Michael Kamen

Michael Arnold Kamen (April 15, 1948 – November 18, 2003) was an American composer (especially of film scores), orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Michael Arnold Kamen was born in New York City, the second of four sons. His father, Saul Kamen, was a dentist, and his mother, Helen, was a teacher.
While attending the The High School of Music & Art in New York City, Michael Kamen became friends with Martin Fulterman (later known as Mark Snow, who composed the theme music for The X-Files among other projects). While studying the oboe, he formed a rock-classical fusion band called New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, together with classmates Fulterman and Dorian Rudnytsky. The group performed in tuxedos. In the middle of the concert, Fulterman and Kamen would play an oboe duet. The group backed up friend and classmate Janis Ian in a concert at Alice Tully Hall in late 1967.
After graduating from high school, Kamen attended The Juilliard School, in New York City.
Kamen's early work concentrated on ballets, before extending to Hollywood with the score for The Next Man in 1976, and then to pop and rock arranging, collaborating with Pink Floyd on their album, The Wall.
===Career in popular music===
Kamen became a highly-sought arranger in the realms of pop and rock music. His contemporaries in this field included Academy Award winner Anne Dudley, Richard Niles, and Nick Ingman. His successes include his work with Pink Floyd, David Gilmour and 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), as well as Queen (orchestration on Who Wants To Live Forever), Eric Clapton (on Edge of Darkness), Roger Daltrey, Aerosmith (live orchestral version of Dream On for MTV), Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Eurythmics, Queensrÿche, Rush, Metallica (on the song "Nothing Else Matters" and their live album, S&M), Def Leppard, Herbie Hancock, Tim Curry, The Cranberries, Bryan Adams, Jim Croce, Coldplay, Sting, and Kate Bush. For Bush, Kamen delivered an orchestral backing for "Moments of Pleasure" from The Red Shoes album, substantially building upon a simple piano theme Bush had composed. In this instance, and many others, he conducted the orchestra personally for the recording. In 1984, Kamen had similarly heightened the effect of a pop recording for the Eurythmics "Here Comes the Rain Again", that score relying as much on his compositional skills as his arranging talents.
In 1990, Kamen joined many other guests for Roger Waters' performance of The Wall in Berlin, and lead the National Philharmonic Orchestra during the 24 Nights sessions with Eric Clapton the following year.
Lenny Kravitz recorded a cover of "Fields of Joy" on his 1991 CD Mama Said that Michael had co-written with Hal Fredricks.
In 2002, Kamen took part in the Concert for George as strings conductor.
Kamen had a successful partnership with Bryan Adams and R.J. Lange composing scores and songs. The ballad "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" for the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was the number one song of that year worldwide. Other songs were "All For Love" for the movie "The Three Musketeers" in 1993, and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" the song from the film "Don Juan DeMarco," in 1995.
===Film and television career===
Kamen wrote eleven ballets, a saxophone concerto and an electric guitar concerto (with Japanese guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei as a soloist). Additionally, he wrote a commissioned work, "Quintet," for the Canadian Brass. He also provided scores for the films such as The Dead Zone, For Queen and Country, Polyester, Brazil, Someone To Watch Over Me, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Three Musketeers, Highlander, X-Men, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Licence to Kill, the Lethal Weapon series, the first three films of the Die Hard series, Mr. Holland's Opus, The Iron Giant, Splitting Heirs, Frequency, and many others. To this day the overture from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is used by Morgan Creek Productions for its logo, and also by the Walt Disney Company on their opening DVD promos, while New Line's corresponding theme is the opening segment of a track from Highlander. He also scored both the From the Earth to the Moon and Band of Brothers series on HBO. The trailer for the 2008 Disney/Pixar release WALL-E featured Kamen's "Central Services / The Office" from his score to Brazil (1985).
In television, Kamen composed music for two series of The Manageress produced by Glenn Wilhide at Zed Productions for Channel 4, but perhaps 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 British Academy Television Award for Best Original Television Music for their work and performed the main movie theme with the National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall of London in 1990 and 1991. In 1994, Kamen conducted an orchestration of The Who's music for Roger Daltrey's 50th birthday concert series entitled Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who which was subsequently released on CD and DVD. He also worked with heavy metal band Metallica, on a two-day concert that was held in Berkeley, California, with the San Francisco Symphony. A recording of the concert, titled S&M, debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, won a Grammy for the "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" in 2000 and went multi-platinum in 2001.
