The musician John Barry died yesterday of a heart attack. The composer’s career spanned fifty years during which time he won numerous awards for his work. Barry was accredited academy awards for the scores of Born Free, Lion in Winter, Out of Africa and Dancing With Wolves.
The York born artist studied at St Peter’s School and took composition lessons from the organ minister of York Minster. He trained as a classical pianist but also learned to play the trumpet. Barry later studied under Jazz musician Bill Russo and the jazz influences are prominent in his scores.
It was during his National Service that Barry began performing. His big break came working with Adam Faith as he arranged scores and songs for Faith. The music of the 1960s film Beat Girl was the first score which Barry both composed and conducted. He went on to form the band The John Barry Seven and their hits included the theme for Juke Box Jury.
Barry was employed by EMI between 1959 and 1962 but he transferred to Ember records in 1962. In 1971 Barry wrote the theme for the Persuaders using Moog Synthesizers.
In 1988 Barry suffered a ruptured oesophagus which put him out of work for two years.
The composer was unsuccessfully married four times.
- Barbara Pickard 1959-63
- Jane Birkin 1965-1968
- Jane Sidney 1969 – 1971
He had four children.
The Dr No dispute
James Bond producers were unhappy with the music written for Dr. No and so they asked John Barry to work on the score which was originally written by Monty Norman. Norman went on to take all the credit for the film score and in 2001 the case went to court.
Norman received all the credit because he was the person contracted to write the score, whereas Barry was seen as the ‘ghost writer’.
Barry worked on 11 of the James bond tunes, collaborating with artists such as Duran Duran and A-ha.
The composer’s contributions will no double be sadly missed as, although he did not always take credit, many musicians regarded him as a mentor.
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