Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Alan Anthony Silvestri (born March 26, 1950) is an American film composer and conductor.
Career
Silvestri is best known for his collaborations with director Robert Zemeckis, having scored Romancing the Stone (1984), the Back to the Future trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Death Becomes Her (1992), Forrest Gump (1994), Contact (1997), Cast Away (2000), The Polar Express (2004), Beowulf (2007) and A Christmas Carol (2009).
Silvestri is also known for his work on Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (1990), both of which are considered preeminent examples of action/science fiction film scores. He has also begun a collaboration with director Stephen Sommers, scoring the films The Mummy Returns in 2001, Van Helsing in 2004, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in 2009. His most recent work included The Avengers in 2012.
Silvestri has also composed music for television shows, including TJ Hooker (one episode), Starsky & Hutch (three episodes), CHiPs, and Manimal (all but one episode).
Silvestri was 21 years old when he started his film/television composing career. His early style is marked by a strong use of the octatonic scale, as well as an eclectic use of different notes and instruments.
Personal life
Silvestri was born in New York City. He studied guitar at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out after two years to tour with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders.
Silvestri grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and attended Teaneck High School there.
Silvestri also owns a vineyard, Silvestri Vineyards, located in Carmel Valley, California.
Awards
Silvestri has received two Academy Award nominations, one for Best Original Score for Forrest Gump (1994) and one for Best Original Song for "Believe" on The Polar Express soundtrack. He also received two Golden Globe nominations: Best Score for Forrest Gump and Best Song for The Polar Express.
He has also received four Grammy Award nominations, winning two awards – Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, for “Believe” from The Polar Express in 2004 and Best Instrumental Composition, for "Cast Away End Credits" from Cast Away in 2002. His other two nominations were for Best Soundtrack Album (for Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit). During the 2005 Grammys, Josh Groban performed "Believe."
On September 23, 2011 he was awarded with the Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award by the City of Vienna at the yearly film music gala concert Hollywood in Vienna.
