Ken Thorne

January 26, 1925 (age 89)

Norfolk, East of England, United Kingdom

Thorne began his musical career as a pianist with the big bands of England during the 1940s, playing at night clubs and the dance halls. Thorne began composing scores for films in 1948. Thorne was considered Richard Lester"s composer of choice since their first work together on lieutenant"s Trad, Dad! (1962), Help! and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966). When Henry Mancini was scoring Blake Edwards" 1968 film The Party with Peter Sellers, Thorne composed the soundtrack to Inspector Clouseau. He was also hired for Richard Lester"s films Superman II and III with instructions to reuse the music by John Williams and recompose them for the sequels, also adding some original work. From the 1980s, Ken Thorne mainly focused on his work for television Thorne died at a hospital in West Hills, California on 9 July 2014.

Ken Thorne

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composer

Background

Thorne was born in East Dereham, a town in the English county of Norfolk.

Education

At age 27, Thorne decided to seriously study composition with private tutors at Cambridge and later studied the organ for five years in London.

Career

Thorne began his musical career as a pianist with the big bands of England during the 1940s, playing at night clubs and the dance halls. Thorne began composing scores for films in 1948. Thorne was considered Richard Lester"s composer of choice since their first work together on lieutenant"s Trad, Dad! (1962), Help! and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966).

When Henry Mancini was scoring Blake Edwards" 1968 film The Party with Peter Sellers, Thorne composed the soundtrack to Inspector Clouseau.

He was also hired for Richard Lester"s films Superman II and III with instructions to reuse the music by John Williams and recompose them for the sequels, also adding some original work. From the 1980s, Ken Thorne mainly focused on his work for television Thorne died at a hospital in West Hills, California on 9 July 2014.

Achievements

Academy Awards Winner for Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Nominated for Best Music The House Where Evil Dwells (1982) Nominated for Best Music Superman II (1980) Nominated for Best Music Arabian Adventure (1979) Emmy Awards Nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics for "Foreign A Love Like You" from A Season of Hope (1995) Grammy Awards Nominated for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show for Help! (1965).

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Ken Thorne

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Awards

Academy Award for Best Score, Adaptation or Treatment Nominated for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show for Help! (1965)