John Barry is an English film composer and arranger from York, born John Barry Prendergast. He is associated with the late 20th century group of major film composers alongside John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith and Henry Mancini. His career begins in music through National Service, when he starts performing as a musician after growing up in a family involved in the cinema business.

Early career and The John Barry Seven

Barry takes a correspondence course and arranges music for several bands of the period before forming The John Barry Seven. The group appears in several credited forms, including The John Barry Seven and Orchestra and The John Barry Orchestra. His work with the band helps establish him as an arranger and composer.

He later meets Adam Faith and writes songs and film scores for him. That work brings Barry to the attention of the producers of Dr. No, who are unhappy with the score by Monty Norman. Barry and the JB7 are hired, and their recording of Norman’s “James Bond Theme” becomes one of the best-known cues in film music.

Film scores and style

Barry becomes one of the most widely recognised film composers of his generation. He wins five Academy Awards and four Grammys, and his scores include The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves. His style is commonly identified with lush strings and extensive use of brass.

He is also an early adopter of synthesizers in film music, using them in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In Midnight Cowboy he also makes broad use of pop artists and original songs.

Later life

Barry lives in England until the mid-1970s, then spends time in Spain for tax purposes before living mainly in the United States, especially in Oyster Bay, outside New York. He dies of a heart attack at his Oyster Bay home in 2011.