David Newman
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
A scion of the famed Newman family who dominated Hollywood music from 1930s through the 60s, David Newman originally intended to pursue a career as a classical conductor. From his youth, he studied violin and piano and played in community orchestras. After the death of his father, nine-time Oscar-winner Alfred Newman, the younger musician attended USC and began working as a conductor for such renowned orchestras and symphonies as the New Japan Philharmonic, the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Royal Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He began his film work gradually in the mid-80s with low-budgeters like "Critters" (1986). From 1987 to 1991, he was music director of the Sundance Institute, running workshops for aspiring film composers and conducted concerts of film music in an effort to raise awareness and funds for preservation. In the latter capacity, Newman oversaw the reconstruction of a number of classic scores, including "The Wizard of Oz" and also composed a new accompaniment for F.W. Murnau's 1927 silent classic "Sunrise."
Newman segued to contemporary film scoring with Danny DeVito's 1985 comedy "Throw Momma From the Train." The majority of his film compositions are for comedies and he has provided everything from bouncy ("The Flintstones" 1994) to serious ("The Phantom" 1996). Despite composing over 50 film scores, Newman earned his first Academy Award nomination for his original music score for the animated "Anastasia" (1997), which interpolated Stephen Flaherty's song score.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Music (Special)
Life Events
1977
First feature film contribution, "You'll End Up Eating Worms" (a song from the film, "The Worm Eaters")
1986
First features as composer, "Vendetta" and "Critters"
1987
First film score for director Danny De Vito, "Throw Momma from the Train"
1987
Appointed Music Director of Sundance Institute; served until 1991
1989
Composed new score for the silent classic "Sunrise"
1990
Named music director and conductor of the Los Angeles Pops Orchestra (date approximate)
1991
Provided the original score for the animated "Rover Dangerfield"
1992
Scored "The Mighty Ducks"
1996
Provided the original score for "The Phantom"
1998
Earned first Academy Award nomination for his original music for the animated "Anastasia"
Family
Companions
