John Williams   (QUIZ)
American Composer/Conductor
Born: February 8, 1832, Floral Park, New York


John Williams was born to a jazz musician father who was a drummer with the Raymond Scott Quintette of Warner Brothers cartoon fame. He grew up in Oklahoma City and studied private music there. He moved with his family to Los Angeles in 1948 and attended North Hollywood high School.

In 1952, he was drafted into the US Air Force and was active in the Air Force Band. When his Air Force duties came to an end in 1955, he moved to New York and attended the prestigious Julliard School of Music. During this time, he performed at clubs and was a session pianist along with Rolly Bundock who played bass, Jack Sperling who played drums and Bob Bain who played guitar. He was a student in piano of Rosina Lhévinne. Part of his work at this time included playing for composer Henry Mancini and as band leader for singer Frankie Lane. After his graduation from Julliard, Williams moved back to Los Angeles. His first score was for the T.V. series "Lost in Space." This was in the late 1950's.

Steven Spielberg approached Williams in 1974 and in 1975, Williams scored the music for "Jaws." His two-note motif has become associated with imminent danger throughout the world!

It was through Spielberg that Williams was introduced to George Lucas, who was looking for a composer to score Star Wars. The main theme from the original Star Wars movie "Luke's Theme" was written in the style of waltz-master Richard Strauss and is one of the most well-known pieces of all time.

Williams has won five Academy Awards and four Golden Globes. He currently holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for a living person. He has been awarded 2 Emmy and 20 Grammy Awards. He has been inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.