Howard, James Newton

James Newton Howard was born on June 9, 1951 in Los Angeles, CA. His career as a professional musician began in the early 1970s after finishing his piano studies at the University of Southern California. In 1975 James joined the band of one of the most popular artists of all time, Elton John, and later went on to collaborate with many other famous musicians. In the late 1980s, he turned his attention to composing film music beginning with the comedy Head Office in 1986. Since that time he has composed the music for such films as The Prince of Tides (1991), The Fugitive, (1993), The Village (2004), Michael Clayton (2007), and Defiance (2008), all of which have received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score. He has established a reputation as one of Hollywood's elite film composers and with each new project, he continues to set new standards for his craft.

Biographical Note

James Newton Howard was born on June 9, 1951 in Los Angeles, CA. His career as a professional musician began in the early 1970s after finishing his piano studies at the University of Southern California. In 1975 James joined the band of one of the most popular artists of all time, Elton John, and later went on to collaborate with many other famous musicians. In the late 1980s, he turned his attention to composing film music beginning with the comedy Head Office in 1986. Since that time he has composed the music for such films as The Prince of Tides (1991), The Fugitive, (1993), The Village (2004), Michael Clayton (2007), and Defiance (2008), all of which have received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score. He has established a reputation as one of Hollywood's elite film composers and with each new project, he continues to set new standards for his craft.