Giorgio Moroder

Giorgio Moroder is an Italian composer and music producer from Urtijëi, Italy. Born in 1940, he becomes known for his role in the development of disco and electronic dance music, and for work that helps shape Euro disco, Italo disco and related synth-based styles.

Career

Moroder works in dance, disco, electronic, Italo-disco and rock. In the 1970s, while based in Munich, he starts Oasis Records, later a subdivision of Casablanca Records, and founds Musicland Studios in Munich. The studio is used by artists including the Rolling Stones, Electric Light Orchestra, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Queen and Elton John.

He also releases albums under the name Munich Machine, and is associated with The Banana Crew, Spinach, Children of the Mission and Common Cause. His publishing imprint is Giorgio Moroder Publishing.

Work with Donna Summer and solo recordings

Moroder produces a series of singles for Donna Summer during the mid-to-late 1970s disco period, including “Love to Love You Baby”, “I Feel Love”, “Last Dance”, “MacArthur Park”, “Hot Stuff”, “Bad Girls”, “Dim All the Lights”, “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” and “On the Radio”. He also releases albums such as From Here to Eternity and E=MC2, both noted for their synthesizer-led sound.

Film music and awards

He goes on to compose soundtracks and scores for films including Midnight Express, American Gigolo, Superman III, Scarface, The NeverEnding Story and the 1984 restoration of Metropolis. His score for Midnight Express includes the track “Chase” and wins the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.

Moroder also writes “Un'estate italiana”, the official theme song of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He works with many performers, including David Bowie, Falco, The Weeknd, Kylie Minogue, Irene Cara, Bonnie Tyler, Janet Jackson, Madleen Kane, Melissa Manchester, Blondie, Japan and France Joli.

His song “Take My Breath Away”, recorded by Berlin for Top Gun, wins the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. He also wins the same awards in 1983 for “Flashdance... What a Feeling”, along with the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for his work on Flashdance. His honours include three Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, four Grammy Awards, two People's Choice Awards, more than 100 Gold and Platinum discs, and induction into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2004.