Academy Award for Best Original Song

1. Con Conrad

Academy Award-winning songwriter ("The Continental", 1934), composer, pianist and publisher, educated at military academy, then a pianist in film theatres, and later a vaudeville entertainer in the USA and Europe. He wrote the Broadway stage scores for "Moonlight", "Mercenary Mary", "Kitty's Kisses...

2. Herb Magidson

Soundtrack | The Gay Divorcee

Herb Magidson was born on January 7, 1906 in Braddock, Pennsylvania, USA. He is known for The Gay Divorcee (1934), Finch (2021) and Everyone Says I Love You (1996). He died on January 2, 1986 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.

3. Harry Warren

Soundtrack | The Shape of Water

Harry Warren was born on December 24, 1893 in Brooklyn [now in New York City], New York, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for The Shape of Water (2017), An Affair to Remember (1957) and Sphere (1998). He was married to Josephine Wensler. He died on September 22, 1981 in Los Angeles, ...

4. Al Dubin

Soundtrack | Pi

Prolific Academy Award-winning songwriter Al Dubin ("Lullaby of Broadway" [1935]) came to the US in 1893 and was educated at the Perkiomen Seminary in Pennsylvania. He joined the staff of several New York music publishing companies. He enlisted in the US Army in World War I and served in the 77th ...

5. Jerome Kern

Soundtrack | Till the Clouds Roll By

Jerome David Kern was born in 1885. He began his stage career grafting American songs (for which he wrote the music) into imported European operettas. His breakthrough came with the song "They Didn't Believe Me", written (with lyrics by Edward Laska) for a show called "The Girl from Utah". It ...

6. Dorothy Fields

Music_department | Swing Time

Dorothy Fields, daughter of vaudeville star Lew Fields (of Weber & Fields) started writing songs for Tin Pan Alley and Broadway in the 1920s, in spite of the fact, that her first Broadway show was a flop. From the 30s on she also worked for Hollywood with her partner, composer Jimmy McHugh. She won...

7. Harry Owens

Soundtrack | Waikiki Wedding

One of the foremost exponents of Hawaiian music, Harry Owens arrived in the islands in 1934 and became quickly enamored with the local scene. Owens had been a straight trumpet player in Los Angeles dance bands (at the Ambassador Hotel Cocoanut Grove and for Vincent Rose). His previous experience as...

8. Ralph Rainger

Music_department | The Big Broadcast of 1938

He was one of the era's great composers and songwriters. Ralph Rainger penned numerous popular standards, often working in collaboration with lyricist Leo Robin. These include solid commercial hits like "Moanin Low", "Love in Bloom" (used by Jack Benny to introduce his TV and radio shows), "Love is...

9. Leo Robin

Music_department | Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Prolific American lyricist, best known for his collaborative efforts with the composer Ralph Rainger. His many popular standards include "Prisoner of Love," "Louise," "Beyond the Blue Horizon," "No Love no Nothin," "Moonlight and Shadows," "My Ideal," "If I Should Lose You," "Blue Hawaii," the 1938...

10. Harold Arlen

Music_department | The Wizard of Oz

No American has written more first-rate songs than Arlen. He grew up in a musical family (his father was a cantor), and disappointed but didn't surprise his parents by dropping out of high school to become a musician. A stint as pianist and singer with a dance band, the Buffalodians, allowed him to...

11. E.Y. Harburg

Music_department | The Wizard of Oz

One of the great lyricists of American song, Edgar Yipsel Harburg (born Isidore Hochberg) grew up in the working-class Jewish ghetto of Manhattan's Lower East Side. In high school, he befriended Ira Gershwin, later his collaborator on student literary ventures at City College of New York; both also...

12. Leigh Harline

Composer | Pinocchio

Academy Award-winning composer (score, Pinocchio (1940), conductor, songwriter ("When You Wish Upon a Star" [Academy award, Best Song, 1940) and arranger Leigh Harine was educated at the University of Utah. He was a music student of J. Spencer Cornwall. He arranged the first transcontinental ...

13. Ned Washington

Music_department | Pinocchio

Prolific American lyricist and songwriter, one of the giants of Tin Pan Alley. He contributed numerous popular standards to jazz and to the big band scene. His catalogue includes such titles as "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" (theme song for bandleader Tommy Dorsey), the ballad "I Don't Stand a ...

