Harold Faltermeyer

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

Harold Faltermeyer, from Munich, studied at the music conservatoire there and worked as a keyboard player and arranger for Giorgio Moroder, on films including Midnight Express and American Gigolo. His own breakthrough was Beverly Hills Cop (1984). The instrumental theme Axel F, with a bouncy synthesizer melody and a tight drum-machine rhythm, became a worldwide hit. The album won a Grammy. He then wrote the music for the comedy Fletch (1985) and for Top Gun (1986). The Top Gun Anthem, with guitarist Steve Stevens, won a Grammy in 1987. Faltermeyer turned synthesizer pop into the standard sound of the Hollywood action film.

Listening

• 
  Axel F · Harold Faltermeyer, 1984
• 
  Fletch Theme · Harold Faltermeyer, 1985
• 
  Top Gun Anthem · Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens, 1986

Discography

Studio albums

• 1984Thief of Hearts: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (soundtrack)
• 1986Top Gun: Music From the Motion Picture (soundtrack)
• 1987The Running Man (soundtrack)
• 1988Harold F
• 1989Fletch Lives (soundtrack)
• 1992Kuffs (soundtrack)
• 1997Jack Orlando (soundtrack)
• 2002Wake Up (soundtrack)
• 2007Tango & Cash (soundtrack)
• 2007Two Worlds (soundtrack)
• 2010Cop Out: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (soundtrack)
• 2010Two Worlds 2: Pirates of the Flying Fortress OST (soundtrack)
• 2011Beverly Hills Cop II (soundtrack)
• 2022Top Gun: Maverick: Music From the Motion Picture (soundtrack)
• 2025Titans Arise

Other work

• 1984Beverly Hills Cop
• 1985Fletch
• 1986Top Gun

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• Film Music Map^NL Map
• The Dream Factory: Film Reel 5^NL Reader

Mentioned in other articles

• Disco and synth-pop scores GenreWith ‘Axel F’ for Beverly Hills Cop (1984), the German Harold Faltermeyer made a synthesizer melody that became a worldwide hit.

See also

• Disco and synth-pop scores