LONDON (AP) — British composer Monty Norman of James Bond theme tune fame has died at the age of 94. A statement on Norman’s official website said he died Monday after a short illness.
Norman was hired by producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli to compose a theme for the first James Bond film, “Dr. No,” released in 1962. He drew on a piece he had written for a proposed stage musical, shifting the key riff from sitar to electric guitar.
Producers hired composer John Barry to rearrange the theme, and Barry was widely assumed to have written it — to Norman’s chagrin.
Norman successfully sued the Sunday Times newspaper for libel over a 1997 article asserting the theme was composed by Barry.
RELATED: James Caan, Oscar nominee for ‘The Godfather,’ dies at 82
RELATED: Ray Liotta, ‘Goodfellas’ and ‘Field of Dreams’ star, dies
