Composer Monty Norman, who was most famous for writing the iconic James Bond theme, has died at the age of 94.
The news was confirmed in a short statement on the composer’s website, which reads: “It is with sadness we share the news that Monty Norman died on 11th July 2022 after a short illness.”
Norman’s theme was first heard in 1962 when it was included on the soundtrack to Dr No, Bond’s big-screen debut, and has been in use ever since.
Norman later revealed that the theme is actually an adaptation of a previous composition, Bad Sign, Good Sign, which was written for a stage musical that never saw the light of day.
Born in 1928 in the East End of London, Norman had earlier been a singer in a variety of big bands and penned songs for the likes of Cliff Richard, Tommy Steele, Count Basie and Bob Hope.
He also wrote a number of musicals that did make it into production, winning an Ivor Novello Award for Songbook, which debuted in 1979.
