John Powell Biography

Share |

JOHN POWELL (Composer) landed a job composing music for commercials and television at London's Air-Edel Music in 1988. There, he worked alongside composers Hans Zimmer and Patrick Doyle, and made his first foray into feature films by assisting Doyle with the score of “Into the West” and writing cues for Zimmer on “White Fang.”

Adhering to one musical regime is not in Powell's nature. Before moving to Los Angeles, he played for more than 15 years with the Fabulistics, a London soul band that performed for everyone, from Lady Diana to denizens of the local pub. While in Los Angeles, it was Powell's hauntingly thematic score for the Nicolas Cage / John Travolta film “Face/Off” that put him on the map. Next he wrote romantic melodies with a quirky comedic sensibility, for Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock in “Forces of Nature.”

For DreamWorks' animated “Antz,” featuring the voices of Woody Allen and Sharon Stone, Powell created a musical mélange of jazz, Latin and classical sounds with a highly imaginative theme. Next came “Endurance,” developed and co-produced by Terrence Malick. In an almost wordless film, Powell's score serves as dialogue, conveying the central character's joy, dignity and struggle. For the animated film “Shrek” and “Shrek 2,” Powell impressed audiences and critics alike in creating a sophisticated and intelligent score. He again won the hearts of audiences with the poignant score for “I Am Sam.”

Powell has scored a wide variety of films, including “Chicken Run,” the recent action films “The Italian Job” and “The Bourne Identity,” the romantic comedy “Two Weeks Notice” and the audience-favorite “Drumline.” From action and thrillers to comedies and dramas, he has proven himself to be one of the most talented and original new voices on the film-music scene.

Last year, Powell scored the John Woo action film “Paycheck,” and this year Charles Stone III's “Mr. 3000.” In addition, Powell wrote the score to the sequel to the “The Bourne Identity,” director Paul Greengrass' “The Bourne Supremacy.”

Upcoming for Powell is another venture into the world of animation, with “Happy Feet” for George Miller and “Robots” for Chris Wedge. He will also re-team with director Doug Liman (“The Bourne Identity”) for “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”