John Barry, OBE (3 November 1933 - 30 January 2011), born John Barry Prende… Read Full Bio ↴John Barry, OBE (3 November 1933 - 30 January 2011), born John Barry Prendergast in York, UK is considered one of the "Big Four" of late 20th century film composers (the others being John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, and Henry Mancini).
His family was in the cinema business, but it was during his National Service that he began performing as a musician. After taking a correspondence course and arranging for some of the bands of the day, he formed The John Barry Seven. Barry then met Adam Faith, and composed songs and film scores on the singer's behalf.
It was this notoriety that caught the attention of the producers of Dr. No, who were dissatisfied with the score given to them by Monty Norman. Barry and the JB7 were hired and their recording of Norman's "James Bond Theme" would go on to be one of the most famous signature tunes in film history.
This would be the turning point for Barry, as he would go on to become one of the most celebrated film composers of modern times, winning five Academy Awards and four Grammys, with such memorable scores as The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa, and Dances with Wolves.
Barry is often cited as having had a distinct style which concentrated on lush strings and extensive use of brass. However, he was also an innovator, being one of the first to employ synthesizers in a film score (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), and to make wide use of pop artists and original songs in Midnight Cowboy.
Living in his native England until the mid 1970s, Barry spent some time in Spain (for tax purposes) before spending much of his life in the United States, mainly in Oyster Bay, outside of New York.
Barry died of a heart attack on 30 January 2011, at his Oyster Bay home, aged 77 years.
His family was in the cinema business, but it was during his National Service that he began performing as a musician. After taking a correspondence course and arranging for some of the bands of the day, he formed The John Barry Seven. Barry then met Adam Faith, and composed songs and film scores on the singer's behalf.
It was this notoriety that caught the attention of the producers of Dr. No, who were dissatisfied with the score given to them by Monty Norman. Barry and the JB7 were hired and their recording of Norman's "James Bond Theme" would go on to be one of the most famous signature tunes in film history.
This would be the turning point for Barry, as he would go on to become one of the most celebrated film composers of modern times, winning five Academy Awards and four Grammys, with such memorable scores as The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa, and Dances with Wolves.
Barry is often cited as having had a distinct style which concentrated on lush strings and extensive use of brass. However, he was also an innovator, being one of the first to employ synthesizers in a film score (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), and to make wide use of pop artists and original songs in Midnight Cowboy.
Living in his native England until the mid 1970s, Barry spent some time in Spain (for tax purposes) before spending much of his life in the United States, mainly in Oyster Bay, outside of New York.
Barry died of a heart attack on 30 January 2011, at his Oyster Bay home, aged 77 years.
The Persuaders
John Barry Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by John Barry:
A Drop in the Ocean One crystal morning Trouble I see Word round the world…
A Handful Of Songs Well, I've got a handful of songs to sing you Can't…
A View to a Kill Meeting you with a view to a kill Face to face…
All These Things Oh! Will you never let me be? Oh! Will you never…
All Time High All I wanted was a sweet distraction for an hour…
Alone In The Night In the still of the night As I gaze out of…
Alternate End Titles Where are you? Why do you hide? Where is that moonlight…
Boom! She's like Armageddon She's so nuclear She's got the four …
Born Free Born free, as free as the wind blows As free as…
Falling In Love Each time we have a quarrel, it almost breaks my…
Follow Follow Follow, follow As long as you′re there I'll follow I′ll be o…
Goldfinger Goldfinger, he's the man, the man with the Midas touch A…
I Love Her I'm not in love, so don't forget it It's just a…
If There Was a Man If There Was a Man Performed by Chrissie Hynde & The…
Into Miami Goldfinger, he's the man, the man with the Midas touch A…
Iron Horse Don′t speak, no, don't try It′s been a secret for the…
Jeepers Creepers Oh, jeepers creepers, where'd ya get those peepers? Jeepers…
Love in the Pool Each time we have a quarrel, it almost breaks my…
Made You I saw you sitting there so cool Like you just come…
Main Theme Diamonds are forever, they are all I need to please…
Main Theme from Out of Africa This land is mine, God gave this land to me This…
Mary Queen Of Scots How come This place that i was brought up in Don′t seem…
Minnie The Moocher Folks here's a story 'bout Minnie the Moocher, She was a…
Mood Indigo You ain't never been blue; no, no, no, You ain't…
Mr One and Only We hitched a ride at sundown cway we go We hitched a…
Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang He's tall and he's dark, And like a shark, he looks…
Peggy Sue Got Married Please don't tell - no no no Don't say that…
Places If you take me straight to heaven I could never fall 'Cause…
Safari-Out Of Africa This land is mine, God gave this land to me This…
Somewhere In Time Somewhere in time We met on timeless hills And in the evenin…
Spanish Harlem There is a rose in Spanish Harlem A red rose up…
Stranger in the Night In the still of the night As I gaze out of…
Tears I started out to be the man behind the scenes…
That Fatal Kiss Meeting you with a view to a kill Face to face…
The Bomb Part 1 Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, In the lane, snow is…
The Living Daylights Hey driver, where we're going I swear my nerves are showing …
The Man With the Golden Gun He has a powerful weapon He charges a million a shot An…
Thunderball He always runs while others walk He acts while other men…
Time Out My life goes on in endless song Above earth's lamentations, …
Volare Sometimes the world is a valley of heartaches and tears And…
We Have All the Time in the World / James Bond Theme We have all, the time in the world Time enough for…
Wednesday's Child Wednesday's child is a child of woe. Wednesday's child crie…
What Do You Want What do you want if you don't want money What…
Where You Are Time and again I've longed for adventure, Something to make …
You Only Live Twice You only live twice, Or so it seems. One life for yourself, …
You Only Live Twice: Suite You only live twice, or so it seems One life for…
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@peakyparttimers9362
Always makes me emotional. Reminds me of when I was a young boy back in the 70s. How I wish I could go back.
@Broomehall
I totally get that, and I'm not the emotional type, I was 12 when this came out, nearly 62 now and it seems like yesterday, how the years pass without you even realising......
@lynnritchie231
Me too. Love these old themes. When everybody I loved was still alive. Sorry, feeling nostalgic.
@TERESALEAO-gh8js
Me too.....I agree with you
@TERESALEAO-gh8js
I agrew with you .....
@rosie8126
Me too. We can dream of our salad days. Loved the Persuaders with Roger and Tony.
@leopold7562
John Barry really excelled himself with this one, it's an absolute masterpiece.
@mercedyzmarieguion292
Yes, this is an EXCELLENT theme!!!
@benmalone6139
He is my all time favourite TV/Film composer. Always so classy and sophisticated
@clementjohnson2666
@Ben Malone The theme to the 1964 movie "Zulu" was his Masterpiece in my opinion . Pull up that song on your cellphone especially , The 7min. version , l think you will truly like it 😉 .