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John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932) [1] [2] [3] is an American composer and conductor. In a career that has spanned seven decades, he has composed some of the most popular, recognizable, and critically acclaimed film scores in cinema history.
Born in Flushing, New York on February 8, 1932, John Towner Williams discovered music almost immediately, due in no small measure to being the son of a percussionist for CBS Radio and the Raymond Scott Quintet.
- February 8, 1932
Williams was raised in New York, the son of a percussionist in the CBS radio orchestra. He was exposed to music from a young age and began studying piano as a child, later learning trumpet, trombone, and clarinet. He started writing music early, trying to orchestrate his own pieces as a teen.
- John Williams was drafted into the air force in 1952 where he arranged, played, and led several military bands throughout his service.
- After his studies at Julliard, Williams relocated to Los Angeles and got a job as a movie studio pianist. He can be heard performing in the soundtracks to films like West Side Story, Some Like It Hot, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
- Before meeting Steven Spielberg in 1972 (leading to dozens of film collaborations) Williams also composed for the small screen, writing for such television shows as Gilligan’s Island and Lost in Space.
- After their initial meeting over a lunch, Williams would go on to compose music for all but three of Spielberg’s films.
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How did John Williams become a musician?
- John Williams obsessed over playing piano at a young age. According to the LA Times, Williams started taking piano lessons at 7 and would practice consistently.
- John Williams was there when Bernard Herrmann worked on some of his best scores. According to The New Yorker, John Williams' father, Johnny Williams, eventually played for famed composer Bernard Herrmann who wrote scores for films such as Citizen Kane, Vertigo, Psycho, and Taxi Driver.
- John Williams conducted and arranged for military bands. In an interview with Col. Larry H. Lang, commander and conductor of The Air Force Band, John Williams spoke about his time in the military and how it influenced his career as a composer in Hollywood.
- John Williams' versatility keeps his collaborations with Steven Spielberg exciting. When Steven Spielberg and John Williams met for the first time in 1972, both were at very different points in their careers.
Born in New York, on February 8, 1932, as the young legend lunged in to the world of music he learnt a variety of instruments such as the piano, trumpet, trombone and clarinet. As a teenager, Williams headed his own jazz band and became intrigued with putting together different tunes.
Jul 21, 2020 · By Alex Ross. July 21, 2020. At the age of eighty-eight, the self-effacing composer reflects on his extraordinary career. Photograph by Chad Batka / NYT / Redux. On January 10, 1977, during the...
