Michael Kamen

Michael Kamen (April 15, 1948 - November 18, 2003) was an American composer (especially of film scores), orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician.

Related Topics:
April 15 - 1948 - November 18 - 2003 - American - Composer - Film - Scores

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kamen was born in New York City, USA and studied at The New York High School of Music & Art, then Juilliard's School for Music Dance and Drama in New York, where he learned to play the oboe.

Related Topics:
New York City - USA - Juilliard's School for Music Dance and Drama - Oboe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He founded the New York Rock & Roll Ensemble in the late 1960s, which played classical-rock music presaging bands such as Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Kamen played oboe and keyboards as well as composing. One of his songs Sing Lady Sing, was renamed Them Changes and parlayed into a hit by Buddy Miles.

Related Topics:
New York Rock & Roll Ensemble - Buddy Miles

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He worked briefly with Leonard Bernstein, when his rock ensemble appeared at one of Bernstein's concerts for young people.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His successes include his work with Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Roger Waters (he is one of the few people to have been invited to work with both former Pink Floyd members, after their acrimonious split), Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Eurythmics, Metallica, Queen, Herbie Hancock, Bryan Adams and Sting.

Related Topics:
Pink Floyd - David Gilmour - Roger Waters - Eric Clapton - David Bowie - Eurythmics - Metallica - Queen - Herbie Hancock - Bryan Adams - Sting

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kamen wrote eleven ballets, and provided scores for the films Brazil, Highlander, X-Men, ', Licence to Kill and the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard series, plus many others. He also composed scores for both the From the Earth to the Moon and Band of Brothers series. He was nominated for two Academy Awards and won three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, two Ivor Novello Awards, an Annie and an Emmy. In television, his best known work was on the 1985 BBC Television serial Edge of Darkness, on which he collaborated with Eric Clapton to write the score. The pair were awarded with a BAFTA Award for Best Original TV Music for their work.

Related Topics:
Brazil - Highlander - X-Men - Licence to Kill - Lethal Weapon - Die Hard - Band of Brothers - Academy Award - Grammy Award - Golden Globe - Ivor Novello Award - Emmy - Television - 1985 - BBC Television - Edge of Darkness - Eric Clapton - BAFTA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1990 he joined many other guests for Roger Waters' massive performance of The Wall in Berlin.

Related Topics:
1990 - The Wall - Berlin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kamen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997, but died, reportedly, from a heart attack.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was survived by his wife, Sandra Keenan-Kamen and daughters Sasha and Zoe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~