- Born
- Died
- Isao Tomita was born on April 22, 1932 in Tokyo, Japan. He was a composer, known for The Twilight Samurai (2002), Ocean's Thirteen (2007) and Demon Pond (1979). He was married to Akiko Homma. He died on May 5, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
- SpouseAkiko Homma(? - May 5, 2016) (his death, 2 children)
- ChildrenMasaru Tomita
- After hearing Wendy Carlos' "Switched-on Bach," he learned that nobody in Japan had a synthesizer. He flew to New York in 1972 to buy one from the Moog company. When he tried to have it shipped back, Japanese customs officers wouldn't allow it. They thought it might be some kind of contraband military equipment. They demanded that he prove it was a musical instrument by playing it for them, but the Moog was difficult to program, and he didn't actually know how to play it properly. Finally, he got someone to send him a photo of a musician playing a synthesizer on stage, and the customs officers allowed it.
- Was Ridley Scott's initial choice to score Alien (1979).
- Has written extensive musical scores and incidental music for many Japanese television shows.
- Within a year of acquiring the Moog, he'd mastered it. In 1974 he released "Snowflakes Are Dancing," his interpretation of some of Debussy's works. International response was immediate, and the album was nominated for four Grammy awards, including best classical album, making him the first Japanese nominee for a Grammy.
- Has recorded a series of albums and CD's featuring electronic re-workings of classical music.
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