Kamen was nominated for two Academy Awards and won three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, two Ivor Novello Awards, an Annie Award and an Emmy.
===Later years===
His involvement with Mr. Holland's Opus, a film about a frustrated composer who finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher, led Kamen to create The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation in 1996. The foundation supports music education through the donation of new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved school and community music programs and individual students in the United States. In 2005 the foundation created an emergency fund for schools and students affected by Hurricane Katrina.
In 1999, Kamen and the San Francisco Symphony constructed and performed a concert with thrash metal band Metallica.Custodis, Michael. chapters "Film Music in Concert: Metallica mit Michael Kamen" and "Moment of Glory - The Scorpions und die Berliner Philharmoniker", in: Klassische Musik heute. Eine Spurensuche in der Rockmusik, Bielefeld transcript-Verlag 2009. ISBN 978-3-8376-1249-3 This concert was released as a live album on DVD, VHS and CD, under the title S&M (an acronym for "Symphony and Metallica"). In 2001 and 2002, Kamen performed with David Gilmour at Gilmour's semi-unplugged shows at the Royal Festival Hall, playing piano and cor anglais. The 2001 concert and highlights from 2002 were released as a DVD as David Gilmour in Concert.
In 2002, Kamen, along with Julian Lloyd Webber, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Sir James Galway launched the Music Education Consortium in the UK. The consortium's efforts led to the injection of £332 million for music education in the UK. He was also commissioned to write a piece for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. 
Kamen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. He died in London from a heart attack in 2003, at the age of 55. His last recorded work appeared on Bryan Adams's album Room Service where he played the oboe and wrote the orchestration to "I Was Only Dreamin'". Kamen had also completed the charts for accompaniment to two songs on Kate Bush's album Aerial, which was released in April 2005. 
In 2004, when Annie Lennox accepted the Academy Award for Best Original Song (her composition "Into the West" from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), she dedicated her achievement to the memory of Kamen.
The 2004 films First Daughter and Boo, Zino & the Snurks (also known as Back to Gaya), which he was working on at the time of his death, were dedicated to his memory.
David Gilmour's 2006 album On an Island was dedicated in his and longtime Pink Floyd manager Steve O'Rourke's memories.
==Death==
Michael Kamen died on November 18, 2003 of a presumed heart attack at his home in London. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Keenan-Kamen, and by his daughters, Sasha and Zoe. His memorial service was held on January 13, 2004 at the Darryl F. Zanuck Theatre on 20th Century Fox's backlot in Century City, California.http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/2004/011604.html?isArchive=011604
==Film scores==
Year	Title 	Director 	Studio(s) 	Notes
1976	The Next Man 	Richard C. Sarafian 	Allied Artists Pictures Corporation 	
1977	Stunts 	Mark L. Lester 	New Line Cinema 	
1980	S*H*E 	Robert Michael Lewis 	A.E.C. Filmproduktions 	
1981	Venom 	Piers Haggard 	Paramount Pictures 	
1982	Pink Floyd – The Wall 	Alan ParkerGerald Scarfe 	Goldcrest Film InternationalMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer 	Collaboration with Pink Floyd and Bob Ezrin.
1983	The Dead Zone 	David Cronenberg 	Lorimar Film EntertainmentParamount Pictures (US/Canada) De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (International) 	Soundtrack released by Milan Records.
1985	Brazil 	Terry Gilliam 	Embassy PicturesColumbia Pictures 	Performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra.Soundtrack released by Milan Records.
1985	Lifeforce 	Tobe Hooper 	Cannon FilmsTriStar Pictures 	Additionnal music only; Majority of score by Henry Mancini.Expanded score released by BSX Records.
1985	Edge of Darkness 	Martin Campbell 	BBC 	TV miniseries.Composed with Eric Clapton.Won a BAFTA Award for Best Original Television Score.
