John Williams

Abstract John Williams: A Composer’s Life is the first major biography of the foremost composer for film in history. Synonymous with an entire art form, one which he helped legitimize, Williams wrote the memorable scores and hummable themes for a staggering number of popular touchstones across multiple generations—among them Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and Harry Potter—and earned more Oscar nominations than any individual artist in the history of the Motion Picture Academy. He also composed dozens of concertos, fanfares, and other concert works and was a national presence as music director of the Boston Pops for thirteen years. He inspired countless children to pursue a career in the orchestra and won the respect of the classical community worldwide. Written with unprecedented access to Williams, this is the definitive portrait of a beloved but famously private doyen of twentieth-century popular culture. Featuring 175 exclusive interviews—including with Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, George Miller, Mia Farrow, Hans Zimmer, Yo-Yo Ma, session musicians, family members, and friends—John Williams: A Composer’s Life is the last word on the great court composer of the cinema age, the musical conductor of our collective memory.