14. Oscar Hammerstein II

Soundtrack | State Fair

Oscar Hammerstein II was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and musical theatre director from New York City. He won a total of 8 Tony Awards for his best known works, "South Pacific" (1949), "The King and I" (1951), and "The Sound of Music" (1959). He twice won the Academy Award...

15. Irving Berlin

Soundtrack | Alexander's Ragtime Band

Irving Berlin was born Israel Isidor Baline on May 11, 1888 in Mogilev, Belarus, Russian Empire. Towering composer, songwriter, ("God Bless America", "Always", "Blue Skies", "White Christmas") author and publisher, he came to the United States at age 5 and was educated in New York's public schools....

16. Mack Gordon

Soundtrack | The Shape of Water

Mack Gordon was born on June 21, 1904 in Warsaw, Poland, Russian Empire [now Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland]. He was an actor and writer, known for The Shape of Water (2017), Collegiate (1935) and Sweet and Low-Down (1944). He was married to Elizabeth Cook and Rose Ponelli. He died on February 28, ...

17. Jimmy Van Heusen

Soundtrack | Going My Way

Jimmy Van Heusen was inarguably one of the most accomplished songwriters in history. Claiming four "Oscars" and one Emmy award among his credits he also wrote more songs (85) recorded by Frank Sinatra, his long time friend, than any other composer. He also composed the songs for another good friend...

18. Johnny Burke

Soundtrack | Going My Way

Songwriter ("Swinging on a Star" [Academy Award, 1944], "What's New?", "Oh, You Crazy Moon"), producer, director and author, educated at the University of Wisconsin and Crane College. He joined the staff of music publishing companies in New York and Chicago, then went to Hollywood under contract to...

19. Richard Rodgers

Soundtrack | The Talented Mr. Ripley

He met Lorenz Hart in 1918 who was to write lyrics for Richard for the next 25 years. The produced many successful songs and musicals such as 'Pal Joey' and 'The Boys From Syracuse'. In 1943 Richard teamed up with Oscar Hammerstein to make a musical version of the play 'How Green Was Your Valley' ...

20. Johnny Mercer

Soundtrack | Breakfast at Tiffany's

Johnny Mercer started his career as singer and songwriter for Paul Whiteman. He started writing songs for Hollywood in 1935, where he also had a few small parts in musicals. Among his famous songs is the inoffical anthem of Hollywood, "Hooray For Hollywood" that he wrote for the movie "Hollywood ...

21. Allie Wrubel

Soundtrack | Song of the South

Allie Wrubel was born on January 15, 1905 in Middletown, Connecticut, USA. He is known for Song of the South (1946), Blood Simple (1984) and The Wedding Planner (2001). He died on December 13, 1973 in Twentynine Palms, California, USA.

22. Ray Gilbert

Soundtrack | Song of the South

Academy Award-winning songwriter ("Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" [1947]), composer and author, educated in public schools and then a writer of special material for Sophie Tucker, Harry Richman and Buddy Rogers. He came to Hollywood in 1939 and wrote for Earl Carroll, then signed for 3 1/2 years with Walt ...

23. Jay Livingston

Soundtrack | The Man Who Knew Too Much

Jay Livingston was born March 28, 1915 in McDonald, Pennsylvania. He (along with his partner Ray Evans) composed many songs for movies such as To Each His Own (1946), Tammy and the Bachelor (1957) and Academy Award winning songs "Mona Lisa" from the movie Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1949), "Buttons and ...

24. Ray Evans

Soundtrack | The Man Who Knew Too Much

Academy Award-winning songwriter ("Buttons and Bows" [1948], "Mona Lisa" [1950], "Que Sera Sera" [1956]), composer, author, musician and publisher, educated at the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania. He began his career in the college dance orchestra, then played in local night clubs...

25. Frank Loesser

Soundtrack | Where's Charley?

Frank Loesser was educated at Townsend Harris Hall; CCNY. He wrote songs for college shows, and worked as a newspaper reporter, a pianist and singer, a caricaturist in vaudeville acts, and as an editor for a trade newspaper. While serving as an officer in the US Army during World War II, he wrote ...

