Monty Norman, composer of the James Bond theme, dies at 94

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.

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