RANDY NEWMAN

November 2003
		Award-winning musician, songwriter and composer Randy Newman has released a retrospective look at his career, "The Randy Newman Songbook." The artist answers your questions about composing for movies, his latest album and his life of music. RealAudio: Arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown talks with Newman about his life and work.

Forum Introduction Are there any other songwriters today who approach the task the way you do and if so, is that why I haven't heard of them? How should entertainers be viewed for their political views? What do you think of the current state of the music industry? Do you feel a desire to pass along your experiences, advice and wisdom to aspiring songwriters? What was it like working with Harry Nilsson?	Singer and songwriter Randy Newman's career spans several decades, and started when he left UCLA to record his first album, released in 1968. He quickly developed a reputation for quirky, humorous pop songs with rhythm and blues influences. Newman penned numerous hits for such artists as Dusty Springfield, UB40 and Cilla Black, among others. Newman released the album Good Old Boys in 1974, and in 1977 went platinum with "Little Criminals," which included the single "Short People." For several years thereafter, Newman focused on film composition, until releasing the album "Trouble in Paradise" in 1983, followed by "Land of Dreams" in 1988. He released the album "Bad Love" in 1999. One of the era's most successful composers of movie music, Newman has recorded scores for "Parenthood," "The Natural," "Toy Story," "James and the Giant Peach," and "Monsters, Inc.," among others. Newman has received 16 Oscar nominations, and in March 2002 won the Best Original Song Award for "If I Didn't Have You," from the movie "Monsters, Inc." Randy Newman answers your questions. Photograph of Randy Newman by Pamela Springsteen