When I look at the setting sun the music (Binary Sunset) from Star Wars IV A New Hope all ways pops into my head. John Williams wrote all the music for all six Star Wars films and is on board for the next three films as well. Born on the 8th February 1932 in Long Island, New York, John Williams was the son of a percussionist who worked for CBS radio and the Raymond Scott quintet. At the age of 15 John was playing piano and was the leader in his own jazz band. At the age of 19 he premièred his first original composition: a piano sonata. John Williams attended UCLA and Los Angeles city college, studying orchestration under MGM associate Robert Van Eps. After a stint in the United States Air Force John eventually found work in Hollywood as a piano player, working on sound tracks for TV and film such as Peter Gunn, South Pacific, Some like it hot, The apartment and To kill a mockingbird. In the 70’s John became king of disaster scores working on films such as The poseidon adventure, Earthquake and the Towering inferno. John gained his first Academy award for original score on Steven Spielberg‘s movie Jaws. His collaboration with Spielberg led him to be introduced to George Lucas and soon after he wrote the score for Star Wars Episode IV a New Hope which became the best selling score only sound track of all time. After this success John Williams worked on Superman, 1941, Raiders of the lost ark, E.T, Empire of the sun, The accidental tourist, Born on the fourth of July and Star Wars episode V Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars episode VI The Return of the Jedi. More recent films include Jurassic Park, Schindlers List, Saving Private Ryan, Star Wars episode I The Phantom Menace, Star Wars episode II Attack of the Clones and Star Wars episode III Revenge of the Sith. John has also appeared on The Simpsons.
John Williams has a very impressive lists of awards: 41 Oscar nominations (5 wins) over 20 gold and platinum records, 2 Emmys, 3 Golden Globes, 18 Grammys, National Board of Review (including a Career Achievement Award), 6 Saturns, 7 BAFTA’s and over 13 Honorary doctorate degrees.
Library Jedi 