Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1869

Death

:

1944

Genre

:

Choral

 

Thomas John Williams was a renowned classical music composer who was born on February 8, 1932, in New York City, United States. He was the son of Esther and Johnny Williams, who were both musicians. His father was a jazz drummer, and his mother was a pianist. Williams grew up in a musical family, and he started playing the piano at a young age. Williams attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he studied composition with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He also studied piano with Jacob Gimpel and conducting with Robert Craft. After graduating from UCLA, Williams served in the United States Air Force, where he conducted and arranged music for the Air Force Band. In 1956, Williams began his career as a film composer, working for the production company Universal Studios. He composed music for a variety of films, including "Daddy-O," "I Passed for White," and "Because They're Young." In 1960, Williams received his first Academy Award nomination for his score for the film "The Virginian." Williams continued to compose music for films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, working on movies such as "The Poseidon Adventure," "The Towering Inferno," and "Jaws." In 1977, Williams composed the score for "Star Wars," which became one of the most iconic film scores of all time. The score won Williams his first Academy Award for Best Original Score. Williams continued to work on the "Star Wars" franchise, composing the scores for "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi." He also composed the scores for other popular films, including "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Jurassic Park." In addition to his work in film, Williams also composed music for the concert hall. He wrote concertos for a variety of instruments, including the violin, cello, and trumpet. He also composed symphonies, choral works, and chamber music. One of Williams' most famous concert works is his "Theme from Schindler's List," which he composed for the 1993 film of the same name. The piece features a haunting melody played by the violin, and it won Williams his fifth Academy Award. Williams continued to compose music well into his 80s, and he remained one of the most respected and beloved composers of his generation. He won a total of five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and 24 Grammy Awards throughout his career. Williams' music has had a profound impact on the world of classical music and film. His scores for films like "Star Wars" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" have become cultural touchstones, and his concert works continue to be performed by orchestras around the world. Williams passed away on February 10, 2022, at the age of 90. His legacy as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century will continue to live on through his music.

More....