John Williams John Williams

Born: 8 February 1932, Floral Park, New York.

Biography:
Arguably the most successful, popular and well-known film music composer of all time, John Williams studied music at the University of California in Los Angeles and, after a brief spell in the Air Force and various other music-related jobs, he was hired by Twentieth Century Fox in 1956 to be a pianist in their studio orchestra, playing on scores for Jerry Goldsmith and Elmer Bernstein amongst others. During his stay an Fox, his first composing experience was through working on many of their popular TV shows in the 1960s, including "Gilligan's Island", "Wagon Train", and especially "Lost in Space", and "Land of the Giants" for producer Irwin Allen. His first critical big-screen success came in 1967, when he was Oscar-nominated for his score for Mark Robson's drama "Valley of the Dolls". From that moment on, Williams' career has gone from strength to strength, catapulting him to the top of the film music hierarchy, a position he has held since the mid-1970s. His list of works reads like a list of the greatest scores of all time: "Jaws" (1975), "Star Wars" (1977), "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977), "Superman" (1978), "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980), "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), "Return of the Jedi" (1983), "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984), "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989), "Home Alone" (1990), "Schindler's List" (1993), "Jurassic Park" (1993), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), and, recently, the Harry Potter franchise and the Star Wars prequels. His themes have truly entered public consciousness in a way few other composers achieve. Ask a man on the street to name a film composer, and invariably the only name that will spring to mind will be his. He is the composer of choice for Steven Spielberg - feat in itself - and has received a staggering number of Oscar nominations, winning on five occasions. He attracts classical talent such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Mark O'Connor and Christopher Parkening to work with him on his scores, and even finds time to write classical pieces, concert music for the Olympic Games, and conduct orchestras all over the world.

Reviews:
The Accidental Tourist, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Always, Amistad, Angela's Ashes, Attack of the Clones, Black Sunday, Born on the Fourth of July, Catch Me If You Can, Cinderella Liberty, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Original Release), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Collector's Edition), The Cowboys, Dracula, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Empire of the Sun, The Empire Strikes Back, Family Plot, Far and Away, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Heartbeeps, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Hook, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Jane Eyre, Jaws, JFK, Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Memoirs of a Geisha, Minority Report, Monsignor, Munich, Nixon, The Patriot, The Phantom Menace, Presumed Innocent, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Rare Breed, The Reivers, Return of the Jedi, Revenge of the Sith, The River,, Rosewood, Sabrina, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, Seven Years in Tibet, Sleepers, SpaceCamp, Stanley & Iris, Star Wars, Stepmom, Superman, The Terminal, The Towering Inferno, War of the Worlds, The Witches of Eastwick, Yes Giorgio and Close Encounters: The Essential John Williams Film Music Collection (compilation).

Filmography:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Munich (2005), Revenge of the Sith (2005), War of the Worlds (2005), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), The Terminal (2004), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Minority Report (2002), Attack of the Clones (2002), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), Jurassic Park III (2001), The Patriot (2000), Angela's Ashes (1999), The Phantom Menace (1999), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Stepmom (1998), Amistad (1997), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Rosewood (1997), Seven Years in Tibet (1997), Sleepers (1996), Nixon (1995), Sabrina (1995), Jurassic Park (1993), Schindler's List (1993), Far and Away (1992), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Hook (1991), JFK (1991), Home Alone (1990), Presumed Innocent (1990), Stanley & Iris (1990), Always (1989), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Accidental Tourist (1988), Empire of the Sun (1987), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), SpaceCamp (1986), Jaws IV: The Revenge (1985), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), The River (1984), Return of the Jedi (1983), Superman III (1983), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Monsignor (1982), Yes Giorgio (1982), Heartbeeps (1981), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Superman II (1980), 1941 (1979), Dracula (1979), The Fury (1978), Jaws 2 (1978), Superman (1978), Black Sunday (1977), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Star Wars (1977), Family Plot (1976), Midway (1976), The Missouri Breaks (1976), The Eiger Sanction (1975), Jaws (1975), Conrack (1974), Earthquake (1974), The Sugarland Express (1974), The Towering Inferno (1974), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Long Goodbye (1973), The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973), The Paper Chase (1973), Tom Sawyer (1973), The Cowboys (1972), Images (1972), Pete 'n Tillie (1972), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Fiddler on the Roof (1971), The Screaming Woman (1971), Jane Eyre (1970), Story of a Woman (1970), Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), The Reivers (1969), Heidi (1968), Sergeant Ryker (1968), Fitzwilly (1967), A Guide for the Married Man (1967), Valley of the Dolls (1967), How to Steal a Million (1966), Not with My Wife, You Don't (1966), Penelope (1966), The Plainsman (1966), The Rare Breed (1966), John Goldfarb Please Come Home (1965), None But the Brave (1965), The Killers (1964), Nightmare in Chicago (1964), Gidget Goes to Rome (1963), Diamond Head (1962), Flashing Spikes (1962), Bachelor Flat (1961), The Secret Ways (1961), Stark Fear (1961), Because They're Young (1960), I Passed for White (1960), Daddy-O (1959)

Highest Grossing Films as at end of 2007 (adjusted for inflation):
Star Wars ($1.36 billion), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial ($865.0m), Jaws ($834.5m), Jurassic Park ($610.6m), The Phantom Menace ($600.8m), Return of the Jedi ($567.7m), The Empire Strikes Back ($551.1m), Raiders of the Lost Ark ($533.7m), Home Alone ($478.3m), Revenge of the Sith ($419.8m).