26. Hoagy Carmichael

Soundtrack | To Have and Have Not

Award-winning songwriter ("Stardust", "Ole Buttermilk Sky", "Georgia on My Mind"), composer, pianist, actor and singer, educated at Indiana University (LL.B). He played piano in the college bands, and later gave up a law practice for a career in songwriting. He joined ASCAP in 1931, and his chief ...

27. Dimitri Tiomkin

Soundtrack | High Noon

Dimitri Tiomkin was a Russian Jewish composer who emigrated to America and became one of the most distinguished and best-loved music writers of Hollywood. He won a hallowed place in the pantheon of the most successful and productive composers in American film history, earning himself four Oscars ...

28. Sammy Fain

Soundtrack | Calamity Jane

Sammy Fain was born on June 17, 1902 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Calamity Jane (1953), Grease (1978) and The Rescuers (1977). He was married to Jane Fischer and Sally Fox. He died on December 6, 1989 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

29. Paul Francis Webster

Soundtrack | Calamity Jane

Paul Francis Webster was born on December 20, 1907 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer, known for Calamity Jane (1953), Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) and Spider-Man (2002). He died on March 22, 1984 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

30. Jule Styne

Soundtrack | Funny Girl

Jule Styne was born on December 31, 1905 in London, England, UK. He was a composer and producer, known for Funny Girl (1968), Die Hard (1988) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). He was married to Margaret Ann Bissett Brown and Ethel Rubenstein. He died on September 20, 1994 in New York City, New ...

31. Sammy Cahn

Soundtrack | Die Hard

Award-winning songwriter ("All the Way" [Academy Award, 1957], "Three Coins in the Fountain" [Academy Award, 1954], "Love and Marriage" [Emmy Award, 1955], "High Hopes" [Academy Award, 1959], "Call Me Irresponsible" [Academy Award, 1963]), composer, author and publisher, educated at Seward Park ...

32. Frederick Loewe

Music_department | Camelot

Frederick Loewe's parents were Austrian; he studied music with Ferruccio Busoni, Eugene D'Albert and N. Reznicek and he was awarded the Hollander Medal in Berlin. He came to the US in 1924 and joined ASCAP in 1941; in 1942, he gave a piano recital at Carnegie Hall. His chief musical collaborator ...

33. Alan Jay Lerner

Writer | An American in Paris

Playwright/lyricist Alan Jay Lerner was born into a wealthy New York City retailing family. His professional association with Frederick Loewe started in 1942 when they teamed up to write "Life of the Party". Their first Broadway success was the 1947 musical fantasy "Brigadoon." Lerner adapted work ...

34. Manos Hatzidakis

Soundtrack | Pote tin Kyriaki

The names of Manos Hadjidakis and Mikis Theodorakis have been written with golden letters in the music history of Greece since 1960. He was born in Xanthi on 23 October 1925, in a mid-class family. When he came of age he came in the capital city of Greece of Athens. He succeeded from the beginning ...

35. Henry Mancini

Soundtrack | Breakfast at Tiffany's

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, but brought up in Pennsylvania, where he played the flute in a local band, as a youth, before sending some arrangements to Benny Goodman. Goodman offered him a job and, after serving in WWII, he joined the rearranged Glenn Miller band. In 1952, he was given a two-week ...

36. Richard M. Sherman

Music_department | Mary Poppins

Richard Morton Sherman was born in the spring of 1928 in New York City to Rosa and Al Sherman. Together with his older brother, Robert B. Sherman, the Sherman brothers would follow in their songwriting father's footsteps to form one of the most prolific, lauded and long lasting songwriting ...

37. Robert B. Sherman

Soundtrack | The Jungle Book

Robert B. Sherman was born just before Christmas in 1925 in New York City. Parents, Rosa & Al Sherman didn't know how they would pay the doctor and delivery costs. Fortunately, upon their arrival home from the hospital, Al discovered a large royalty check in the mail. Ironically, it was Al's song, ...

38. Johnny Mandel

Music_department | MASH

Inducted into the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame in 2009 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame a year later, Johnny Mandel is perhaps best known as the composer of the iconic M*A*S*H (1972) theme song, "Suicide is Painless". Born and raised in Manhattan, he was the son of a garment manufacturer and an opera ...

