George Fenton, one of the UK's most prolific and successful composers, has died at the age of 76. His notable works include music for films such as Gandhi, Groundhog Day, and The Fisher King, as well as TV shows like Planet Earth and Bergerac.
Career Highlights
Fenton received five Oscar nominations for his film scores, including those for Dangerous Liaisons and Cry Freedom. His work on the BBC TV show Blue Planet earned him awards from the Baftas, Emmy Awards, and Ivor Novellos. He also composed theme music for BBC News programmes such as Newsnight and Breakfast Time.
In a statement, Fenton's family expressed their sorrow, saying, "We are very sad to announce that George Fenton passed away unexpectedly today." They added, "He is survived by his loving wife Amanda, ex-wife Jane, children Gemma, Grace, and Bridget, and grandchildren Lola, Audrey, Alfred, George, Frank, and Beatrice, and a life of music."
The cause of death was not disclosed, but it was noted that Fenton had signed a new worldwide publishing deal just three weeks prior. At that time, he mentioned he was working on two new film scores and a musical.
Early Life and Education
Born George Howe in Bromley, Kent in 1949, Fenton came from a musical family. His father was a mechanical engineer and his mother a dancer turned nurse. Fenton chose the electric guitar as his instrument at the age of seven, stating, "That was when music became more important than football."
