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Mark Isham Biography

Birth Name:Mark Ware Isham

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Composer, Music department, Actor

Fast Facts

Was nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for Best Instrumental Composition for "A River Runs Through It" in 1994 and one for Best Score Soundtrack Album for "Men of Honor" in 2002
Won a Hollywood Film Festival Award for Composer of the Year in 2007
Won three ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards for Top Box Office Films, one for "Blade" in 1999, one for "Eight Below" in 2007, and one for "Dolphin Tale" in 2012
Won a BMI Film Music Award for "The Lucky One" and a BMI TV Music Award for "Once Upon a Time" in 2013
Won the Henry Mancini Career Achievement Award for musical excellence in 2006
Became interested in the trumpet from a young age thanks to his musician parents and was playing in jazz clubs by the age of 15
Released his debut album, "Vapor Drawings," which was heavily influenced by his experimentation with electronic music, in 1983
Quote: "I create emotion through music, whether it's high or low, anger or passion, exhilaration or death, denial or lust, motion or solitude․ And when I can take a person on this journey through film or recordings, there's nothing more satisfying․"
Best known as a synthesist and film and TV composer who created the musical scores for "Once Upon a Time," "Crash," and "Chicago Hope․"
Provided trumpet sounds on songs for a number of music artists, including Ziggy Marley, The Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, and Bruce Springsteen

Awards

1985LAFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
1988LAFCA Award-Best Music: winner
1992ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
1992LAFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
1993Oscar-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
1994Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
1994Grammy-Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
1995Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music: nominated
1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Main Title Theme Music: nominated
1997OFTA Television Award-Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
1997OFTA Television Award-Best New Theme Song in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
1997OFTA Television Award-Best New Theme Song in a Series: nominated
1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Main Title Theme Music: winner
1998OFTA Television Award-Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Main Title Theme Music: nominated
1999ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
2000ASCAP Award-Top TV Series: winner
2002Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
2005IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Comedy Film: nominated
2006IFMCA Award-Film Score of the Year: nominated
2006IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Drama Film: winner
2007ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
2007ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
2007IFMCA Award-Film Music Composition of the Year: nominated
2011Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA)-BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - FILM: winner
2012ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
2013BMI TV Music Award-: winner
2013BMI Film Music Award-Film Music: winner
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Score: nominated
2015Black Reel-Outstanding Score: nominated
2016HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Independent Film: nominated
2018HMMA Award-Best Original Score - TV Show/Limited Series: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score): nominated
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score): nominated
2021IFJA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
2021MNFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album: nominated
2023HMMA Award-Best Original Score - TV Show/Limited Series: nominated
2023HMMA Award-Best Original Score - TV/Streamed Movie: winner