Alfred Newman

Alfred Newman (March 17, 1900 February 17, 1970), was a major American composer of music for films.

In 1939, Newman began a twenty-one year career as music director for 20th Century-Fox Studios. He composed the familiar fanfare which accompanies the studio logo at the beginning of Fox's productions. At Fox, he also developed what came to be known as the Newman System, a means of synchronising the performance and recording of a musical score with the film. The system is still in use today.

He was the head of a family of major Hollywood film composers including his son, Thomas Newman, who is currently active. Other notable Newman family members include his brothers, Lionel Newman and Emil Newman, and his nephew, the singer/songwriter Randy Newman.

He received 45 Academy Award nominations (a record in the music categories, now shared with John Williams), winning 9 times.


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