[Thor Joachim Haga]

Born 1926:

So these are the people turning 100 this year.

Laurence Rosenthal — still active

The most famous of the oldest composers. I’ve liked his work ever since I discovered him with THE YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES in the 90s (I have all four volumes on CD!), but plenty other favourites, like PETER THE GREAT and MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE MEN. The recent album they did when he was a lifetime achievement award recipient at the World Soundtrack Awards in Ghent (was it last year? Two years ago?), is a gem and well worth having if you just need a sample of some of his best work. He turns 100 on November 4th — go Larry!

Aleksandr Zatsepin — retired

Alas, I’m not familiar with his work at all. I’d like to sample THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD PLANET (1981), which apparently is a groundbreaking electronic score.

Philip Springer — retired

I’ve seen him post videos on SoMe in recent years, where he plays the piano. But his film work I’m not familiar with. I know he did a lot of TV.

David Lee — retired

Graham Watt actually suggested him way back when. A jazz pianist who occasionally scored stuff. I think he did some episodes of THE AVENGERS. But I’ll let Graham fill in the blanks, if he’s still reading this board.

Born 1925:

I’ve not been able to find a single person with a film music connection born in 1925 that is still alive.

Born 1924:

Terry Gibbs — retired

This was a wild guess that I did. He’s first and foremost a famous jazz vibraphonist, but on Wikipedia, it says that he worked a lot in the film and TV studios in Los Angeles. I assume as a session musician, but maybe he scored a few things too. Maybe Dr. Jacoby knows him, and can fill in the blanks?

Born 1923:

Johnny Pate — retired

So here he is — John William Pate, the oldest living film composer in the world, at 102. Of course, he did lots of other things, but he has that batch of blaxploitation films in the 70s, like SHAFT IN AFRICA and BROTHER ON THE RUN that are well worth mentioning. I have both of those. Here’s a video that was made two years ago, when he turned 100. Still looks vibrant and healthy.

Born 1922:

Ray Anthony — retired

Not a film composer. In fact, I don’t know if he’s composed anything at all. But at 104, the legendary trumpeter who once played in the Glenn Miller orchestra is the oldest person alive with a film music connection (after Elisabeth Waldo’s recent death), as he played on countless classic film scores in his life. And even appeared onscreen himself in some.

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OK, that’s it for the walkthrough! I was hoping more people would chime in as well, but it is what it is.