John Barry
John Barry
John Prendergast, John B. Prendergast, John Barry Prendergast
John Barry Prendergast, OBE (3 November 1933 – 30 January 2011) will always be best known for his association with the James Bond films having composed the scores for 11 of the “Cubby” Broccoli produced movies from 1963 to 1987. And though Monty Norman is formally, legally recognized as the writer of the iconic “James Bond Theme”, the version of that theme most recognized is the jazz arrangement, composition and performance by John Barry for the film Dr. No (for which he received £250 and a promise that they’d call him if they made any more Bond films).
All of that said, John Barry was far more then the James Bond guy. He had a career lasting more than 50 years. He was an OBE, honored by the Queen for his services to music. He was married four times and had four children. He won five Academy Awards out of seven nominations, winning for Born Free (1966), Best Original Score, Best Original Song, The Lion in Winter (1968), Best Original Score (non-musical), Out of Africa (1985), Best Original Score, and Dances with Wolves (1990), Best Original Score (and not winning for Mary, Queen of Scots (1971), Best Original Dramatic Score and Chaplin (1992), Best Original Score). He also won BAFTA Awards, Golden Globes, Grammys and Emmy nominations and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1998.