Randy Newman

Singer / Composer

Randy Newman's pop songs of the 1970s earned him a reputation as a songwriter's songwriter, but he's famous to most audiences for his songs and scores for popular movies such as Toy Story (1995), Bug's Life (1998) and Monsters, Inc. (2001). Newman began writing songs at an early age, and in 1968 released his first album, Randy Newman Creates Something New Under the Sun. During the 1970s he released several albums that received critical praise and won over loyal fans, even if they didn't make Newman into rock star celebrity. He had a top 40 hit with "Sail Away" (1972), but it was his 1977 song "Short People," a controversial parody about bigotry, that became his biggest hit. Since the 1980s he has concentrated on writing film scores, including Ragtime (1981), The Natural (1984, starring Robert Redford), James and the Giant Peach (1996) and Toy Story 2 (1999).

Extra credit: Newman has been an Oscar-nominated composer more than a dozen times, beginning with 1981's Ragtime; his first Oscar win was for 2001's Monsters, Inc.... Newman's uncles, Alfred, Lionel and Emil Newman, were also film composers and conductors; Alfred Newman was the musical director for 20th Century Fox studios for many years... In 1970 singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson released an entire album of Newman songs, Nilsson Sings Newman... Three Dog Night's cover of Newman's "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" was a number one hit in 1970.

Other songwriters of Newman's era include Billy Joel, Barry Manilow and Joni Mitchell.