Biography of
James Horner
b. 14 August 1953, Los Angeles, California, USA. A prolific composer, arranger and conductor for films from the late 70s through to the new millennium, Horner studied at the Royal College Of Music in London, at USC Los Angeles, and UCLA. In the late 70s he worked on several films for Roger Corman’s New World production company, including Up From The Depths, The Lady In Red, Battle Beyond The Stars and Humanoids From The Deep; reminders of Corman’s Z Grade movies of the 50s. During the 80s he scored some 35 feature films, mainly with recurring themes of grisly tales of horror, violence, science-fiction, fantasy, and sinister drama. These included Wolfen, Deadly Blessing, The Hand, Star Trek: The Wrath Of Khan (in which he also made an uncredited screen appearance), 48 Hrs. , Krull, Brainstorm; Testament; Gorky Park, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock, Cocoon, Commando, The Name Of The Rose, Project X, *Batteries Not Included, Willow, Red Heat, Cocoon: The Return and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. In 1986 Horner was nominated for an Academy Award for his Aliens score, and for the song ‘Somewhere Out There’ (written with Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil), for the animated feature An American Tail. Both compositions gained ASCAP Awards. Horner was nominated again for an Oscar in 1989 for his music for another fantasy, Field Of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner, and, in the same year, won a Grammy for his score to Glory.
Horner’s 90s feature film credits included My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, The Rocketeer, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, Thunderheart, Patriot Games, Unlawful Entry, Sneakers, Swing Kids, A Far Off Place, Jack The Bear, Once Upon A Forest, House Of Cards, The Man Without A Face, The Pelican Brief, Clear And Present Danger, Legends Of The Fall, Braveheart, Casper, Apollo 13, Jumanji, Ransom, Deep Impact, The Mask Of Zorro, and Bicentennial Man. In 1998, he won two Oscars for his work on Titanic, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Song for ‘My Heart Will Go On’ (lyric: Will Jennings). The latter number, which was a worldwide smash hit for Celine Dion, dominated the 1999 Grammy Awards.
Horner maintained his busy schedule in the new millennium with credits for The Perfect Storm, Enemy At The Gates, A Beautiful Mind, Iris, Windtalkers, House Of Sand And Fog, and Troy. He has also worked in television, composing music for such as Angel Dusted, A Few Days In Weasel Creek, Rascals And Robbers - The Secret Adventures Of Tom Sawyer And Huck Finn, A Piano For Mrs Cimino, Between Friends and Surviving.