John Williams

John Williams
Biographical information
Born	February 8, 1932 Floral Park, New York, USA
Nationality	American

"Once again, John Williams has exceeded my expectations and produced a lavish, rich, moving and thrilling score. Every fan of Star Wars—and of great music—is in his debt."

―George Lucas about John Williams' score for Revenge of the Sith

John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932) is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. He has composed nearly all of the music heard in the Star Wars films. He has also composed scores for multiple other well-known movies and television shows, including Indiana Jones, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Superman.

Biography

Williams conducting the London Symphony Orchestra

In 1977, he composed the music for Star Wars, which turned out to be a huge success. Star Wars became the best-selling score-only soundtrack of all time and won him an Oscar.

Williams's son, Joseph Williams, chose a musical career like his father. The two worked together on Return of the Jedi and Attack of the Clones.

Rick McCallum stated at Star Wars Reunion II that he had hoped to have John Williams on the musical score for the Star Wars live-action TV series and added that each episode would have had its own original score.

Discography

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner Imperial Attack The Dune Sea of Tatooine/Jawa Sandcrawler The Hologram / Moisture Farm Binary Sunset Landspeeder Search/Attack of the Sand People Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn About the Force Burning Homestead Mos Eisley Spaceport Cantina Band (Source Music) Binary Sunset (Alternate) Princess Leia's Theme The Millennium Falcon/Imperial Cruiser Pursuit Destruction of Alderaan The Death Star/The Stormtroopers Wookiee Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush Shootout in the Cell Bay/Dianoga The Trash Compactor The Tractor Beam / Chasm Crossfire Ben Kenobi's Death / TIE Fighter Attack The Battle of Yavin (Launch from the Fourth Moon/X-Wings Draw Fire/Use the Force) The Throne Room/End Title Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Main Title/The Ice Planet Hoth The Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight The Imperial Probe/Aboard The Executor The Battle of Hoth (Ion Cannon/Imperial Walkers/Beneath the AT-AT/Escape in the Millennium Falcon) The Asteroid Field Arrival on Dagobah Luke's Nocturnal Visitor Han Solo and the Princess Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave The Training of a Jedi Knight/The Magic Tree The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) Yoda's Theme Attacking a Star Destroyer Yoda and the Force Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds Lando's Palace Betrayal at Bespin Deal With the Dark Lord Carbon Freeze / Darth Vader's Trap / Departure of Boba Fett The Clash of Lightsabers Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) Main Title/Approaching the Death Star/Tatooine Rendezvous The Droids are Captured Bounty for a Wookiee Han Solo Returns Luke Confronts Jabba/Den of the Rancor/Sarlacc Sentence The Pit of Carkoon/Sail Barge Assault The Emperor Arrives/The Death of Yoda/Obi-Wan's Revelation Alliance Assembly Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor Speeder Bike Chase/Land of the Ewoks Jabba's Baroque Recital (Source Music) Jedi Rocks (Source Music) Parade of the Ewoks Luke and Leia Brother and Sister/Father and Son/The Fleet Enters Hyperspace/Heroic Ewok The Emperor's Theme The Battle of Endor I (Into the Trap/Forest Ambush/Scout Walker Scramble/Prime Weapon Fires) The Lightsaber/The Ewok Battle The Battle of Endor II (Leia is Wounded/The Duel Begins/Overtaking the Bunker/The Dark Side Beckons/The Emperor's Death) The Battle of Endor III (Superstructure Chase/Darth Vader's Death/The Main Reactor) Leia's News/Light of the Force Victory Celebration/End Title Ewok Feast/Part of the Tribe (Source Music) The Forest Battle (Concert Suite) Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) Star Wars Main Title and the Arrival at Naboo Duel of the Fates Anakin's Theme Jar Jar's Introduction and the Swim to Otoh Gunga The Sith Spacecraft and the Droid Battle The Trip to the Naboo Temple and the Audience with Boss Nass The Arrival at Tatooine and the Flag Parade He is the Chosen One Anakin Defeats Sebulba Passage Through the Planet Core Watto's Deal and Kids at Play Panaka and the Queen's Protectors Queen Amidala and the Naboo Palace The Droid Invasion and the Appearance of Darth Maul Qui-Gon's Noble End The High Council Meeting and Qui-Gon's Funeral Augie's Great Municipal Band and End Credits Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) Star Wars Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant Across the Stars (Love Theme from "Attack of the Clones") Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant Yoda and the Younglings Departing Coruscant Anakin and Padmé Jango's Escape The Meadow Picnic Bounty Hunter's Pursuit Return to Tatooine The Tusken Camp and the Homestead Love Pledge and the Arena Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) Star Wars Main Title and the Revenge of the Sith Anakin's Dream Battle of the Heroes Anakin's Betrayal General Grievous Palpatine's Teachings Grievous and the Droids Padmé's Ruminations Anakin vs. Obi-Wan Anakin's Dark Deeds Enter Lord Vader The Immolation Scene Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious The Birth of the Twins and Padmé's Destiny A New Hope and End Credits Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) Main Title and The Attack on the Jakku Village The Scavenger I Can Fly Anything Rey Meets BB-8 Follow Me Rey's Theme The Falcon That Girl with the Staff The Rathtars! Finn's Confession Maz's Counsel The Starkiller Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle The Abduction Han and Leia March of the Resistance Snoke On the Inside Torn Apart The Ways of the Force Scherzo for X-Wings Farewell and The Trip The Jedi Steps and Finale Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) Main Title and Escape Ahch-To Island Revisiting Snoke The Supremacy Fun With Finn and Rose Old Friends The Rebellion Is Reborn Lesson One Canto Bight Who Are You? The Fathiers The Cave The Sacred Jedi Texts A New Alliance "Chrome Dome" The Battle of Crait The Spark The Last Jedi Peace and Purpose Finale Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) The Adventures of Han Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Galaxy's Edge Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) Fanfare and Prologue Journey to Exegol The Rise of Skywalker The Old Death Star The Speeder Chase Destiny of a Jedi Anthem of Evil Fleeing from Kijimi We Go Together Join Me They Will Come The Final Saber Duel Battle of the Resistance Approaching the Throne The Force Is with You Farewell Reunion A New Home Finale

