# Randy Edelman

Randy Edelman (born June 10, 1947) is an American musician, producer, and composer for film and television. He began his career as a member of Broadway's pit orchestras; he later produced solo albums for songs that were picked up by leading music performers including The Carpenters, Barry Manilow, and Dionne Warwick. He is known for his work in comedy films. He has been awarded many prestigious awards along with two nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and twelve BMI Awards. Edelman was given an honorary doctorate in fine arts by the University of Cincinnati in 2004.
Some of Edelman's best known films scores include Twins, Ghostbusters II, Kindergarten Cop, Drop Dead Fred, Beethoven, The Distinguished Gentleman, Gettysburg, Angels in the Outfield, The Mask, Pontiac Moon, The Indian in the Cupboard, The Quest, Dragonheart, Daylight, and XXX. He also wrote the theme of the popular television series MacGyver. Many of his musical pieces have been reused in television advertising, trailers, Disney movies, and award shows.

## Life and career

Edelman was born on 10 June 1947 in Paterson, New Jersey, to a Jewish family. He was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, the son of a first-grade teacher and an accountant, and graduated from Teaneck High School in 1965. He attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music before heading to New York where he played piano in Broadway pit orchestras. He produced several solo albums of songs, some of which were later recorded by The Carpenters ("I Can't Make Music", "Piano Picker" and "You"), Barry Manilow ("Weekend in New England"), "If Love Is Real" from Olivia Newton-John's Making a Good Thing Better, Dionne Warwick ("The Laughter and the Tears"), Blood, Sweat & Tears ("Blue Street") and many others before moving to Los Angeles. Edelman started to work there in television and film scoring, while producing his solo albums which found a cult following in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Japan.

### Musical scores

One of his first film scores was for the 1973 film Executive Action, which put forward a conspiracy theory concerning the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963. In 1977 Edelman contributed the orchestral piece 'Grey' to the multi-composer suite Colours, put together and conducted by Vic Lewis. In the mid-1980s, Edelman wrote the theme to and scored many episodes of MacGyver, a popular television series starring Richard Dean Anderson.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, he also collaborated with Ivan Reitman, producing scores for several of his comedies, including Drop Dead Fred, Ghostbusters II, Pontiac Moon, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop. He also contributed to Beethoven; The Last of the Mohicans; The Distinguished Gentleman; The Mask; The Quest; Daylight; Anaconda; XXX; Gettysburg; My Cousin Vinny; While You Were Sleeping; Dragonheart; Shanghai Noon; Six Days, Seven Nights; The Indian in the Cupboard; Billy Madison; Angels in the Outfield; and EDtv to name a few.
Edelman was honored with the Richard Kirk Award at the 2003 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music. In 2004, he received an honorary doctorate in fine arts from the University of Cincinnati. He and three other honorees distinguished in other fields, including Coretta Scott King were given the degree.
He produced the scores for the 2008 film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. This score was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, where in 2010 Edelman also recorded and composed the Irish flavored music score for Amy Adams's film Leap Year. He was awarded the Goldspirit Award (named in honor of Jerry Goldsmith) for best comedy score of 2011 for the Leap Year soundtrack CD on Varèse Sarabande.

### Scores reused elsewhere

While some of the films scored by Edelman were not commercial successes, the music was often reused elsewhere. Themes he wrote for Kindergarten Cop (in particular Rain Ride), Dragonheart, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (including the film's love theme Bruce and Linda), Gettysburg, and other films have been widely used in television advertising, film trailers, Disney movies including Mulan, and during the Academy Awards. Themes from his score for Come See the Paradise have been used in film trailers more than cues from any other film soundtrack.

### NBC Sports

His music from The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. is featured during NBC's Olympic Games coverage when upcoming events are being announced. In addition it was used during NBC's coverage of the 1997 World Series. At the end of the 1996 Summer Olympics, NBC used the closing music of Gettysburg. In the 1990s, Edelman composed the popular theme music for NBC's NFL telecasts which was used for the 1995–97 seasons through Super Bowl XXXII.

