James Newton Howard Appointed to ASCAP Board of Directors

Film and TV Composer Has Scored Many Hollywood Hits

Film and television composer, orchestrator, keyboardist and record producer James Newton Howard has been appointed a Director by the ASCAP Board; it has been announced by ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman. Howard will complete the term of Oscar-winning composer Elmer Bernstein who passed away on August 18th.

"James brings a wealth of composing experience to the ASCAP Board, from early immersion in classical music, success in writing, arranging and performing pop music to a 30 year string of exceptional, award-winning film and television scores," said Marilyn Bergman. "He will provide very valuable insight into the music world of today and tomorrow to the benefit of all ASCAP members."

James Newton Howard has more than 70 films to his credit, including Michael Mann's Collateral, starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, Unbreakable, and Signs, Disney's CG animated Dinosaur, Atlantis: The Lost Continent and Treasure Planet, as well as Snow Falling On Cedars, Runaway Bride, and The Sixth Sense, which was one of the top ten grossing films of all time.

In addition to his five Oscar nominations, including three for Best Original Score -- The Fugitive, The Prince Of Tides and My Best Friend's Wedding, James Newton Howard has been rewarded for his diversity with numerous Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations. In 2000, he was honored with ASCAP's prestigious Henry Mancini Award.

The song "Look What Love Has Done" from 1994's Junior earned him the Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Song. His theme to Dying Young, performed by Kenny G. garnered a Grammy nomination, and the song "For The First Time" from the film One Fine Day earned him nominations for both Academy and Golden Globe Awards. Among his Emmy nominations is the groundbreaking theme from the acclaimed television series E.R.

His other wide-ranging credits include A Perfect Murder, Glengarry Glen Ross, Space Jam, Restoration, Waterworld, Wyatt Earp, Grand Canyon, Junior and Pretty Woman. His upcoming projects, due for release in 2005, include Batman Begins and The Interpreter.

After joining Elton John's band in 1975 as a keyboardist, Howard has maintained a long musical collaboration with the legendary rock artist as an arranger and performer, including joining John on his recent tour.

Having become one of the most sought-after musicians in the industry, he has racked up a string of collaborations in the studio with some of pop's biggest names including Earth Wind and Fire, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Toto, Glenn Frey, Olivia Newton-John, Randy Newman, Rickie Lee Jones, Cher and Chaka Khan.

"Music for film and television is an essential element of the ASCAP repertory and James Newton Howard will clearly reinforce that importance," added Bergman.