Filmography

Year	Title	Contribution(s)
2019	Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker	Oma Tres

Awards

Academy Awards

Williams (with Jonathan Tunick, winner for Best Score Adaptation-A Little Night Music) holding his Oscar for Best Original Score

Year	Project	Category	Result
1977	Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope	Best Original Score	Won
1980	Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back	Best Original Score	Nominated
1983	Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi	Best Original Score	Nominated
2015	Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens	Best Original Score	Nominated
2017	Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi	Best Original Score	Nominated
2019	Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker	Best Original Score	Nominated

BAFTA Awards

Year	Project	Category	Result
1978	Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope	Original Film Music	Won
1980	Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back	Original Film Music	Won
2015	Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens	Original Film Music	Nominated
2019	Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker	Original Film Music	Nominated

Bibliography

• The Star Wars Album
• The Jedi Master's Quizbook
• "Star Tours: 'The Ultimate Adventure' is Still the Ultimate Ride at Disneyland"—The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 2
• The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
• Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Limited Collector's Edition
•  Lucas Presents Maestro Award to Williams on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
• The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film
• Star Wars Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle
• "Launch Pad"—Star Wars Insider 146
• Star Wars Rebels: An Interview with Composer Kevin Kiner on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Authors of the Expanded Universe: Matthew Woodring Stover"—Star Wars Insider 149
• Star Wars: Episode VII Adds Academy Award Winner Lupita Nyong'o and Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Introducing Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Master Filmmaking Team Announced for Star Wars: Episode VII on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: Episode VII to Open December 18, 2015 on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens Receives 5 Oscar Nominations on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "The Wonder Column"—Star Wars Insider 200
• Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga: The Official Collector's Edition
• Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian: Making of the Season 2 Finale

External links

• John Williams at the Internet Movie Database
• John Williams on Wikipedia
• JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network
• Ross, Alex: The Force Is Still Strong with the "Star Wars" Composer John Williams (2020-07-21). newyorker.com. The New Yorker. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021.

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