Bill Conti

Bill Conti Headshot

Composer • Conductor

Birth Date: April 13, 1942

Age: 81 years old

While Bill Conti may forever be associated with the rousing, infectious music he composed for the series of "Rocky" films, he has also proved the scores for countless TV programs and films. As a child in Rhode Island, he learned to play the piano from his father. By the time the family relocated to Miami, Conti was the front man for his own jazz band. After receiving degrees in music from Louisiana State and Juilliard, he moved to Italy to study opera composition. During his stay in Rome, he began to provide music for films such as "Candidate per un Assassino/Candidate for a Killing." At the 1971 Venice Film Festival, Conti met director Paul Mazursky who hired the musician to supervise the score of "Blume in Love" (1973). The two collaborated further on "Harry and Tonto" (1974) and "Next Stop, Greenwich Village" (1975). But it was his music for the Oscar-winning sleeper hit "Rocky" (1976), especially the Academy Award-nominated theme "Gonna Fly Now," that established Conti as an in-demand composer. He went on to score several films directed and/or starring Sylvester Stallone (including the "Rocky" sequels) as well as several for "Rocky" director John G Avildsen (most notably "The Karate Kid" films).

A prolific composer, Conti has remained at the top of form since the late 70s. He provided memorable theme music for a number of TV series and newsmagazines, ranging from "Dynasty" and "Falcon Crest" to "Primetime Live." For the haunting theme to the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only" (1981), he shared in a second Best Original Song Oscar nomination and finally captured a statue for his inspirational score to "The Right Stuff" (1983). Among his numerous credits are the score to James L Brooks' Oscar-nominated "Broadcast News" (1987), "8 Seconds" (1994) and "The Devil's Own" (1997). Since 1977, Conti has served a record 12 times as musical director of the annual Academy Awards telecast.

Credits

Sound of Cinema

Guest
Show
2013

The Perfect Game

Original Music
Movie
2008

Rocky BalboaStream

Original Music
Movie
2006
78%

Avenging Angelo

Original Music
Movie
2002

Boys on the Run

Original Music
Movie
2001

The Thomas Crown AffairStream

Music
Movie
1999
69%

Winchell

Original Music
Movie
1998

Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story

Original Music
Movie
1996

Bushwhacked

Original Music
Movie
1995

8 Seconds

Original Music
Movie
1994

The Scout

Original Music
Movie
1994

Yellowstone

Original Music
Movie
1994

Blood In, Blood Out: Bound by Honor

Original Music
Movie
1993
62%

The Adventures of Huck FinnStream

Original Music
Movie
1993
75%

Rookie of the Year

Original Music
Movie
1993

Grand CanyonStream

Original Music
Movie
1991
78%

Backstreet Dreams

Original Music
Movie
1990

Rocky VStream

Original Music
Movie
1990
31%

Lean on MeStream

Original Music
Movie
1989
68%

The Karate Kid Part IIIStream

Original Music
Movie
1989
15%

Lock Up

Music
Movie
1989

Betrayed

Original Music
Movie
1988

The Big Blue

Original Music
Movie
1988

I Love N.Y.

Original Music
Movie
1987

Masters of the UniverseStream

Original Music
Movie
1987
22%

A Prayer for the Dying

Music
Movie
1987

Baby BoomStream

Original Music
Movie
1987
67%

Broadcast NewsStream

Original Music
Movie
1987
98%

Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic

Original Music
Movie
1986

F/XStream

Original Music
Movie
1986
89%

The Karate Kid Part IIStream

Original Music
Movie
1986
45%

Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets

Original Music
Movie
1984

The Bear

Original Music
Movie
1984

The Karate KidStream

Original Music
Movie
1984
89%

Unfaithfully YoursStream

Original Music
Movie
1984
33%

The Terry Fox Story

Original Music
Movie
1983

Bad Boys

Original Music
Movie
1983

The Right StuffStream

Original Music
Movie
1983
96%

Cagney & LaceyStream

Music
Series
1982

Farrell for the People

Original Music
Movie
1982

Rocky IIIStream

Original Music
Movie
1982
65%

Split Image

Music
Movie
1982

For Your Eyes OnlyStream

Original Music
Movie
1981
69%

Rocky IIStream

Original Music
Movie
1979
70%

Dreamer

Original Music
Movie
1979

Paradise Alley

Original Music
Movie
1978

Uncle Joe Shannon

Original Music
Movie
1978

Citizens Band

Music
Movie
1977

A Sensitive, Passionate Man

Original Music
Movie
1977

RockyStream

Original Music
Movie
1976
92%

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis

Original Music
Movie
1971