Angelo Badalamenti provided the music for some of famous Director David Lynch’s most iconic films, including Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet. However, he is probably best remembered for writing the legendary Twin Peaks score.
The famous composer’s death at the age of 85 was confirmed by several of his relatives.
Angelo’s niece Frances Badalamenti told The Hollywood Reporter he died of “natural causes” yesterday.
The beloved musician was surrounded by his family at his home in Lincoln Park, New Jersey at the time.
Angelo helped shape the mystical feel of some of David’s most prestigious projects.
He also wrote songs recorded by Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, Shirley Bassey and Mel Tillis and themes for Inside the Actors Studio and the Barcelona Summer Olympics.
The composer dramatically changed careers from a junior high school teacher in Brooklyn to one of cinema’s most influential musicians.
The classically trained star worked with the likes of Paul McCartney, Liza Minnelli and even the Pet Shop Boys.
Many will know him for the unforgettable theme tune for ABC’s Twin Peaks, with its sweeping score.
Angelo also composed the theme music for NBC’s Profiler and Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio.
He also composed for the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, where his Torch Theme during the opening ceremony accompanied an archer’s flaming arrow that ignited the Olympic cauldron.
In 1990, the musician received a Grammy Award for his legendary Twin Peaks theme tune.
He also went on to receive three Emmy nominations for his work on the series.
Angelo was David’s first port of call when he needed a vocal coach for actress Isabella Rossellini on his 1986 film Blue Velvet.
The star recruited the musician whilst filming in North Carolina, after learning that he had a reputation for working with singers.
The director would go on to trust Angelo with all of the music for the film, and the pair went on to collaborate on Twin Peaks between 1990 and 1991.
From there, he went on to compose for such titles as: Wild at Heart (1990), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), Lost Highway (1997), The Straight Story (1999) and Mulholland Drive (2001).
Fans took to social media to pay tribute to the late composer, with Ben writing: “RIP Angelo Badalamenti.
“Will always be amazed that the MIDI piano roll for Laura Palmer's Theme is actually twin peaks.”
“Oh no. RIP Angelo Badalamenti. This one hurts,” David added, while Isaac penned: “From TWIN PEAKS to BLUE VELVET, Angelo Badalamenti’s collaborations with David Lynch yielded some of the greatest film scores in the history of the medium, all otherworldly and transcendent.
“I also adore his MULHOLLAND DR. cameo as an espresso-loving gangster. RIP to a titan.” (sic)
