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George Fenton

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

George Fenton, born George Richard Ian Howe on 19 October 1949 in Bromley, Kent, was an English composer of film and television music. He had guitar lessons at the age of eight and studied organ at school with Peter Whitehouse, but never went to a conservatoire. In 1968 he appeared in Alan Bennett's first West End play, Forty Years On. He worked as an actor and musician and had a record deal with MCA. His 1969 cover of The Beatles' Maxwell's Silver Hammer became a big hit in Sweden.

Music and breakthrough

In 1974 he received his first major commission: the music for the Royal Shakespeare Company's Twelfth Night. In the 1970s and early 1980s he wrote a great deal for the theatre, often with the director Peter Gill, and for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Then came film. He wrote the music for Gandhi in 1982, Cry Freedom in 1987, Dangerous Liaisons in 1989, Groundhog Day, The Fisher King, You've Got Mail, Sweet Home Alabama and Hitch. He often worked with directors such as Richard Attenborough, Nora Ephron, Stephen Frears and Ken Loach.

Influence

Fenton also wrote the music for David Attenborough's natural history documentaries, such as Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and Wild Isles. He received five Oscar nominations and several Ivor Novello, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy and BMI awards. He was one of the few songwriters and composers to be made a Fellow of the Ivors Academy.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to his music for Planet Earth and notice how the music carries the images of nature. Ask yourself what images you would expect with it if you did not know the film.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists