Talk:John Barry (composer)

A-ha
I added this information to the bio:

Barry and a-ha had several dissagrements during the making of the title song " The Living Daylights " and Barry went so far as to refer a-ha to being the Hitler Jugend. Barry has never soften up towards a-ha, but in 2006 .....etc..........( The bio continues as it were here )Mortyman 18:04, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

I was told that the famous correspondence course was based on a quirky mathematical formula for composing tunes. Anyone know if there's any truth in this? Jigsawpuzzleman 19:04, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

A quick gogle learns that the correspondence course was with a mr Bill Russo, a trombonist, and concerned arrangements for orchestras. I'm not aware if Mr Russo was a mathematician. See here for an interview with Mr Barry where he discusses the matter, and here for Mr Russo's obit. (Looks like someone meriting his proper wikipedia entry) Milliped 18:39, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

Indeed, indeed - thank you for that. Jigsawpuzzleman 13:45, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Bond
"He does not associate himself with the modern James Bond movies." Which are modern? What does this mean "does not associate himself"?
 * I'm not the one who wrote it. It means he doesn't write the music for it. If you don't like the word 'modern' or 'associate' then you can propose a fix here. Thank you --Nkour 22:04, 6 Jan 2005 (UTC)

OBE
The arti9cle says he has been awarded an OBe, but it doesn't say when he was awarded this. Would someone be able to add this as I don't know and am not sure where to find the info. Thanks, Evil Eye 23:02, 27 July 2005

'Big 4' of modern film composers
I strongly object to this statement, and suggest that it either be remove, or amended. Having spent 32-years as a record company executive, and producing the soundtracks of scores by Barry ('Frances', 'High Road to China') and Bernard Herrmann ('Citizen Kane', etc.), I would most certainly include Bernard Herrmann in lieu of Henry Mancini.--Jslasher 07:58, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
 * I agree. Not to disrespect John Barry, but who decided these 4 names were "the Big Four".  What about James Horner?  This is utterly POV, and I'm removing it.  JackofOz 02:01, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

I do not mind the removal of this statement. However, note that while Herrmann is a legendary film composer, the subject is Modern Film Composers. While Mancini and Goldsmith have sadly passed away, both composers were still very active into their last years, well into the 1980's and 90's while Herrmann passed away in 1975 (if I rememeber correctly), and most of his most well known works date from the 50's and 60's. Also, whilst Horner is certainly a fantastic composer, I believe most people would agree that the four mentioned have a longevity and have a pedigree that the younger Horner has yet to aquire ... yet! TimC 12:52,01 Dec 2006
 * I do not mind either. Properly referenced quotes giving Barry credit for what is widely considered to be some outstanding work are fine. Placing him in an arbritary "big four" is POV and insulting to many other great composers. Mark83 21:00, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:JohnBarry1.jpg
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James Bond theme
May I, once and for all, explain the real story behind the confusing credits for the James Bond theme and put paid to ill-informed comment. Monty Norman composed the theme for the film, Dr. No. His original arrangement had the famous theme played in octaves on piano with a string-led accompaniment (I have seen the original score). This was not considered to have the required impact and John Barry, having been engaged on the film as musical director, re-scored it, putting the theme on an electric guitar (played on the original session by Vic Flick, a member of the John Barry Seven) with hard-hitting, jazzy brass. The writer of the Wikipedia biography seems to confuse composition of the theme (which was what Monty Norman did) with the arrangement(which was what John Barry did). Thus Monty Norman is correctly credited as having composed the James Bond theme (i.e. 'thought it up' in the first place)while John Barry took the original theme and transformed it into that known throughout the world today. This underlines the importance of the arranger and orchestrator, a person severely undervalued where screen music is concerned, who often contributes far more than just 'dressing up' a piece of music. Rodney Newton, Music Consultant, London Film School 1 July 2008 Rodneysnewton@aol.com


 * Furthermore, the article credits John Barry with writing "From Russia with Love" whereas BMI gives Lionel Bart as sole composer. Here's the BMI link for John Barry. --Richhoncho (talk) 06:13, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Quite right. Barry had nothing to do with the composition of "From Russia With Love"; it is solely Lionel Bart's work, as one can see by the soundtrack credits, the sheet music, and credits for subsequent recordings of the song. Rich (talk) 04:01, 17 July 2009 (UTC)