### Personal life

Edelman has been married to singer Jackie DeShannon since June 3, 1976. DeShannon is known for 1960s hits including "When You Walk in the Room", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" and "What the World Needs Now Is Love". DeShannon had a few months' long, annulled first marriage. She and Edelman have a son, Noah D. Edelman.

## Musical discography (as artist and songwriter)
### Solo albums

* Randy Edelman – MGM Records, 1972 (LP)
* The Laughter and the Tears – MGM Records, 1972 (LP)
* Outside In - MGM Records, 1972 (LP)
* Prime Cuts – 20th Century Records, 1974 (LP and CD) (No. 95 AUS)
* Farewell Fairbanks – 20th Century Records, 1975 (LP and CD) (No. 54 AUS)
* If Love Is Real – Arista Records, 1977 (LP and CD)
* You're the One – Arista Records, 1979 (LP and CD)
* 'Up-Town Up-Tempo: The Best of Randy Edelman – 20th Century Records, 1979 (LP)
* On Time – Rocket Records, 1982 (LP)
* Randy Edelman and His Piano – PRT Records, 1984 (LP and CD)
* Switch of the Seasons – PRT Records (Polar), 1985 (LP)
* Up-Town Up-Tempo Woman (compilation album) – Warwick Reflection Records, 1987 (CD)
* And His Piano ... The Very Best of Randy Edelman – Revola/Cherry Red Records, 2003 (CD)
* The Pacific Flow to Abbey Road – Cherry Red (UK) / Varèse Sarabande (US), 2011 (CD)

### Charted solo singles

* "Everybody Wants to Find a Bluebird" (March 1975) – US No. 92, US AC No. 18
* "Concrete and Clay" (March 1976) – US AC No. 11, AUS No. 79, UK No. 11 (cover of the Unit 4 + 2 hit song)
* "Uptown Uptempo Woman" (September 1976) – UK No. 25
* "You" (January 1977) – UK No. 49
* "Can't It All Be Love" (November 1977) – CAN (RPM) No. 99
* "Nobody Made Me" (July 1982) – UK No. 60

### Artists who have covered Edelman's songs (both music and lyrics)

(this is a partial list)
* Barry Manilow – "Weekend in New England" (No. 10, US)
* The Carpenters – "I Can't Make Music", "You", "Piano Picker"
* Labelle – "Isn't it a Shame"
* Olivia Newton-John – "If Love Is Real"
* Nelly – "My Place"
* Dionne Warwick – "You Are the Sunlight, I Am the Moon", "The Laughter and the Tears", "Give a Little Laughter"
* Blood Sweat and Tears – "Blue Street"
* Jackie DeShannon – "Sunny Days", "Let the Sailors Dance"
* Agnetha Fältskog – "Turn the World Around"
* The Fifth Dimension – "Everybody Wants to Call You Sweetheart"
* Kool and the Gang – "Amore Amore"
* Bing Crosby – "The Woman on Your Arm"
* Shirley Bassey – "Isn't It a Shame"
* Nancy Wilson – "The Laughter and the Tears"
* Rosemary Clooney – "You"
* Petula Clark – "Make a Time for Lovin'"

