Monty Norman was a British film composer and singer best known for writing the James Bond theme songs. He died on July 11, 2022 after a brief illness.
Wiki/Biography
Monty Norman was born Monty Noserovitch in Stepney, East London, on Wednesday 4 April 1928 (died aged 94) .
appearance
Hair color: gray
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
Monty’s father, Abraham Noserovich, was a cabinetmaker. His mother, named Anne, used to sew clothes for people. He is the only child of his parents.
wife and children
Monty married actress Diana Coupland in 1956. They divorced in 1975. They have a daughter named Shoshana Kitchen.
Monty Norman and his first wife Diana Coupland
In 2000, he married Lina Kesari. He has two stepdaughters, Keri Griffin and Livia Griffith.
Monty Norman and his second wife Lina Kesari
religion
Monty practices Judaism.
sign
Monty Norman’s signature
Profession
Monty began his career in radio. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Monty worked for Cyril Stapleton, Stanley Black, Ted Heath and Nat Temple. Nat Temple) and other famous celebrities. Before becoming a solo artist, he performed a number of double acts with comedian Benny Hill.
Monty Norman performs on stage
Later, he switched from singing to writing. The song “The False Lover” he composed is internationally famous. He said in an interview,
I started writing songs, and when one of them, “The False Lover,” became quite successful, I decided to continue in that direction. My parents were skeptical, but I was convinced that this was what I wanted to do. “
Monty Norman explains songs he writes to producers
In the 1950s, he began writing songs and collaborating with performers such as Cliff Richard, Tommy Steele, Count Basie and Bob Hope. In 1962, Monti was hired by producer Albert Cubby Broccoli to write for the James Bond film Dr. No, starring Sean Connery theme song. He was busy with other projects and was about to say “no” to broccoli when he and his co-star Harry Salzman asked Monty to go to Jamaica with his wife at the producers’ expense. Monty spoke about this in an interview and said:
Well, that’s the key for me! I figured, even if Dr. No ends up being a stinker, at least we’ll have the sun, sea, and sand to prove it! “
James Bond movie Dr. No poster
Monty used the James Bond theme in the musical adaptation of the novel Mr. Biswas’s House. Monty spoke about the score on his official website and said:
We realized we needed a fresh, modern sound for the theme and we found a great arranger in the up-and-coming young John Barry, so the whole thing went really well. “
Cover of the book “Mr. Biswas’s House”
Monty collaborated with and wrote songs for rock stars such as Cliff Richard and Tommy Steele. He has also composed music for stage shows such as “Make Me an Offer”, “Expresso Bongo”, “Songbook” and “Poppy”.
Poster for the play “Expresso Bongo”
He also composed music for films, including The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960), The Day the Earth Fired (1961), Call Me Bwana (1963) and the television miniseries Dickens of London 》(1976).
Movie “Call Me Bwana” poster
dispute
In 2001, Monty caused controversy when his castmate John Barry claimed it was the theme song for Monty’s 1962 James Bond series. Monty sued the Sunday Times, claiming that Monty was not a true composer. When the court announced its verdict in 2001, it awarded Monty £30,000 because he won the case.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- In 1959, the musical Make Me An Offer won the Evening Standard Award for “Best Musical”.
- In 1961, he was nominated for the Broadway Tony Award for Best Musical for his stage play “Irma la Douce”.
- In 1977, he won the Ivor Novello Award for his composition of the James Bond theme song.
- In 1981, he was nominated again for a Broadway Tony Award in 1961 for Best Musical Performance from The Moon Shapiro Songbook.
- In 1989 he was awarded a Gold Medal by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) for his contribution to British music.
die
Monty passed away after a brief illness on July 11, 2022. The official website expressed condolences for his death, writing:
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Monty Norman, who passed away on July 11, 2022, after a short illness. ”
Facts/Trivia
- Monty’s parents are Jewish. When his father was young, he traveled to England from Latvia with Monty’s grandmother.
- During World War II, Monty left London, but returned in the 1940s. During this time he contributed to his National Service with the Royal Air Force.
Monty Norman as a teenager
- His mother bought him his first guitar when he was 16, as the price of guitars dropped from £17 (Rs. 1,352) to £15 (Rs. 1,193). He said in an interview that he carried this guitar with him for a long time. He further added,
I still have that guitar – a 1930s Gibson. I never use it, but I use it as a talisman. My parents never understood my subsequent career choice, but bless them, they were great and allowed me to continue. “
Monty Norman as a young man holding guitar
- In an interview, he said he was introduced to music by his landlady’s children, who used to play popular songs at home.
- Monty learned guitar from Bert Weedon, a popular guitarist.
- Monty used to attend prayer services at the Free Synagogue in London.
- He was often spotted drinking on different occasions.
Monty Norman holding a glass of wine
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education