George Fenton, acclaimed composer for 'Gandhi' and 'Planet Earth,' dies at 76
The prolific musician, known for his Oscar-nominated film scores and award-winning nature documentary soundtracks, died unexpectedly.
Composer George Fenton, whose prolific career spanned iconic film scores and acclaimed nature documentaries, has died at the age of 76. His family announced his passing, stating it was unexpected.
Fenton was recognized for his contributions to cinema and television, earning five Oscar nominations for his film scores, including for "The Remains of the Day" and "Cry Freedom." His work on the BBC's "Blue Planet" was also highly celebrated, receiving accolades from BAFTA, the Emmy Awards, and Ivor Novellos. He also composed theme music for BBC News programs such as "Newsnight" and "Breakfast Time."
Born George Howe in Bromley, Kent, in 1949, Fenton developed an early passion for music, influenced by The Beatles. Despite his parents' musical background, he initially pursued a career as a performer after rejecting opportunities to attend university and music college. He appeared in Alan Bennett's West End play "Forty Years On" in 1968, adopting his mother's maiden name to comply with union rules.
His music career took a decisive turn in the mid-1970s when his acting roles increasingly required him to play instruments. This led him to focus on composition, securing his first position as composer and musical director for a Royal Shakespeare Company production of "Twelfth Night" in 1974. His breakthrough in film scoring came in 1982 with Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi," for which he collaborated with Indian musician Ravi Shankar. This score, reflecting Indian musical traditions, earned him his first Oscar nomination.
Throughout the 1980s, Fenton composed scores for numerous television series, including the BAFTA-winning "The Jewel in the Crown" and Alan Bennett's "Talking Heads." He also penned widely recognized theme tunes for BBC news programs.
His work on "Cry Freedom" in 1987, a film about South African activist Steve Biko, earned him two Oscar nominations. For this project, he collaborated with South African jazz musician Jonas Gwangwa, and remarkably, found himself singing the title track—a list of anti-apartheid activists—live on television after it was nominated for an Oscar.
Fenton's contributions to natural history programming include the scores for the BBC's "Earth Trilogy": "The Blue Planet," "Planet Earth," and "Frozen Planet." His music is credited with enhancing the emotional impact of these visually stunning documentaries.
He also developed "The Blue Planet in Concert," a live orchestral performance based on his documentary score, which has been performed globally. Other notable soundtracks include "The Long Walk Home," "You've Got Mail," and "Mrs Henderson Presents." Fenton had a long-standing collaboration with director Ken Loach, scoring 18 of his films, including "I, Daniel Blake" and "The Wind That Shakes the Barley."
Beyond his composing work, Fenton founded the Association of Professional Composers and was a visiting professor at the Royal College of Music. In recognition of his contributions to music, he was appointed a CBE in 2023. Fenton often described his musical career as accidental, finding immense joy in seeing his compositions brought to life through performance.