Published
Mon, Dec 12, 2022, 21:44
- The Brooklyn native, who also worked with David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Roberta Flack, crafted dark, atmospheric soundtracks that balanced intensity with narrative.
Veteran composer and Grammy-winning artist Angelo Badalamenti, best known for his Twin Peaks theme, has passed away.
The news was shared today, December 12th, from various sources, including an Instagram account believed to belong to Badalamenti's great nephew. Seperately, a Twin Peaks fan site stated that "multiple family members" have confirmed the death, with The Hollywood Reporter citing his niece as a source.
Filmmaker David Lynch, who worked closely with Badalamenti, also said, "Today… no music," in his latest Weather Report video, which might have been a cryptic reference to Badalamenti's passing. No further details about the death are public at this point.
A native New Yorker, Badalamenti was known as a master of mood. He scored several of Lynch's classic films, including Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Lynch's cult show Twin Peaks. Badalamenti's score for the latter earned him a Grammy in 1991.
His compositions, mostly instrumental, were notable for their subtle drama, haunting tone and immersive nature. Incorporating elements of pop, ambient music and jazz, his arrangements were minimal yet deeply emotive, often evoking nostalgia, longing and detachment all at once. His Twin Peaks theme has gone onto influence artists across the musical spectrum, with acts like Beach House clearly borrowing from Badalamenti's film noir melodies.
In addition to his extensive film career, which includes scores for A Very Long Engagement, The City of Lost Children and The Wicker Man, the classically trained artist also composed an Olympics theme song for the Barcelona tournament in 1992. He worked with David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Orbital, Pet Shop Boys, LL Cool J, Michael Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Nina Simone, Marianne Faithfull, Liza Minelli and Roberta Flack, among many others.
For more on Badalamenti's life, check his official website. Read some tributes to the acclaimed artist.