Category Archives: Music

Randy Newman at 80: Part One – songwriter

Posted on November 28, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Randy Newman, who turns 80 today, has Academy Awards, Grammy Awards and Emmy Awards and he is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s also a very funny man. He told me that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Randy Newman at 80: Part Two – Film composer

Posted on November 28, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Randy Newman, who turns 80 today,  has Academy Awards, Grammy Awards and Emmy Awards and he is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s also a very funny man. He told me that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

John Barry on his favourite directors and composers

Posted on November 3, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON — English film composer John Barry, who was born on this day in 1933, won five Academy Awards and created the definitive music for James Bond but he remained very fond of his early British films … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on John Barry on his favourite directors and composers

Charlie Rich belongs in the Country Music Hall of Fame

Posted on October 24, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON — Charlie Rich is the biggest star in country music not to be admitted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. It is time that was corrected. Charlie, who died in 1995 aged 62, was one … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Music | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Charlie Rich belongs in the Country Music Hall of Fame

‘Titanic’ Oscar-winner James Horner saw music in colour

Posted on August 14, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘Composing is so much like painting,’ the late James Horner told me. ‘I patch colour into certain things until I hear the sounds and then I know how much of the magenta or how much of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Titanic’ Oscar-winner James Horner saw music in colour

Don Black: ‘When I have a song to write I’m very happy’

Posted on June 21, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett London’s leafy Green Park means many things to many people, but to lyricist Don Black it will always be the place where he wrote the hit song “Tell Me on a Sunday” to the music of Andrew … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don Black: ‘When I have a song to write I’m very happy’

Lyricist Sammy Cahn had a song for all occasions

Posted on June 18, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American lyricist Sammy Cahn, who was born on this day in 1913, wrote scores of songs that everyone remembers but he told me that what kept him busy was penning lyrics for special occasions. 

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lyricist Sammy Cahn had a song for all occasions

How Tina Turner dealt with her troubled past

Posted on May 24, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘As crazy as it was,’ said Tina Turner, ‘I laugh about it. ’ The queen of rock’n’roll, who has died aged 83, was talking about her difficult childhood in Tennessee and her abusive marriage to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

That time Michelle Pfeiffer thought she’d sworn on live TV

Posted on April 29, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Michelle Pfeiffer was worried that she’d dropped an f-bomb on live television. The actress, who turns 65 today, came to meet me right after she appeared on CNN to talk about the John Landis black … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on That time Michelle Pfeiffer thought she’d sworn on live TV

Composer Patrick Doyle on his triumph over cancer

Posted on April 6, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Anyone who has spent time with film composer Patrick Doyle (above with wife Lesley and me) knows that he is one of the funniest men alive. Not so many know that his sense of humour … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Composer Patrick Doyle on his triumph over cancer