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Director | Studio(s) | Notes |
| 1972 | Outside In | Allen Baron G. D. Spradin | | |
| 1973 | Snatched | Sutton Roley | ABC Circle Films | Television film |
| 1973 | Executive Action | David Miller | National General Pictures | |
| 1973 | Blood Sport | Jerrold Freedman | Danny Thomas Productions | Television movie |
| 1983 | When Your Lover Leaves | Jeff Bleckner | Fair Dinkum, Inc. Major H Productions NBC Productions | Television film |
| 1984 | A Doctor's Story | Peter Levin | Embassy Television | Television film |
| 1985 | Scandal Sheet | David Lowell Rich | ABC | Television film |
| 1985 | Molly and the Skywalkerz: Happily Ever After | Bill Melendez | | Television film |
| 1987 | The Chipmunk Adventure | Janice Karman | Bagdasarian Productions The Samuel Goldwyn Company | |
| 1987 | Dennis the Menace | Doug Rogers | | Television film |
| 1988 | Feds | Daniel Goldberg | Warner Bros. | |
| 1988 | Twins | Ivan Reitman | Universal Pictures | with Georges Delerue |
| 1989 | Troop Beverly Hills | Jeff Kanew | Weintraub Entertainment Group Columbia Pictures | |
| 1989 | Ghostbusters II | Ivan Reitman | Columbia Pictures | |
| 1990 | Quick Change | Howard Franklin Bill Murray | Warner Bros. | |
| 1990 | Come See the Paradise | Alan Parker | 20th Century Fox | |
| 1990 | Kindergarten Cop | Ivan Reitman | Imagine Entertainment Universal Pictures | |
| 1991 | Drop Dead Fred | Ate de Jong | Working Title Films New Line Cinema (US) PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (International; original release) Universal Pictures (International; current rights) | |
| 1991 | V.I. Warshawski | Jeff Kanew | Hollywood Pictures | |
| 1991 | Eyes of an Angel | Robert Harmon | LIVE Entertainment | |
| 1991 | Shout | Jeffrey Hornaday | Universal Pictures | |
| 1992 | My Cousin Vinny | Jonathan Lynn | 20th Century Fox | |
| 1992 | Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story | Harry Winer | | Television film |
| 1992 | Beethoven | Brian Levant | Universal Pictures | |
| 1992 | The Last of the Mohicans | Michael Mann | Morgan Creek Productions 20th Century Fox (US & Canada) Warner Bros. (International) | with Trevor Jones |
| 1992 | The Distinguished Gentleman | Jonathan Lynn | Hollywood Pictures | |
| 1993 | Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story | Rob Cohen | Universal Pictures | |
| 1993 | Gettysburg | Ronald F. Maxwell | Turner Pictures New Line Cinema | |
| 1993 | Beethoven's 2nd | Rod Daniel | Northern Lights Entertainment Universal Pictures | |
| 1994 | Greedy | Jonathan Lynn | Imagine Entertainment Universal Pictures | |
| 1994 | Angels in the Outfield | William Dear | Caravan Pictures Walt Disney Pictures | |
| 1994 | The Mask | Chuck Russell | Dark Horse Entertainment New Line Cinema | |
| 1994 | Pontiac Moon | Peter Medak | Paramount Pictures | |
| 1995 | Billy Madison | Tamra Davis | Universal Pictures | |
| 1995 | Citizen X | Chris Gerolmo | HBO | Television film |
| 1995 | Tall Tale | Jeremiah S. Chechik | Caravan Pictures Walt Disney Pictures | |
| 1995 | While You Were Sleeping | Jon Turteltaub | Caravan Pictures Hollywood Pictures | |
| 1995 | The Indian in the Cupboard | Frank Oz | The Kennedy/Marshall Company Scholastic Paramount Pictures (US theatrical; International video release) Columbia Pictures (US video release; International theatrical) | |
| 1995 | The Big Green | Holly Goldberg Sloan | Caravan Pictures Walt Disney Pictures | |
| 1996 | Down Periscope | David S. Ward | 20th Century Fox | |
| 1996 | Diabolique | Jeremiah S. Chechik | Morgan Creek Productions Warner Bros. | |
| 1996 | The Quest | Jean-Claude Van Damme | Universal Pictures | |
| 1996 | Dragonheart | Rob Cohen | Universal Pictures |
| 1996 | Daylight | Rob Cohen | Davis Entertainment Universal Pictures |
| 1997 | Anaconda | Luis Llosa | Columbia Pictures | |
| 1997 | Gone Fishin' | Christopher Cain | Caravan Pictures Hollywood Pictures | |
| 1997 | Leave It to Beaver | Andy Cadiff | Universal Pictures | |
| 1997 | For Richer or Poorer | Bryan Spicer | The Bubble Factory Universal Pictures | |