1986	Highlander 	Russell Mulcahy 	Cannon Films20th Century Fox (US)Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment (International) 	Performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra.Most songs of the movie are in the Queen album A Kind of Magic. To date, no official soundtrack was released. However, bootleg releases of the score exist and some cues are included in the Highlander: The Scores compilation.
1986	Mona Lisa 	Neil Jordan 	HandMade FilmsIsland Pictures 	Soundtrack released by Columbia Music.
1986	Amazing Stories 	various 	Amblin EntertainmentUniversal Television 	TV Series.Episode « Mirror, Mirror » only.
1987	Lethal Weapon 	Richard Donner 	Silver PicturesWarner Bros. 	Composed with Eric Clapton and David Sanborn.Soundtrack released by Warner Bros. Records.
1987	Adventures in Babysitting 	Chris Columbus 	Touchstone PicturesSilver Screen Patterns III 	
1987	Suspect 	Peter Yates 	TriStar Pictures 	Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.
1987	Someone to Watch Over Me 	Ridley Scott 	Columbia Pictures 	
1988	Die Hard 	John McTiernan 	Silver PicturesGordon Company20th Century Fox 	Performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony.Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande in 2002.
1988	The Raggedy Rawney 	Bob Hoskins 	HandMade FilmsVirgin 	Soundtrack released by Silva Screen.
1988	The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 	Terry Gilliam 	Allied FilmmakersColumbia Pictures 	Soundtrack released by Warner Bros. Records
1989	Renegades 	Jack Sholder 	Morgan Creek ProductionsInterscope CommunicationsUniversal Pictures 	Soundtrack released by Intrada Records.
1989	Licence to Kill 	John Glen 	Eon ProductionsMetro-Goldwyn-MayerUnited Artists 	Performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra.Soundtrack released by MCA Records
1989	Road House 	Rowdy Herrington 	Silver PicturesUnited Artists 	Soundtrack released by Intrada Records.
1989	Lethal Weapon 2 	Richard Donner 	Silver PicturesWarner Bros. 	Composed with Eric Clapton and David Sanborn.Soundtrack released by Warner Bros. Records.
1990	Cold Dog Soup 	Alan Matter 	HandMade FilmsAnchor Bay Entertainment 	
1990	Die Hard 2 	Renny Harlin 	Silver PicturesGordon Company20th Century Fox 	Performed by the Los Angeles Motion Picture All-Stars Orchestra.Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.
1990	The Krays 	Peter Medak 	Parkfield EntertainmentRank Film Distributors 	Soundtrack released by Parkfield Music.
1991	Nothing but Trouble 	Dan Aykroyd 	Warner Bros. 	
1991	Hudson Hawk 	Michael Lehmann 	Silver PicturesTriStar Pictures 	Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.
1991	Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 	Kevin Reynolds 	Morgan Creek ProductionsWarner Bros. 	The score was orchestrated by a record-breaking total of 13 people.Soundtrack released by Polydor Records.Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original ScoreThe song « (Everything I Do) I Do It For You » was also nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
1991	Company Business 	Nicholas Meyer 	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 	Soundtrack released by Intrada Records.
1991	Let Him Have It 	Peter Medak 	British Screen Productions 	Soundtrack released by Virgin Records.
1991	The Last Boy Scout 	Tony Scott 	Geffen PicturesSilver PicturesWarner Bros. 	Soundtrack released by La-La Land Records.
1992	Two-Fisted Tales 	Richard DonnerTom HollandRobert Zemeckis	Carolco Pictures 	Television film.Segment « Showdown ».
1992	Tales from the Crypt 	various 	Home Box Office 	TV Series.4 episodes.
1992	Shining Through 	David Seltzer 	20th Century Fox 	Soundtrack released by RCA.
1992	Lethal Weapon 3 	Richard Donner 	Silver PicturesWarner Bros. 	Composed with Eric Clapton and David Sanborn.Soundtrack released by Warner Bros. Records
1992	Blue Ice 	Russell Mulcahy 	M&M Productions 	
1993	Splitting Heirs 	Robert Young 	Universal Pictures (US/Canada) United International Pictures (International) 	
1993	Last Action Hero 	John McTiernan 	Columbia Pictures 	Soundtrack released by Columbia Music.
1993	Wilder Napalm 	Glenn Gordon Caron 	TriStar Pictures 	
1993	The Three Musketeers 	Stephen Herek 	Walt Disney PicturesCaravan Pictures 	Soundtrack released by Walt Disney Records.
