John Barry

The composer who scored eleven Bond films and arranged the James Bond Theme.

John Barry (1933-2011) was an English film composer and conductor from York. He arranged and performed the 'James Bond Theme' for Dr. No (1962) and went on to score eleven Bond films between 1963 and 1987, a partnership with the series that lasted 25 years.

Quick Facts

Honorific suffix: OBE
Birth name: John Barry Prendergast
Born: 3 November 1933
Birthplace: York, England
Died: 30 January 2011
Place of death: Oyster Bay, New York, U.S.
Occupation: Composer, conductor
Children: 4, including Kate

Lore & Background

He started out working in his father's cinemas, learned the trumpet during national service in Cyprus, and in 1957 formed the John Barry Seven. The Dr. No producers were unhappy with the Bond theme Monty Norman had given them, and United Artists' head of music, Noel Rogers, brought Barry in.