Film and Television Awards

ASCAP Honors Top Film and Television Composers and Songwriters at 17th Annual Gala

ASCAP honored the composers, songwriters and publishers of the biggest box office film music and the most performed television music of the year at its 17th annual Film and Television Music Awards gala on April 30th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. More than 650 members of the music industry elite attended the event which was hosted by Academy Award–winning lyricist and ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman.

The evening's special highlight was the presentation of the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award to film composer Alan Silvestri in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film and television music. Producer/director Robert Zemeckis presented the award to Silvestri along with Marilyn Bergman. Zemeckis and Silvestri have collaborated for 17 years. They have one of the longest-running and most successful director/composer relationships in Hollywood.

THE ENTERPRISE CREW ASCAP Senior VP Nancy Knutsen with "The Enterprise" award recipients (l-r), Jay Chattaway, Davi Bell, SOCAN composer Paul Baillargeon and Dennis McCarthy.

Oscar nominated and Grammy winner Silvestri has been a defining creative force in film and television music for over two decades. He's scored such box office hits as Romancing the Stone, Back to the Future (I, II, III), Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Father of the Bride (I, II), Forrest Gump, Grumpy Old Men (Grumpier Old Men), Stuart Little (I, II), Cast Away and What Lies Beneath, among many others.

Past recipients of the Henry Mancini Award include James Newton Howard, Quincy Jones, Michel Legrand, Johnny Mandel and Randy Newman.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of The ASCAP Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award to Van Alexander. The award was presented to Alexander by Marilyn Bergman along with jazz artist John Clayton, who is also president of American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) and former artistic director of the jazz series at the Hollywood Bowl.

Van Alexander has enjoyed an extraordinary career as a successful composer, arranger, songwriter, author, conductor and bandleader for over six decades. His credits include scores for five films starring Mickey Rooney and the scores to classic television shows such as Hazel, The Farmer's Daughter, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie and Dennis the Menace. In addition to arranging and conducting for TV variety shows starring Jimmy Stewart, Dean Martin and Gordon McRae, Alexander worked with big band leaders including Chick Webb, Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman. His popular songbook includes the No. 1 Hit A-Tisket, A-Tasket co-written with Ella Fitzgerald.

Past recipients of the ASCAP Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award include Buddy Baker, Rufus Thomas, Dave Van Ronk, Red Norvo, Eric Von Schmidt, Jay McShann, George Rochberg, Marian McPartland, Robert Allen and Tom Paxton.

In the Top Box Office Film music category, composer John Debney was recognized for his scores from three features at this year's event: Cats & Dogs, Spy Kids and The Princess Diaries, all of which were among the top 25 box office hits of 2001. One of the most prolific Hollywood composers of the last year, he also scored the Oscar nominated hit Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, as well as Heartbreakers and See Spot Run. Debney is also the composer of the 2002 box office hit The Scorpion King which, at $36 million, had the biggest April opening in motion picture history.

Pop/rock songwriters and composers Wendy and Lisa were honored with one of the Top Television Series awards for their theme and underscore to the NBC hit show, Crossing Jordan.

Film & TV Music Awards Photos