Randy Newman
Born Randall Stuart Newman on
Nov. 28, 1943
in Los Angeles, CA
Randy Newman was born into a musical Hollywood family: Three of his uncles were noted film composers (Alfred Newman, Lionel Newman and Emil Newman) and two of Newman’s cousins (Thomas Newman and David Newman) and his nephew, Joey, joined him in careers as film composers. Newman’s mother was a secretary and his father was a doctor. Newman got his start as a singer-songwriter in the 1960s, composing songs for the O’Jays and Gene Pitney, among others, and performing with a band called the Tikis. He left the band and released his first solo album, “Randy Newman,” in 1968. But it wasn’t until his 1974 album “Good Old Boys” that he achieved commercial success. Newman’s biggest hit song, “Short People,” was released in 1977 and became the center of a controversy due to the lyrics, which were intended as an ironic depiction of prejudice against little people. Many felt the song encouraged bigotry against the short. Years later, Newman’s hit single “I Love L.A.” also was a subject of debate. Some felt the song skewered the City of Angels. At the same time, it was embraced as the victory song of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1971, Newman began composing film scores. His second film score, for “Ragtime,” earned him two Academy Award nominations. Newman had 15 Oscar nominations without a single win (a record) when he won in 2001 for best original song for “If I Didn’t Have You” from “Monsters, Inc.” He has also won two Emmys and four Grammys. Newman has notably composed the music and songs for several Pixar films including “Toy Story,” “Toy Story 2,” “Toy Story 3,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Cars.” In the early 1990s, Newman turned to musical theater and wrote a musical version of “Faust,” which was performed in San Diego and Chicago and was released as an album featuring James Taylor as God and Don Henley, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt as supporting characters. A musical based on his life and songs, “The Education of Randy Newman,” had its debut at South Coast Repertory in 2000.
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Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Work | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Best Original Song | "One More Hour" from Ragtime | Nomination |
| 1981 | Best Original Score | Ragtime | Nomination |
| 1984 | Best Original Score | The Natural | Nomination |
| 1989 | Best Original Song | "I Love To See You Smile" from Parenthood | Nomination |
| 1990 | Best Original Score | Avalon | Nomination |
| 1994 | Best Original Song | "Make Up Your Mind" from The Paper | Nomination |
| 1995 | Best Original Song | "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story | Nomination |
| 1995 | Best Original Musical or Comedy Score | Toy Story | Nomination |
| 1996 | Best Original Musical or Comedy Score | James and the Giant Peach | Nomination |
| 1998 | Best Original Musical or Comedy Score | "A Bug's Life" | Nomination |
| 1998 | Best Original Dramatic Score | Pleasantville | Nomination |
| 1998 | Best Original Song | "That'll Do" from Babe: Pig in the City | Nomination |
| 1999 | Best Original Song | "When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2 | Nomination |
| 2000 | Best Original Song | "A Fool in Love" from Meet the Parents | Nomination |
| 2001 | Best Original Song | "If I Didn't Have You" from Monsters, Inc. | Win |
| 2001 | Best Original Score | "Monsters, Inc." | Nomination |
| 2006 | Best Original Song | "Our Town" from Cars | Nomination |
| 2009 | Best Original Song | "Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog | Nomination |
| 2009 | Best Original Song | "Down in New Orleans" from The Princess and the Frog | Nomination |
| 2010 | Best Original Song | "We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3 | Nomination |
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Two thoughts about Randy Newman
I have always admired and enjoyed Mr.
Newmans music. He is an inspiration and influenced me as a musician.
Thank you so much !
I have met Randy Newman, and he is wonderful, warm, and gracious to his fans. He is also very funny, both on stage and in person. I've loved his music for 40 years and think he's a genius. His last album of new material, "Harps and Angels," was brilliant and I hope there's another album soon.
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