1995	Circle of Friends 	Pat O'Connor 	Savoy PicturesCineplex Odeon FilmsThe Rank Organisation 	Soundtrack released by Warner Bros. Records.
1995	Don Juan DeMarco 	Jeremy Leven 	New Line Cinema 	Performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.Soundtrack released by A&M Records.Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.The song « Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman ? » was also nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
1995	Die Hard with a Vengeance 	John McTiernan 	Cinergi Pictures20th Century Fox (US/Japan) Touchstone Pictures (International) 	Soundtrack released by RCA Victor.
1995	The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies	Chuck Workman 	American Film Institute (AFI)Silver PicturesHome Box Office 	
1995	Stonewall 	Nigel Finch 	Strand Releasing 	
1995	Mr. Holland's Opus 	Stephen Herek 	PolyGram Filmed EntertainmentInterscope CommunicationsHollywood Pictures (US/Canada) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (International)	Performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the London Metropolitan Orchestra.Soundtrack released by Decca Records.
1996	Jack 	Francis Ford Coppola 	Hollywood PicturesAmerican ZoetropeGreat Oaks Productions 	Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records.
1996	101 Dalmatians 	Stephen Herek 	Walt Disney PicturesGreat Oaks Productions 	Soundtrack released by Walt Disney Records.
1997	Inventing the Abbotts 	Pat O'Connor 	Fox 2000 PicturesImagine Entertainment20th Century Fox 	
1997	The Heart Surgeon 	Audrey Cooke 	BBC 	TV Movie.
1997	Remember Me? 	Nick Hurran 	Talisman ProductionsChannel Four Films 	
1997	Event Horizon 	Paul W. S. Anderson 	Golar ProductionsImpact PicturesParamount Pictures 	Performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.Soundtrack released by London Records.
1997	The Winter Guest 	Alan Rickman 	Capitol FilmsFine Line Features 	Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.
1998	The Avengers 	Jeremiah S. Chechik 	Warner Bros. 	Rejected score due to last-minute re-editing. Replaced by Joel McNeely.
1998	From the Earth to the Moon 	various 	Home Box Office 	TV Series3 episodes.Nominated for an Emmy Award.
1998	Lethal Weapon 4 	Richard Donner 	Silver PicturesWarner Bros. 	Composed with Eric Clapton and David Sanborn.Soundtrack released by La-Land Records
1998	What Dreams May Come 	Vincent Ward 	Interscope CommunicationsPolyGram Filmed Entertainment (through Universal Pictures) 	Performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.Soundtrack released by Decca Records.
1999	The Iron Giant 	Brad Bird 	Warner Bros. Feature AnimationWarner Bros. 	His first and only score for an animated movie.Performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.
2000	Frequency 	Gregory Hoblit 	New Line Cinema 	
2000	X-Men 	Bryan Singer 	Marvel Entertainment Group20th Century Fox 	Soundtrack released by Decca Records.
2001	Band of Brothers 	various 	Home Box Office 	TV miniseries.Soundtrack released by Sony Classical
2003	Open Range 	Kevin Costner 	Beacon PicturesTouchstone Pictures 	Performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records.
2004	Against the Ropes 	Charles S. Dutton 	Paramount Pictures 	
2004	First Daughter 	Forest Whitaker 	Regency EnterprisesNew RegencyDavis Entertainment20th Century Fox 	The movie is dedicated to him. As he did not finish writing this score when he died, Blake Neely completed the remaining score.
2004	Back To Gaya 	Leonard Fritz KrawinkelHolger Tappe 	Ambient Entertainment 	The movie is dedicated to him.
==Concert works==
===1990===
* Concerto For Saxophone (1990)
===1991===
* 24 Nights (1991)
===1997===
* Live In Hyde Park (1997)
===1998===
* Guitar Concerto (with Tomoyasu Hotei) (1998)
===1999===
* Symphony And Metallica (1999)
===2001===
* The New Moon in the Old Moons Arms (2001)
===2002===
* Quintet (Canadian Brass) (2002)
==References==
Category:Pages stolen off Wikipedia