James Bond Composer Monty Norman Dead At 94

Monty Norman, a legendary film composer and singer who was best known for creating the iconic ‘James Bond Theme’, has died at the age of 94.

The news was confirmed in a statement released on Norman’s website: “It is with sadness we share the news that Monty Norman died on 11th July 2022 after a short illness,” it reads.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Monty Norman today,” James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a statement via Twitter. “Monty created the iconic anthem to accompany the cinematic entrance of the world’s greatest secret agent, 007, and we are eternally grateful for his contribution to the franchise.”

Norman wrote the score for Dr. No - the first James Bond film, which released in 1962 and starred Sean Connery. He also worked on a number of musicals, including the music and lyrics for 1958’s Make Me an Offer and Expresso Bongo.

As ComicBook reports, when Norman was first asked if he’d like to write the score for Dr. No, he’d not read the James Bond books before. He actually adapted the theme from one of his previous compositions for a musical adaptation of A House For Mr. Biswas, which never made the stage: “I went to my bottom drawer, found this number that I’d always liked, and played it to myself,” Norman said on The One Show. “I thought, ‘what would happen if I split the notes?’ And immediately, the moment I did that, I realised that this was what I was looking for.”

“I hope when the time comes people will remember that I’ve done quite a few things,” Norman previously said in an interview (via his website). “But the fact that James Bond is so iconic in everybody’s mind - you can’t argue with that and nor would I want to.”

Our thoughts go out to Norman’s family and friends at this difficult time.