39. John Barry

Soundtrack | Out of Africa

John Barry was born in York, England in 1933, and was the youngest of three children. His father, Jack, owned several local cinemas and by the age of fourteen, Barry was capable of running the projection box on his own - in particular, The Rialto in York. As he was brought up in a cinematic ...

40. Don Black

Soundtrack | The World Is Not Enough

Don Black was born on June 21, 1938 in London, England, UK. He is a composer and writer, known for The World Is Not Enough (1999), True Grit (1969) and Thunderball (1965). He was previously married to Shirley Berg.

41. Leslie Bricusse

Soundtrack | Doctor Dolittle

Leslie Bricusse was born on January 29, 1931 in Southfields, London, England, UK. He was a writer and composer, known for Doctor Dolittle (1967), Scrooge (1970) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). He was married to Yvonne Romain. He died on October 19, 2021 in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, ...

42. Michel Legrand

Composer | The Thomas Crown Affair

Michel Legrand is a three-time Academy Award-winning French composer, conductor and pianist who composed over 200 film and television scores as well as recorded over a hundred albums of jazz, popular and classical music.

He was born on February 24, 1932, in Becon-les-Bruyeres, in the Paris suburbs, ...

43. Alan Bergman

Soundtrack | Tootsie

Prolific songwriter ("Nice 'n' Easy", "Yellow Bird"), composer and author, educated at UCLA and the University of Northern Carolina (BA). During WW II, he wrote and directed Special Services shows, then directed TV shows for CBS in Philadelphia, PA from 1945-1953. He joined ASCAP in 1955 and wrote ...

44. Marilyn Bergman

Soundtrack | Tootsie

Prolific songwriter ("Nice 'n' Easy", "Yellow Bird"), composer and author Marilyn Bergman wrote several theme songs for television and songs for revues, night clubs, and films. Joining ASCAP in 1953, her chief musical collaborators included her husband Alan Bergman, Lew Spence, Norman Luboff, Paul ...

45. Burt Bacharach

Soundtrack | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Burt Bacharach was a well known and multi award winning singer and song writer.

Over 1,000 different artists have recorded Bacharach's songs. From 1961 to 1972, most of Bacharach and David's hits were written specifically for and performed by Dionne Warwick, but earlier associations (from 1957 to ...

46. Hal David

Soundtrack | My Best Friend's Wedding

Songwriter ("Magic Moments", "Baby Elephant Walk", "What the World Needs Now is Love") and author, educated at New York University. Joining ASCAP in 1943, he collaborated musically with Burt Bacharach, Sherman Edwards, Lee Pockriss, [error], Redd Evans, Don Rodney, John Barry and Henry Mancini. His...

47. Fred Karlin

Composer | Westworld

Fred Karlin was born on June 16, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Fred was a composer and editor, known for Westworld (1973), Licorice Pizza (2021) and Lovers and Other Strangers (1970). Fred was married to Megan Wells-Stagg. Fred died on March 26, 2004 in Culver City, California, USA.

48. Robb Royer

Soundtrack | Lovers and Other Strangers

Robb Royer was born on December 6, 1942 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

49. Jimmy Griffin

Soundtrack | Lovers and Other Strangers

Jimmy Griffin grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and was one of three collaborating songwriters (under the pseudonym Arthur James) of the Academy Award-winning song "For All We Know" which won Best Song from the movie "Lovers and Other Strangers."

Accomplished singer, songwriter and musician, he teamed ...

50. Isaac Hayes

Actor | Escape from New York

Isaac Hayes, the second-born child of Eula and Isaac Hayes Sr., was raised by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Wade Sr. The child of a poor family, he grew up picking cotton in Covington, Tennessee. He dropped out of high school, but later his former high-school teachers to get his diploma, ...

51. Al Kasha

Soundtrack | The Poseidon Adventure

Al Kasha has reached the top of every field that he has lent his talents to: as a writer, producer, composer, motivational speaker and executive working in theatre, film, television, home video, music publishing, and recording.

Kasha is one of those rare artists who, as a composer/lyricist, has had ...

52. Joel Hirschhorn

Soundtrack | The Poseidon Adventure

Joel Hirschhorn shared two Academy Awards for theme songs in "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno," with longtime collaborator Al Kasha. During his long career Hirschhorn's songs sold more than 90 million records, and were featured in more then 20 films and were recorded by various ...

