RIP John Barry (1933-2011)

Film score composer John Barry, who won five Academy Awards over his long and distinguished career, died yesterday in New York after suffering a heart attack. He was 77.

 In addition to winning the 1967 Oscar for Best Song for “Born Free,” Barry won the Best Original Score in 1969 (“The Lion in Winter”), 1986 (“Out of Africa”) and 1991 (“Dances With Wolves”). He also earned a Grammy Award for the 1969′s “Midnight Cowboy.”

But it's Barry's work for the the 007 franchise that I remember most, where he scored early Sean Connery classics like  From Russia with Love” “Goldfinger” and “Thunderball.” He stayed with the franchise through 1987’s “The Living Daylights.”.

Current Bond composer David Arnold said via Twitter "I am profoundly saddened by the news but profoundly thankful for everything he did for music and for me personally."

He then pointed his followers to two clips, the first being  Mary, Queen of Scots "this is the one that always does it for me" — and the 2nd is the tender theme from Somewhere in Time.

THR has more Barry...

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