Monty Norman, a British composer best known for creating the enduring James Bond film themes, passed away on Monday at the age of 94, according to his official website.
“It is with sadness we share the news that Monty Norman died on 11th July 2022 after a short illness,” read the statement.
On April 4, 1928, Norman was born Monty Noserovitch to Jewish parents in east London.
He began his singing career in big bands before switching to composition, writing songs for Cliff Richard and other pop performers as well as for musicals and movies including “Songbook” and “Poppy and Make Me An Offer.”
His most well-known work was the score for the first James Bond movie, “Dr. No,” which he composed in 1962. However, John Barry was brought in by the producers to re-arrange the music.
Barry claimed to have written the article, but Norman successfully sued the Sunday Times for libel after it made similar claims.
With appearances in 24 additional films, the motif became an essential component of the Bond brand.
According to Norman’s official website, his parents’ landlady’s son and daughter introduced him to music by playing pre-war hits before rock ‘n’ roll became popular.
He made a comment regarding a picture of himself taken at the time playing a guitar “I had never held a musical instrument before, but that was the first time. I still recall the excitement of the occasion.” When he was 16 years old, his mother gave him his own guitar.
