James Bond composer dies

Tue 1st Feb, 2011 in International News

John Barry, the master of memorable and much loved film scores including those on numerous James Bond films, has passed away at seventy seven years old due to a heart attack.

Starting out in film composition in 1959, Barry has accumulated a long list of films and awards to his name yet is most celebrated for penning the ‘Bond sound’. Evoking the big brass hook that plays over deep bass notes in Goldfinger, Barry created the sound that perfectly captures the dangerous and sensuous excitement that follows James Bond wherever he goes.

John Barry’s other major achievements include his picking up Oscars for his music scores for the 1966 film Born Free and 1985’s Out of Africa. He made valuable contributions to the film world for around five decades and people continue to dance to samples of his work in tracks by artists including Fatboy Slim, Public Enemy, Gang Starr and the Wu Tang Clan.