R.I.P Composer Jerry Goldsmith - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJL · 07-22-2004, 08:10 PM

Jerry Goldsmith, the legendary composer whose diverse, long, and prolific career included some of the most famous themes of the last fifty years, died in his sleep Wednesday night in Beverly Hills, after a long battle with cancer. He was 75.
Goldsmith was nominated for 17 Academy Awards, winning his sole Oscar for The Omen, as well as 5 Emmys, including the theme for Star Trek: Voyager.

Goldsmith's career began in the early 1950s with the nascent television medium and continued virtually non-stop, until his illness forced him to abandon appearances and offers for more work.

Born in 1929, Goldsmith was a classically trained musician, who learned from pianist Jakob Gimpel, as well as guitarist and film composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. With his diverse background Goldsmith wrote effectively for nearly every genre imaginable but seemed particularly adept at crafting original work for science fiction, suspense, and adventure films. That held true for both television and film.

His TV work included the themes to The Waltons, Dr. Kildaire, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and original music for The Twilight Zone and Gunsmoke.

Films afforded him a broader canvas and Goldsmith took advantage of it with his work on Freud (his first Oscar nomination), Lillies of the Field, Von Ryan's Express, and The Sand Pebbles. His garish, brassy score for Planets of the Apes, which he conducted at one point wearing an ape mask, earned him his fourth nomination.

His score for Patton, full of memorable marches, included the ingenious and indelible device of a short trumpet triplet to indicate the famous WWII general's recollection of his past lives as a warrior (it was also famously spoofed in a Simpsons episode). Roman Polanski's harsh city in Chinatown was given a smoky noir glow from Goldsmith's score.

It was for his work on The Omen, arguably one of the best horror scores ever written, that Goldsmith received his only Academy Award. Suffused with Latin chanting and fierce, driving themes, it is often repurposed or imitated today.

Goldsmith also liberated the "Star Trek" franchise from its small-set roots with his rapturous, almost nautical, score for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The theme for the film became the new theme for the following films as well as Star Trek: The Next Generation. It will probably be the most lasting evidence of Jerry Goldsmith's long and successful career.

Goldsmith is survived by his wife, Carol; five children, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Cactus Jack · 07-22-2004, 08:24 PM

RIP Jerry

musicradio77 · 07-22-2004, 09:56 PM

That was very sad news.

Jerry Goldsmith did the musical scores for so many movies like the "Star Trek" series and other Oscar winning films. I hope we will be remembered Jerry. (RIP)

TJ · 07-22-2004, 11:30 PM

Very sad to hear the news. I know he had been ill with cancer for awhile. He was my favorite composer and reallywhat got me interested in collecting film scores. Some of my favorites are Poltergeist, Gremlins, Hoosiers, and Rudy. His music will live on forever.

Janice · 07-23-2004, 12:13 AM

Sad news. Mr. Goldsmith had quite an impressive body of work.

Mr. Television · 07-23-2004, 12:15 AM

This is very sad.

dandelion wine · 07-23-2004, 10:55 AM

Oh no, I hadn't heard about this. There are far too many to list off, but it's safe to say that I considered him to be my favorite as well. God bless, Mr. Goldsmith.

07-22-2004, 08:10 PM	#1
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	R.I.P Composer Jerry Goldsmith Jerry Goldsmith, the legendary composer whose diverse, long, and prolific career included some of the most famous themes of the last fifty years, died in his sleep Wednesday night in Beverly Hills, after a long battle with cancer. He was 75. Goldsmith was nominated for 17 Academy Awards, winning his sole Oscar for The Omen, as well as 5 Emmys, including the theme for Star Trek: Voyager. Goldsmith's career began in the early 1950s with the nascent television medium and continued virtually non-stop, until his illness forced him to abandon appearances and offers for more work. Born in 1929, Goldsmith was a classically trained musician, who learned from pianist Jakob Gimpel, as well as guitarist and film composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. With his diverse background Goldsmith wrote effectively for nearly every genre imaginable but seemed particularly adept at crafting original work for science fiction, suspense, and adventure films. That held true for both television and film. His TV work included the themes to The Waltons, Dr. Kildaire, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and original music for The Twilight Zone and Gunsmoke. Films afforded him a broader canvas and Goldsmith took advantage of it with his work on Freud (his first Oscar nomination), Lillies of the Field, Von Ryan's Express, and The Sand Pebbles. His garish, brassy score for Planets of the Apes, which he conducted at one point wearing an ape mask, earned him his fourth nomination. His score for Patton, full of memorable marches, included the ingenious and indelible device of a short trumpet triplet to indicate the famous WWII general's recollection of his past lives as a warrior (it was also famously spoofed in a Simpsons episode). Roman Polanski's harsh city in Chinatown was given a smoky noir glow from Goldsmith's score. It was for his work on The Omen, arguably one of the best horror scores ever written, that Goldsmith received his only Academy Award. Suffused with Latin chanting and fierce, driving themes, it is often repurposed or imitated today. Goldsmith also liberated the "Star Trek" franchise from its small-set roots with his rapturous, almost nautical, score for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The theme for the film became the new theme for the following films as well as Star Trek: The Next Generation. It will probably be the most lasting evidence of Jerry Goldsmith's long and successful career. Goldsmith is survived by his wife, Carol; five children, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

07-22-2004, 08:24 PM	#2
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	RIP Jerry
	__________________ Id Love to help you Tracy, but I cant have sex with a black guy, Id lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR-Jenna Maroney,30 Rock April 17,2009 9:02 PM : 100,000th post!

07-22-2004, 09:56 PM	#3
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	That was very sad news. Jerry Goldsmith did the musical scores for so many movies like the "Star Trek" series and other Oscar winning films. I hope we will be remembered Jerry. (RIP)
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

07-23-2004, 12:15 AM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	This is very sad.
	__________________ Sonny

07-23-2004, 10:55 AM	#7
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,967	Oh no, I hadn't heard about this. There are far too many to list off, but it's safe to say that I considered him to be my favorite as well. God bless, Mr. Goldsmith.
	__________________ Fans of Jon-Erik Hexum Merry Christmas!

07-22-2004, 11:30 PM	#4
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,683	Very sad to hear the news. I know he had been ill with cancer for awhile. He was my favorite composer and reallywhat got me interested in collecting film scores. Some of my favorites are Poltergeist, Gremlins, Hoosiers, and Rudy. His music will live on forever.

07-23-2004, 12:13 AM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Sad news. Mr. Goldsmith had quite an impressive body of work.