53. Marvin Hamlisch

Composer | The Spy Who Loved Me

Musical talent ran in Marvin Hamlisch's family - his father was an accordionist, and at seven Hamlisch was the youngest student ever accepted by Manhattan's Julliard School of Music. Hamlich furthered his education by taking night classes at Queens College and working during the day as a rehearsal ...

54. Keith Carradine

Actor | Nashville

It seems the second generation of acting Carradines -- David, Keith and Robert -- are proudly continuing the family tradition and begetting a third generation of talent. The dynasty began with veteran Hollywood patriarch John Carradine, the son of a surgeon and a correspondent for the Associated ...

55. Barbra Streisand

Actress | Yentl

Barbra Streisand is an American singer, actress, director and producer and one of the most successful personalities in show business. She is the only person ever to receive all of the following: Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, Cable Ace, National Endowment for the Arts, and Peabody awards,...

56. Paul Williams

Soundtrack | Phantom of the Paradise

Known for timeless classics such as "We've Only Just Begun," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Evergreen," "Just an Old Fashioned Love Song," and "Rainbow Connection," Paul Williams is responsible for what will remain part of our popular culture for many years to come. His music has been recorded by some ...

57. Joseph Brooks

Soundtrack | You Light Up My Life

Joseph Brooks was born on March 11, 1938 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer and director, known for You Light Up My Life (1977), If Ever I See You Again (1978) and Happiness (1998). He was married to Susan Paul. He died on May 22, 2011 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

58. Paul Jabara

Soundtrack | Thank God It's Friday

Paul Jabara was born on January 31, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Thank God It's Friday (1978), Eraser (1996) and All Good Things (2010). He died on September 29, 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

59. David Shire

Music_department | Zodiac

David Shire was born on July 3, 1937 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He is a composer and writer, known for Zodiac (2007), Short Circuit (1986) and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). He has been married to Didi Conn since February 11, 1984. They have one child. He was previously married to Talia...

60. Norman Gimbel

Soundtrack | Happy Days

Norman Gimbel was a native New Yorker who put his teaching degree from Columbia University into his safe and went downtown to pursue a career in songwriting instead. His first job in the music world was as an office boy for a music publisher in the famed Brill Building. There he met composer Larry ...

61. Michael Gore

Composer | Pretty in Pink

Michael Gore was born on March 5, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is a composer and producer, known for Pretty in Pink (1986), Fame (1980) and Footloose (1984).

62. Dean Pitchford

Soundtrack | Fame

Dean Pitchford was born on July 29, 1951 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. He is a composer and writer, known for Fame (1980), Footloose (1984) and Chances Are (1989).

63. Carole Bayer Sager

Soundtrack | The Spy Who Loved Me

Carole Bayer Sager was born on March 8, 1944 in New York City, New York, USA. She is a composer, known for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Arthur (1981) and Junior (1994). She has been married to Robert A. Daly since June 8, 1996. She was previously married to Burt Bacharach and Andrew Sager.

64. Christopher Cross

Soundtrack | Arthur

Singer/songwriter Christopher Cross was born Christopher Charles Geppert on May 3, 1951 in San Antonio, Texas. A self-described Army brat, Christopher's father was a U.S. Army pediatrician who was stationed at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. in the mid-1950s. Cross began his career in the ...

65. Peter Allen

Soundtrack | Arthur

Peter Allen was born on February 10, 1944 in Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor, known for Arthur (1981), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) and Muriel's Wedding (1994). He was married to Liza Minnelli. He died on June 18, 1992 in San Diego, California, USA.

66. Jack Nitzsche

Soundtrack | An Officer and a Gentleman

Jack Nitzsche was born on April 22, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), The Exorcist (1973) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). He was married to Buffy Sainte-Marie and Gracia Ann May. He died on August 25, 2000 in ...

67. Buffy Sainte-Marie

Soundtrack | An Officer and a Gentleman

Buffy Sainte-Marie was born on February 20, 1941 in Stoneham, Massachusetts, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Hotel Artemis (2018).

68. Will Jennings

Soundtrack | Titanic

Will Jennings was born on June 27, 1944 in Kilgore, Texas, USA. He is a composer, known for Titanic (1997), An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and A Beautiful Mind (2001).

