Author: Thomas Newman

There is an art to creating a superb film soundtrack that guarantees the music is as deeply buried in one’s memory as the film’s storyline or characters are. Crazy Heart is a drama film released…

Pete Seeger was an American folk singer and social activist who left a lasting impact on the music industry. He was born on May 3, 1919, in New York City, and died on January 27,…

Reservoir Dogs was the first Quentin Tarantino film to ever be accompanied by an official soundtrack. Fortunately, he started on the right footing – while most soundtracks rarely do much to help a film’s reputation,…

In 2006, Mark Wahlberg starred in Invincible, the real-life story of the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver, Vince Papale. The film’s uplifting message was well-received, taking $17,031,122 in its opening week in the US and earning…

The 2010 comedy Grown Ups might have taken a lashing from the critics, but despite the dire reviews, it still managed to take enough at the box office ($271 million) to get the go-ahead for…

The third installment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series came in 1989, giving us the Griswolds in typically fine form as they spend their Christmas at home. There are hi-jinks, explosions, and Chevy Chase –…

Few artists have ever married sunny positivity with hard-hitting social commentary quite as well as Curtis Mayfield. Over a career spanning five decades, he helped shape and direct soul music, delivering some of the funkiest,…

Films don’t get much bigger than American Graffiti, a movie of such import in US culture, it’s been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” But what…

Country singer David Lee Murphy is one of the most down-to-earth, honest people in the music industry. He never hesitates to speak his mind, and he genuinely cares about his fans. Murphy got his start…