlight Scores: Wicked Women, New York Confidential, I Deal in Danger, hours of episodic TV music for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Burke's Law, Lost in Space, Star Trek, The Time Tunnel and Land of the Giants. |
 | David Munrow Born: 12 August 1942. Died: 1976. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Henry VIII and His Six Wives, Zardoz. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| John Murphy Born: Background: Began his career as a multi-instrumentalist and pop musician, working with a succession of 80s bands (including Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Heaven 17), before turning his hand to film music in the early 1990s, usually in collaboration with former OMD member and fellow composer David A. Hughes. Hughes and Murphy scored several successful British movies together, enjoying platinum album sales for the accompanying soundtrack for "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" in 1998, but following an unsuccessful foray together into the Hollywood studio system, Hughes and Murphy went their separate ways. Murphy decided to stick it out in Los Angeles and has been rewarded with several important studio features, including "City By the Sea" and the box-office success "28 Days Later". Highlight Scores: Leon the Pig Farmer, Beyond Bedlam, Solitaire for 2, Clockwork Mice, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Stiff Upper Lips, The Bachelor, Chain of Fools, Snatch, Mean Machine, All Abou the Benjamins, City by the Sea, Friday After Next, 28 Days Later, Intermission, The Perfect Score, Guess Who?, Millions, The Man. |
| | Lyn Murray Born: 6 December 1909, Pacific Palisades, California. Died: 20 May 1989. Background: Popular composer and arranger who first came to fame in the 1930s as the founder and leader of the popular Lyn Murray Singers, who performed on the CBS radio network show "Lucky Strike Hit Parade" for several years, and released numerous albums of instrumental and vocal ballads. Made his film music debut in 1947, and spent the majority of his 30-year career as a prolific television composer, writing music for shows such as "General Electric Theater", "Gunsmoke", "The Virginian", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Gilligan's Island", "The Time Tunnel", "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau", "Dragnet", and many more. Peppered his career with a few successful features, including notable works for directors Alfred Hitchcock, Mark Robson and Frank Tashlin. In addition to his film music, Murray also worked as a staff conductor, arranger, and producer for CBS, and worked such artists as Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and Burl Ives. Took his bow and retired at the end of the 1970s, and died in 1989, aged 89. Highlight Scores: Son of Paleface, Casanova's Big Night, To Catch a Thief, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Snow White and the Three Stooges, Period of Adjustment, Wives and Lovers. |
| | Jennie Muskett Born: INSERT. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: The Prince and Me. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
| | Stanley Myers Born: 6 October 1933, Birmingham, England. Died: 9 November 1993. Background: Highly respected British film music composer, best known today as the former mentor of Hans Zimmer. Began working in British theatre before moving into films in the late 1960s, initially writing music for the Hammer studio. Was prolific in his domestic industry throughout the 1970s, scoring films for directors such as Bryan Forbes, Bran Hutton, and Ted Kotcheff, before attaining global fame through his most famous theme, 'Cavatina', written for "The Deer Hunter" in 1978, and which was made popular by classical guitarist John Williams. Continued working during the 1980s, notably with directors John Mackenzie and especially Stephen Frears, on films such as "My Beautiful Launderette" and "Prick Up Your Ears". Died of cancer in 1993, aged 60. Highlight Scores: House of Whipcord, The Racing Moon, Zee and Co., The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, The Deer Hunter, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Lady Chatterley's Lover, My Beautiful Launderette, Prick Up Your Ears, Wish You Were Here, Castaway, Stars & Bars, Paperhouse, Danny Champion of the World, The Witches, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Middlemarch. Awards: Posthumous BAFTA in 1995 for "Middlemarch". BAFTA nomination for "Wish You Were Here" (1987). Special artistic award at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. |
| | Fred Myrow Born: 1939, Brooklyn, New York. Died: 14 January 1999. Background: INSERT. Highlight Scores: Leo the Last, Soylent Green, Scarecrow, Phantasm. Awards: INSERT. Links: INSERT. |