69. Giorgio Moroder

Soundtrack | Top Gun

Giorgio Moroder was born on April 26, 1940 in Urtijëi, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. He is a composer and actor, known for Top Gun (1986), Over the Top (1987) and Flashdance (1983).

70. Keith Forsey

Soundtrack | Beverly Hills Cop

Keith Forsey was born on January 22, 1948 in London, England, UK. He is a composer and producer, known for Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) and Flashdance (1983).

71. Irene Cara

Soundtrack | Fame

Actress, singer, songwriter, and producer Irene Cara was destined for a life of accomplishments that millions strive for but very few actually attain. From being able to play the piano by ear at age five to earning an Oscar, multiple Grammys, a Golden Globe, and a People's Choice Award, Irene's ...

72. Stevie Wonder

Soundtrack | Wild Wild West

Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, United States, to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway. Due to being born six weeks premature, Stevie Wonder was born with a condition called retinopathy of prematurity, which made him blind. Stevie Wonder, even with this disability, made his ...

73. Lionel Richie

Soundtrack | The Color Purple

Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and television judge. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of funk band the Commodores; writing and recording the hit singles "Easy", "Sail On", "Three Times a Lady" and "Still",...

74. Tom Whitlock

Soundtrack | Top Gun

Academy Award winner, Tom Whitlock '76, did not have a typical college experience. Student by day, rock n roll artist by night, Whitlock spread out his college career over several decades, allowing him to build a solo career as a songwriter. Whitlock's music has been featured in movies such as ...

75. Franke Previte

Soundtrack | Dirty Dancing

Franke Previte was born on May 2, 1946 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Dirty Dancing (1987), Get Out (2017) and Mystic Pizza (1988).

76. John DeNicola

Soundtrack | Dirty Dancing

John DeNicola is known for Dirty Dancing (1987), Get Out (2017) and Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011).

77. Donald Markowitz

Soundtrack | Dirty Dancing

Donald Markowitz is an American producer/composer best known for co-writing the Academy Award winning song, "I've Had the Time of My Life", from the film "Dirty Dancing". Born and raised in New York City, Markowitz began his career playing bass for Speedo and the Cadillacs and many other well known...

78. Carly Simon

Soundtrack | All Good Things

Carly Simon has an unparalleled career that spans five decades of openhearted storytelling both in song and print. Joining the singer-songwriters of the early 1970s, Simon changed the public's conception of pop music to an honest, sensitive and intelligent craftwork. Simon's biggest success came ...

79. Alan Menken

Soundtrack | Beauty and the Beast

Alan Menken is an American composer, songwriter, music conductor, director and record producer.

Menken is best known for his scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores and songs for The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and ...

80. Howard Ashman

Soundtrack | Beauty and the Beast

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Howard Ashman moved to New York City in 1974 and began writing plays while working as an editor in a publishing house. His work attracted attention and he became WPA Theatre's artist director in 1977. In 1982, Ashman collaborated with composer Alan Menken on the ...

81. Stephen Sondheim

Soundtrack | Dick Tracy

He did his pre college training at George School, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, then was in a class of 50 at Williams College majoring in music as an undergraduate distinguishing himself by writing a book, lyrics and music for two college shows based on the adaption of 'Beggar on Horseback'....

82. Tim Rice

Soundtrack | Aladdin

A prolific lyricist and librettist, Tim Rice was born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, in the fall of 1944. Rice pursued his university education at Lancing College and, briefly, at l'Universite de Paris - Sorbonne. He was considering a legal career around the time that he met Andrew Lloyd Webber in ...

83. Bruce Springsteen

Soundtrack | Blinded by the Light

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen was born September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA. His father, Douglas Frederick Springsteen, worked as a bus driver, and was of Irish and Dutch ancestry. His mother, Adele Ann (Zerilli), worked as a legal secretary, and was of Italian descent. He has an...

84. Elton John

Soundtrack | Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Sir Elton John is one of pop music's great survivors. Born 25 March, 1947, as Reginald Kenneth Dwight, he started to play the piano at the early age of four. At the age of 11, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. His first band was called Bluesology. He later auditioned (...

85. Stephen Schwartz

Soundtrack | The Prince of Egypt

Stephen Schwartz was born on March 6, 1948 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a composer and writer, known for The Prince of Egypt (1998), Pocahontas (1995) and Enchanted (2007). He has been married to Carole Piasecki since July 6, 1969. They have two children.