| 1998 | Six Days, Seven Nights | Ivan Reitman | Northern Lights Entertainment Caravan Pictures Touchstone Pictures | |
| 1999 | EDtv | Ron Howard | Imagine Entertainment Universal Pictures | |
| 1999 | The Hunley | John Gray | Turner Television Network | Television film |
| 2000 | Passion of Mind | Alan Berliner | Paramount Classics | |
| 2000 | The Whole Nine Yards | Jonathan Lynn | Morgan Creek Productions Franchise Pictures Warner Bros. | |
| 2000 | The Skulls | Rob Cohen | Original Film Universal Pictures | |
| 2000 | Shanghai Noon | Tom Dey | Spyglass Entertainment Touchstone Pictures | |
| 2001 | Head over Heels | Mark Waters | Universal Pictures | |
| 2001 | China: The Panda Adventure | Robert M. Young | Trane Pictures | |
| 2001 | Osmosis Jones | Farrelly brothers | Warner Bros. Feature Animation Warner Bros. | |
| 2001 | Who Is Cletis Tout? | Chris Ver Wiel | Fireworks Entertainment Seven Arts Productions Paramount Classics | |
| 2001 | Corky Romano | Rob Pritts | Touchstone Pictures | |
| 2001 | Black Knight | Gil Junger | The Firm, Inc. Regency Enterprises 20th Century Fox | |
| 2002 | A Season on the Brink | Robert Mandel | ESPN Films | |
| 2002 | Frank McKlusky, C.I. | Arlene Sanford | Touchstone Pictures | |
| 2002 | Insomnia | Christopher Nolan | Alcon Entertainment Witt/Thomas Productions Section Eight Productions Warner Bros. | with David Julyan |
| 2002 | XXX | Rob Cohen | Revolution Studios Original Film Columbia Pictures | |
| 2003 | National Security | Dennis Dugan | Columbia Pictures | |
| 2003 | Shanghai Knights | David Dobkin | Spyglass Entertainment Touchstone Pictures | |
| 2003 | Gods and Generals | Ronald F. Maxwell | Ted Turner Pictures Warner Bros. | with John Frizzell |
| 2004 | Connie and Carla | Michael Lembeck | Spyglass Entertainment Universal Pictures | |
| 2004 | Surviving Christmas | Mike Mitchell | DreamWorks Pictures | |
| 2005 | Son of the Mask | Lawrence Guterman | Dark Horse Entertainment New Line Cinema | |
| 2006 | The Last Time | Michael Caleo | No distributor | |
| 2007 | Underdog | Frederik Du Chau | Spyglass Entertainment Walt Disney Pictures | |
| 2007 | Balls of Fury | Robert Ben Garant | Spyglass Entertainment Rogue Pictures | |
| 2008 | 27 Dresses | Anne Fletcher | Dune Entertainment Spyglass Entertainment 20th Century Fox | |
| 2008 | The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor | Rob Cohen | Relativity Media Universal Pictures | |
| 2010 | Leap Year | Anand Tucker | Spyglass Entertainment Universal Pictures | |
| 2011 | The Greening of Whitney Brown | Peter Skillman Odiorne | ARC Entertainment | |
| 2015 | The Boy Next Door | Rob Cohen | Blumhouse Productions Nuyorican Productions Universal Pictures | With Nathan Barr Additional Music By Lisbeth Scott |
| 2015 | Leaves of the Tree | Ante Novakovic | | |
| 2016 | Back in the Day | Paul Borghese | Tappan Films | |
| 2017 | Max 2: White House Hero | Brian Levant | Warner Bros. | |
| 2019 | Backdraft 2 | Gonzalo López-Gallego | Universal 1440 Entertainment | Video |
| 2019 | Love in Kilnery | Daniel Keith | Archway Pictures | |
| 2021 | Skelly | Matt Greene-Delanghe | Walk Like a Duck Entertainment | |
| 2023 | A Look in the Rear View | Gregg Harris | That Don't Fly | |
| 2024 | Heartstrings | Ate de Jong | Mulholland Films | |
| 2024 | The Beast Inside | Jim Towns | Uncorked Ent. | |
| 2025 | Love Me Dead | Josh Webber | GVN Distribution | |
| 2025 | Dog Patrol | Josh Webber | Webber Films | |
| 2025 | Naya...Legend of the Golden Dolphin 3D | Jonathon Kay | Magic Factory Prod. | |
| 2025 | Too Hot to Handle - Ghostbusters 2 Doc | Anthony Bueno | Cineverse Distribution | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1983 | Ryan's Four | 6 episodes |
| 1984 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | episode: All the Kids Do It |
| 1985–87 | MacGyver | seasons 1–2 |
| 1986 | Mr. Sunshine | episode: Pilot |
| 1988 | ABC Afterschool Special | episode: A Family Again |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. | episode: Pilot |
| 2006 | The Ten Commandments | miniseries |

