Lalo Schifrin

On moving back to Buenos Aires in the mid 1950s, Schifrin formed his own big band, and was noticed by jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie, who asked him to become his pianist and arranger.

Schifrin moved to the United States in 1958 and his career really began to take off. In addition to his jazz and cinema compositions, he has conducted the London Philarmonic Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angelas Philarmonic, the Los Angelas Chamber Orchestra and many others.

Immensely talented, Argentinian born pianist, conductor and composer who has written over 100 scores for both television & the cinema including the memorable themes to Mission: Impossible (1966), Mannix (1967), Starsky and Hutch (1975), Cool Hand Luke (1967), and Bullitt (1968).

His song "Tar Sequence", from the music score for Cool Hand Luke (1967), was used for many years as the theme song for local "Eyewitness News" broadcasts on ABC-owned television stations (i.e. WABC-TV in New York City, USA and WLS-TV in Chicago, Illinois, USA). In Australia, it has also been used by the Nine Network for many years as the theme for National Nine News, now known as Nine News, and has more recently been used by regional networks affiliated with Nine, such as WIN Television, as the theme for their local news broadcasts.

Composed the 1970 Paramount TV jingle. This was used from the fall of 1970 to the fall of 1976, and from the fall of 1978 until the fall of 1987.

Schifrin has regularly worked alongside Clint Eastwood (another jazz music aficionado) on numerous contributions including the theme's to all the Dirty Harry films, plus Joe Kidd (1972) and Coogan's Bluff (1968). During his illustrious career, Schifrin has received four Grammy Awards, and has received six Oscar nominations. Schifrin received his classical music training in both Argentina & France, and is a highly respected jazz pianist.

Bruce Lee personally chose him to score Enter the Dragon (1973). Upon their lunch meeting, Lee told him that he worked out to the soundtrack from Mission: Impossible (1966).

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on June 21, 1988.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994.

Received the Film Music Society's career achievement award. [2000]

After six Oscar nominations Lalo Schifrin finally won a well deserved Honorary Academy Award at the 10th Annual Governors Awards, held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom on November 18, 2018.