Awards:
1994 Academy Awards - Winner, Best Original Score - Schindler's List
1982 Academy Awards - Winner, Best Original Score - E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
1977 Academy Awards - Winner, Best Original Score - Star Wars
1975 Academy Awards - Winner, Best Original Score - Jaws
1972 Academy Awards - Winner, Best Original Song Score and/or Adaptation - Fiddler on the Roof
2005 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score – Memoirs of a Geisha
2005 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score – Munich
2004 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2002 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Catch Me If You Can
2001 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - A.I. Artificial Intelligence
2001 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2000 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - The Patriot
1999 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Angela's Ashes
1998 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - Saving Private Ryan
1997 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - Amistad
1996 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - Sleepers
1995 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - Nixon
1995 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Comedy/Musical Score - Sabrina
1995 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Song - "Moonlight" from Sabrina
1991 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Song - "When You're Alone" from Hook
1991 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - JFK
1990 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Home Alone
1990 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Song - "Somewhere In My Memory" from Home Alone
1989 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Born on the Fourth of July
1989 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1988 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - The Accidental Tourist
1987 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Empire of the Sun
1987 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - The Witches of Eastwick
1984 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1984 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - The River
1983 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Return of the Jedi
1982 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Song - "If We Were In Love" from Yes, Giorgio
1981 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Raiders of the Lost Ark
1980 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - The Empire Strikes Back
1978 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Superman
1977 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score - Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1974 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - The Towering Inferno
1973 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - Cinderella Liberty
1973 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Song Score and/or Adaptation - Tom Sawyer
1973 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Song - "Nice To Be Around" from Cinderella Liberty
1972 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - Images
1972 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - The Poseidon Adventure
1969 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Dramatic Score - The Reivers
1969 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Musical Score - Goodbye Mr. Chips
1967 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score, Adaption or Treatment - Valley of the Dolls
2005 Golden Globes - Winner, Best Original Score – Memoirs of a Geisha
1982 Golden Globes - Winner, Best Original Score - E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
1977 Golden Globes - Winner, Best Original Score - Star Wars
1975 Golden Globes - Winner, Best Original Score - Jaws
2001 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - A.I. Artificial Intelligence
1999 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Angela's Ashes
1998 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Saving Private Ryan
1997 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Seven Years in Tibet
1994 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Schindler's List
1989 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Born on the Fourth of July
1988 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - The Accidental Tourist
1987 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Empire of the Sun
1984 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - The River
1978 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Superman
1977 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1974 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Earthquake
1973 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Cinderella Liberty
1973 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Tom Sawyer
2005 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Memoirs of a Geisha
1993 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Schindler’s List
1988 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Empire of the Sun
1982 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – E.T. The Extra– Terrestrial
1980 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – The Empire Strikes Back
1978 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Star Wars
1975 BAFTA Awards – Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Jaws
2002 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Catch Me If You Can
1998 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Saving Private Ryan
1981 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Raiders of the Lost Ark
1978 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1975 BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – The Towering Inferno
1998 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Saving Private Ryan
1994 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Schindler’s List
1983 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – E.T. The Extra– Terrestrial
1982 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – The Empire Strikes Back
1980 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Superman
1979 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1978 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Star Wars
1976 Grammy Awards – Winner, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Jaws
2005 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
2004 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2003 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Catch Me If You Can
2003 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
2001 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – A.I. Artificial Intelligence
1999 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
1998 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Amistad
1997 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – The Lost World: Jurassic Park
1997 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Seven Years in Tibet
1996 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television – “Moonlight” from Sabrina
1993 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Jurassic Park
1992 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Hook
1991 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television – “Somewhere in My Memory” from Home Alone
1989 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1988 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Empire of the Sun
1987 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television – The Witches of Eastwick
1984 Grammy Awards – Nominee, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television – Return of the Jedi
1972 Emmy Awards – Winner, Outstanding Music Composition for a Mini–Series, Movie, or Special – Jane Eyre

Links:
The John Williams Web Pages by Jeff Eldridge
The Unofficial John Williams Home Page by Scott Hanson
John Williams Fan Network by Ricard L. Befan
The John Williams Score Review by Frank Lehman

1941 The Accidental Tourist A.I. Artificial Intelligence Always Amazing Stories Amistad Angela's Ashes Attack of the Clones Black Sunday Born on the Fourth of July Catch Me If You Can Cinderella Liberty Close Encounters of the Third Kind The Cowboys Dracula Earthquake The Eiger Sanction The Empire Strikes Back Empire of the Sun E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Far and Away Fiddler on the Roof Fitzwilly The Fury The Fury (Expanded) Goodbye, Mr. Chips A Guide for the Married Man Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Heartbeeps Heidi Home Alone Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Hook How to Steal a Million Images Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Jane Eyre Jaws Jaws (Expanded) Jaws 2 JFK John Goldfarb Please Come Home Jurassic Park Jurassic Park III Land of the Giants Lost in Space The Lost World: Jurassic Park The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing Memoirs of a Geisha Midway Minority Report The Missouri Breaks Monsignor Munich Nixon Not with My Wife, You Don't The Paper Chase The Patriot Penelope The Phantom Menace The Poseidon Adventure/Conrack Presumed Innocent Raiders of the Lost Ark The Reivers Return of the Jedi Revenge of the Sith The River Rosewood Sabrina Saving Private Ryan Schindler's List Seven Years in Tibet Sleepers SpaceCamp Stanley & Iris Star Wars Stepmom Superman The Terminal Tom Sawyer The Towering Inferno Valley of the Dolls War of the Worlds The Witches of Eastwick Yes Giorgio American Journey (Olympic Games) Five Sacred Trees (Classical) Summon the Heroes (Olympic Games) Thomas and the King (Stage Musical) Treesong/Violin Concerto (Classical) Trumpet Concerto (Classical) Close Encounters: The Essential John Williams Film Music Collection


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