86. Andrew Lloyd Webber

Soundtrack | The Phantom of the Opera

Andrew Lloyd Webber is arguably the most successful composer of our time. He is best known for stage and film adaptations of his musicals Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Cats (1994), Evita (1996), and The Phantom of the Opera (2004).

He was born on March 22, 1948, in South Kensington in London, ...

87. James Horner

Music_department | Titanic

James Horner began studying piano at the age of five, and trained at the Royal College of Music in London, England, before moving to California in the 1970s. After receiving a bachelor's degree in music at USC, he would go on to earn his master's degree at UCLA and teach music theory there. He ...

88. Phil Collins

Soundtrack | Tarzan

Phil Collins was born in Chiswick, London, England, to Winifred (Strange), a theatrical agent, Greville Philip Austin Collins, an insurance agent. He spent most of his early entertainment life as a young actor and model. He played the "Artful Dodger" in the West End production of "Oliver!" ...

89. Bob Dylan

Soundtrack | Renaldo and Clara

Robert Allen Zimmerman was born 24 May 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota; his father Abe worked for the Standard Oil Co. Six years later the family moved to Hibbing, often the coldest place in the US, where he taught himself piano and guitar and formed several high school rock bands. In 1959 he entered the...

90. Randy Newman

Soundtrack | The Princess and the Frog

Randy Newman is an American film composer and singer who is well-known for composing The Princess and the Frog, Meet the Parents and various Pixar films including the Toy Story, Monsters, Inc and Cars franchises as well as A Bug's Life. He wrote iconic songs such as "Short People", "You've Got A ...

91. Eminem

Soundtrack | 8 Mile

Eminem was born Marshall Bruce Mathers III in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Deborah R. (Nelson) and Marshall Bruce Mathers, Jr., who were in a band together, Daddy Warbucks. He is of English, as well as some German, Scottish, and Swiss-German, ancestry. Marshall spent his early childhood being shoved ...

92. Jeff Bass

Soundtrack | 8 Mile

Jeff Bass is known for 8 Mile (2002), Suicide Squad (2016) and 6 Underground (2019).

93. Luis Resto

Soundtrack | 8 Mile

Luis Resto was born on July 22, 1961 in Michigan, USA. He is a composer and writer, known for 8 Mile (2002), Fast Five (2011) and Venom (2018).

94. Fran Walsh

Writer | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Fran Walsh is a New Zealand writer and wife of New Zealand film director Peter Jackson. She co-wrote The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, which is seen by many as Jackson's magnum opus and one of the most significant film series ever made. She also wrote The Hobbit trilogy, a prequel to Jackson's ...

95. Howard Shore

Music_department | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Howard Shore is a Canadian composer, born in Toronto. He was born in a Jewish family. He started studying music when 8-years-old, and played as a member of bands by the time he was 13-years-old. He was interested in a professional career in music as a teenager. He studied music at the Berklee ...

96. Annie Lennox

Soundtrack | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Annie Lennox was born on December 25, 1954 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK. She is a music artist and actress, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Scrooged (1988) and Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). She has been married to Mitch Besser since September 15, 2012. ...

97. Jorge Drexler

Soundtrack | Diarios de motocicleta

Jorge Drexler was born on September 21, 1964 in Montevideo, Uruguay. He is a composer and actor, known for The Motorcycle Diaries (2004), The Outlaw (2010) and Cándida (2006). He was previously married to Ana Laan.

98. Juicy J

Soundtrack | Hustle & Flow

Juicy J was born on April 5, 1975 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Hustle & Flow (2005), Logan (2017) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014).

99. Cedric Coleman

Soundtrack | Lip Sync Battle

Cedric Coleman is known for Lip Sync Battle (2015), Dig That, Zeebo Newton (2018) and Take Me to the River (2014).

100. D.J. Paul

Soundtrack | Hustle & Flow

From his early Three 6 Mafia days as a Southern rap pioneer, Paul's skills as a DJ, producer, and rapper helped propel the raucous ensemble to multiple RIAA platinum and gold plaques by way of smash hits such as "Tear The Club Up", "Late Night Tip", "Sippin' On Some Syrup" and "Stay Fly".

Three 6 ...