## Awards, milestones and announcements

Platinum and gold Records
Barry Manilow Greatest Hits, Live,
This One's for You
* The Carpenters: "A Song for You", Now And Then, and A Kind of Hush
* Olivia Newton-John: Making A Good Thing Better
* Nelly: Suit
* Now 17: "My Place"
* Last of the Mohicans (soundtrack)
Saturn Awards
* "Dragonheart" nominated by Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (Saturn Award for Best Music)
International Film Music Critics Association Nomination
* "Ten Commandments": Nominated by the IFMCA (International Film Music Critics Association) for
Best Original Score for Television for ABC's mini-series
Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts
* University of Cincinnati: Recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
* Recipient of BMI's highest honor, the Richard Kirk Lifetime Achievement Award
* Top Grossing Film Award: 27 Dresses
* Top Grossing Film Award: The Mask
* Top Grossing Film Award: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
* Top Grossing Film Award: The Last of the Mohicans
* Top Grossing Film Award: XXX
* Top Grossing Film Award: Kindergarten Cop
* Top Grossing Film Award: Six Days Seven Nights
* Top Grossing Film Award: Ghostbusters II
* Top Grossing Film Award: Anaconda
* Top Grossing Film Award: Twins
* Top Grossing Film Award: While You Were Sleeping
* Top TV Series Award: MacGyver
* Spotlight Award: Awarded for two decades of NBC's Randy Edelman Olympic Theme
Emmy Awards
* Winner: "Atlanta Olympics NBC Broadcast" Emmy Award
Golden Globes Award
* Nominated: Last of the Mohicans ( Best Original Score - Motion Picture)
British Academy of Film and Television Awards Nomination
* Last of the Mohicans: Nominated (Best Original Film Score) BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
Kautz Alumni Masters Awards
* University of Cincinnati: Kautz Alumni Masters Award for Outstanding Alumnus
Goldspirit Awards
* Leap Year (film): Named in honor of Jerry Goldsmith as Best Comedy Score
Long Island International Film Expo
* Lifetime Achievement Award: In Film Scoring and Composition
* 2018 Composer and Lyricist Guild
* Lifetime Achievement Award L.A.

### LA Film Awards

* Love in Kilnery: Best Score, 2019

### New England Music Hall of Fame

* Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023

### New York Get Out Magazine

* Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023

### NYR Metropolitan Club

* Career Bridge Lifetime Achievement Award, 2024

### Grand Ole Opry, Nashville

* Josie Songwriter Legend Award, 2024

### Broadway World Magazine

* Best Producer for album Waltzing on a High Wire, 2025