Jerry Goldsmith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Goldsmith
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Goldsmith conducts the London Symphony Orchestra, 2003
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jerrald King Goldsmith |
| Born | February 10, 1929 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Died | July 21, 2004 (aged 75) Beverly Hills, California, United States |
| Genres | Film score, contemporary classical music |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, conductor |
| Instruments | Synthesizers, Orchestra |
| Years active | 1951–2004 |
Jerrald King "Jerry" Goldsmith (February 10, 1929 – July 21, 2004) was an amazing American composer and conductor. He was famous for creating music for movies and TV shows. You might know his music from films like Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Planet of the Apes, The Omen, Alien, Gremlins, and Mulan.
Jerry Goldsmith worked with many great movie directors. People often say he was one of the most creative and important composers in movie music history.
Contents
Jerry Goldsmith's Early Life and Learning
Jerry Goldsmith was born in Los Angeles, California. He started playing the piano when he was six years old. But he only became serious about music when he was eleven.
At age thirteen, he took private piano lessons from a famous concert pianist named Jakob Gimpel. By the time he was sixteen, he was studying music theory and counterpoint with Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco.
When Goldsmith was sixteen, he watched the 1945 movie Spellbound. The music, created by Miklós Rózsa, really inspired him. It made him want to work in music too! He later went to the University of Southern California. There, he took classes from Rózsa. However, he decided to leave and go to a more "hands-on" music program. This was at the Los Angeles City College. At this college, he helped singers, worked as an assistant choir director, played piano, and even helped conduct music.
His Family and Later Years
Jerry Goldsmith was married two times. His first marriage was to Sharon Hennagin in 1950. They divorced in 1970. In 1972, he married Carol Heather. They stayed together until he passed away.
His oldest son, Joel Goldsmith (1957–2012), also became a composer. Joel even worked with his father on the music for Star Trek: First Contact.
Jerry Goldsmith died at his home in Beverly Hills on July 21, 2004. He was 75 years old. He left behind his wife Carol and his children Aaron, Joel, Carrie, Ellen Edson, and Jennifer Grossman.
What Made His Music Special?
Jerry Goldsmith looked up to many other composers. Some of his biggest influences included Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, Miklós Rózsa, and Bernard Herrmann.
His music style was very unique. He often used many different types of instruments. This included instruments from various cultures, recorded sounds, and electronic sounds. He would mix these with a traditional orchestra.
Goldsmith loved trying new things in his music. He once said that he didn't like doing the same thing over and over. He felt that changing and trying new things helped him grow as an artist. He believed that once you start creating, your ideas just flow from inside you.
Jerry Goldsmith worked for over 30 years with an orchestrator named Arthur Morton. An orchestrator helps arrange music for an orchestra. They worked together on many famous movie scores. These included Planet of the Apes (1968), Patton (1970), Alien (1979), and Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). Their last project together was the music for L.A. Confidential (1997).
Awards and Recognitions
Jerry Goldsmith was nominated for 18 Academy Awards (Oscars) during his career. This means he was one of the most nominated composers ever! However, he only won one Oscar. He won it for his music in the movie The Omen (1976). This makes him the composer with the most nominations who only won once.
In 1991, he received an honorary degree from Berklee College of Music. This was a special award for his achievements in music.
On May 9, 2017, Jerry Goldsmith received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This happened after he passed away. His star is at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard. It honors his amazing work in the music world.
AFI's Top Film Scores
The American Film Institute (AFI) made a list of the 25 greatest film scores. Jerry Goldsmith's music for Chinatown (1974) was ranked number 9. His music for Planet of the Apes (1968) was ranked number 18.
He is one of only five composers to have more than one score on this special list. Other composers with multiple scores include John Williams.
His music for these other films was also considered for the list:
- Alien (1979)
- L.A. Confidential (1997)
- The Omen (1976)
- Papillon (1973)
- Patton (1970)
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Other Major Awards
Jerry Goldsmith won many other important awards for his music.
- He won an Annie Award in 1998 for the music in Mulan. This award is for excellence in animation.
- He won five Emmy Awards for his television work. These awards include music for The Red Pony (1973), QB VII (1975), Babe (1976), Masada (1981), and the main theme for Star Trek: Voyager (1995).
- He won a Saturn Award in 1984 for the music in Gremlins. Saturn Awards celebrate science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
He was also nominated for many other awards, including:
- British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) for films like Alien and L.A. Confidential.
- Golden Globe Awards for films such as Chinatown and Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
- Grammy Awards for his film and TV scores.
Jerry Goldsmith's music continues to be loved by many people around the world!
Images for kids
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Crypt of Jerry Goldsmith at Hillside Memorial Park
See also
In Spanish: Jerry Goldsmith para niños
