Award-winning TV and film composer John Strauss, who worked on films including the Oscar-winning Amadeus, has passed away aged 90 following a battle with Parkinson’s disease.In a career that spanned nearly 50 years, Strauss was the recipient of both an Emmy Award for sound editing and a Grammy for the best classical album for his work on The Amazing Howard Hughes and Amadeus respectively.
In Amadeus (1984) – the story of the rivalry between composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri – he was music co-ordinator and also briefly appeared in the film as a conductor.
Strauss also co-ordinated the music for three other films directed by Forman including Hair (1979), Ragtime (1981) and Valmont (1989).
However, Perhaps his best-known work outside of film came as a composer in the US, where he wrote the theme tune to hit 1960s comedy Car 54, Where Are You?.
He also scored the music to The Phil Silvers Show and the Elaine May film Mikey and Nicky (1976).
In addition, Strauss also teamed up with Woody Allen to work as music director on a number of the screenwriter and director’s films. They included Take the Money and Run and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask).
Speaking to the BBC, the Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said that Strauss’ varied back-catalogue of work “portrayed his versatility and wide range of skills as well as his notable contributions to the arts”.
The composer studied under Paul Hindemith at the Yale School of Music before teaching briefly at New York’s High School of Performing Arts.
