Alfred Newman

Full biography Alfred Newman

Alfred Newman (March 17 , 1900 – February 17, 1970) was an American composer, arranger, and conductor known for his work in film music. He was renowned for his innovative use of orchestration, and his unique style of blending different musical elements to create a rich and nuanced sound. Newman worked on numerous films throughout his career, and his compositions earned him nine Academy Awards for Best Original Score, which is a record that still stands to this day. He was also nominated for an additional 40 Oscars, making him one of the most successful and respected composers in Hollywood history.

Newman started his career in the music industry as a young child prodigy. He began playing the piano at the age of six and went on to study music at the University of Southern California. In his early twenties, he started working as a musical director for various theaters and soon began composing music for films.

Newman's breakthrough moment came when he was offered a job as head of the music department at 20th Century Fox in 1940. Over the next two decades, he worked on some of the most iconic films of the era, including "All About Eve," "How the West Was Won," and "The King and I," among many others. He also mentored and inspired a new generation of film composers, including his younger brother Lionel Newman and his son David Newman, who continue to work in the industry today.

Newman's legacy as a composer continues to inspire and influence modern film music. His contributions to the genre are celebrated in Hollywood, where his star on the Walk of Fame can be found. Overall, Alfred Newman is considered one of the most influential and accomplished composers in the history of American film music.