 * John Barry was not the "musical director" on Dr. No. The music was orchestrated by Burt Rhodes and conducted by Eric Rogers - Barry came only in for arranging "The James Bond Theme". -- 188.194.49.76 (talk) 21:24, 1 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Source? And given you've just attempted to add a deliberate factual error it better be a good one. -- Eraserhead1 &lt;talk&gt; 21:26, 1 February 2011 (UTC)


 * Did you ever see the Main Title of Dr. No? There you can check all the things I have cited. And: The couple of John and Laurie Barry had only a son, Jonpatrick! Barry’s daughter Susan (Susie) is from his marriage with Barbara Pickard, his daughter Sian is from his liaison with Ulla Larsson, and his daughter Kate is from his marriage with Jane Birkin. Kate was born in 1967, is a prominent photographer, and you can get information about her family background on this website: http://artrock2006.blogspot.com/2008/12/kate-barry.html

Furthermore, you should read the various books about John Barry, his life and his music and inform yourself before accusing other people of vandalism! -- 188.194.49.76 (talk) 21:58, 1 February 2011 (UTC)
 * But the Guardian backs up the claim that is currently in the article, and all you've presented is a few blogs. Take a look at WP:V and WP:RS. -- Eraserhead1 &lt;talk&gt; 22:01, 1 February 2011 (UTC)
 * What does the Guardian write? "Barry ... is survived by his fourth wife Laurie, their son Jonpatrick, and three daughters, Susie, Sian and Kate." The Guardian simply claims that Barry had three daughters. He does not claim that they come from his marriage with Laurie! The names and the mothers of Barrys daughters can be found in the biography by Eddi Fiegel. And: I didn't cite any blogs! -- 188.194.49.76 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 22:37, 1 February 2011 (UTC).
 * Fair point, the Guardians statement is misleading, but your reading seems correct - I've reverted my change. -- Eraserhead1 &lt;talk&gt; 22:43, 1 February 2011 (UTC)

Death
Is there any useful source that can be cited regarding Barry's death at Glen Cove Hospital? Burlingame says he passed away at home in Oyster Bay. EON Productions (= the Barry family) states it was in New York. So far it is mainly the English Wiki spreading the information that Barry died at Glen Cove. Please sort this out.--193.5.216.100 (talk) 11:42, 2 February 2011 (UTC)
 * I have changed the infobox to match that which is stated in the text & in the reference used there. Keith D (talk) 13:04, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

Image caption
The 2012/6/23 edit by Timmyo101 cropped the image - a great improvement on the previous version - but unfortunately left the caption unchanged and including the name Paul Bateman, who is not in the new version. That's now resolved. Twistlethrop (talk) 05:39, 7 July 2012 (UTC)

Music for The Persuaders series
"Barry composed the theme for the 1971 TV series The Persuaders!, also known as The Unlucky Heroes, in which Tony Curtis and Roger Moore were paired as rich playboys solving crimes. The score for the series was composed by Ken Thorne."

So who composed what? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.182.152.17 (talk) 11:48, 2 May 2013 (UTC)


 * I have taken the liberty of modifying the formatting for the above comments to avoid an over long heading. Have cleaned up the confused wording. Philip Cross (talk) 13:58, 12 December 2014 (UTC)

Number of Bond soundtracks is ambiguous
There are different claims to the number of Bond films that Barry scored on this page and James_Bond_in_film. This page says 11, the linked page says 12. Tim Warner (talk) 17:32, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Laurie Who
Evidently, John Barry was married a fourth time to a person by the name of Laurie. Where is the last name? - KitchM (talk) 20:49, 26 September 2016 (UTC)

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Mary, Queen of Scots
The intro gives one of his soundtrack credits as Mary Queen of Scots. However, the link is incorrect. It should direct to the film, not the person. The link to the film is here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Queen_of_Scots_(2018_film)

However, the page for Mary Queen of Scots says that the music was by Max Richter. So this attribution seems incorrect entirely. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Alliwalk (talk • contribs) 17:03, 8 June 2020 (UTC)