John Williams

John Williams (born 8 February 1932) is an American composer and conductor responsible for some of the most-recognized film scores of all-time, including the themes to Star Wars, Superman, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, "Jurassic Park", and Schindler's List.

Quotes

• "So much of what we do is ephemeral and quickly forgotten, even by ourselves, so it's gratifying to have something you have done linger in people's memories."

• "There’s a very basic human, non-verbal aspect to our need to make music and use it as part of our human expression. It doesn’t have to do with body movements, it doesn't have to do with articulation of a language, but with something spiritual."
  • John Williams, quoted from the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial CD liner notes

• "I hadn't heard of either disco or Meco. When I was asked to listen to Meco's now-famous recording, I was a little apprehensive, wondering how a pop record could be made from "The March from Star Wars" and what it would be like. I immediately liked what I heard and sensed that a genuine communication was taking place. Meco took things forward another step by bringing Star Wars to a vast audience who otherwise would not have heard it in its original symphonic setting. I am most grateful to Meco for all of this and I am delighted that 'disco' and 'Meco' are now household words."
  • John Williams, quoted in Jones, Alan and Kantonen, Jussi (1999). Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco, p.74. Chicago, Illinois: A Cappella Books. ISBN 1556524110.
  • See: Disco.

• "Leroy Anderson is an American original - direct, honest, personal, idiosyncratic, and free of pretension. His music is directed to, and reflective of, the American soul."
  • John Williams, conductor laureate, Boston Pops Orchestra, Leroy Anderson Square Dedication, Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 17, 2003.

Quotes about John Williams

• "Without John Williams, bikes don’t really fly, nor do brooms in Quidditch matches, nor do men in red capes. There is no Force, dinosaurs do not walk the Earth, we do not wonder, we do not weep, we do not believe."
  • Steven Spielberg, quoted from his honorific speech at the 44th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to John Williams.