Favourite Blaxploitation Composers

1. Willie Hutch

Extremely talented, versatile and ambitious R&B singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Willie Hutch was born as Willie McKinley Hutchison on December 6, 1944 in Los Angeles. Willie grew up in Dallas, Texas and sang in the doo-wop group the Ambassadors as a teenager. Following graduation from ...

2. Adrian Younge

Composer | Black Dynamite

Adrian Younge is known for Black Dynamite (2009), Luke Cage (2016) and The Equalizer (2021).

3. Al Elias

Composer | NBC Special Treat

Al Elias was born on January 13, 1929 in Charleston, West Virginia, USA. He was a composer and director, known for NBC Special Treat (1975) and Gordon's War (1973). He died on December 21, 2015 in Florida, USA.

4. Alan Tew

Soundtrack | August: Osage County

British composer and arranger Alan Stanley Tew got his start in the 1950's as a pianist and arranger for The Len Turner Band in London, England. Tew later became the leader of his own orchestra which has recorded dozens of soundtrack and library music albums. In addition, Alan has also collaborated...

5. Alden Shuman

Soundtrack | Crazy Rich Asians

Alden Shuman was born on November 14, 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was a composer, known for Crazy Rich Asians (2018). He died on May 3, 2002 in New York City, New York, USA.

6. The Art Ensemble of Chicago

Composer | Les stances à Sophie

The Art Ensemble of Chicago is known for Sophie's Ways (1971), Monangambé (1968) and Sexes (1971).

7. Arthur Wright

Composer | Dolemite

Arthur Wright was born on May 15, 1937 in the USA. He was a composer, known for Dolemite (1975), Savage! (1973) and The Human Tornado (1976). He was married to Marlene. He died on July 14, 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

8. Artie Butler

Soundtrack | Annie Hall

Artie Butler was born on December 2, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Annie Hall (1977), Grease 2 (1982) and What's Up, Doc? (1972).

9. Barry De Vorzon

Soundtrack | The Warriors

Barry De Vorzon was born on July 31, 1934 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a composer and producer, known for The Warriors (1979), Event Horizon (1997) and S.W.A.T. (2003).

10. Barry White

Soundtrack | Baby Driver

Barry White first made his mark in the music business in the 1960s as a session musician, even serving for a spell as an A&R man for a small, independent Los Angeles record label. He first hit it big in 1973 with a series of albums and singles emphasizing lush orchestrations and elaborate ...

11. Bernard Pretty Purdie

Soundtrack | Smokin' Aces

Bernard Pretty Purdie was born on June 11, 1939 in Elkton, Maryland, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Smokin' Aces (2006).

12. Bobby Davidowitz

Composer | Stroke Kings

Bobby Davidowitz is known for Stroke Kings (2011).

13. Booker T. Jones

Soundtrack | Repo Men

Booker T. Jones was born on November 12, 1944 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Repo Men (2010), X: First Class (2011) and Road House (1989). He has been married to Nanine Warhurst since June 18, 1985. They have three children. He was previously married to Priscilla...

14. Brian Bennett

Music_department | Black Dynamite

Composer Brian Bennett is the three times winner of the Ivor Novello Award. Initially achieving fame as drummer with The Shadows, he has since forged a career as one of Britain's leading writers of music to picture.

Brian was born in London in 1940 and by the late 1950s was one of the most ...

15. Charles Earland

Soundtrack | The Mule

Charles Earland was born on May 24, 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a composer, known for The Mule (2018), Dynamite Brothers (1974) and Young Soul Rebels (1991). He died on December 11, 1999 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

16. Charley Cuva

Soundtrack | Putney Swope

Charley Cuva is known for Putney Swope (1969), Pound (1970) and Bugs Bunny's Lunar Tunes (1991).

17. Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson

Composer | The Education of Sonny Carson

Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson was born on June 14, 1932 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for The Education of Sonny Carson (1974), Mean Johnny Barrows (1975) and A Warm December (1973). He died on March 9, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

18. Curtis Mayfield

Soundtrack | Armageddon

Rhythm and blues performer/songwriter credited with defining 1960's Chicago sound in hits like "It's All Right" and "Gypsy Woman." His style influenced other artists from pop to hip hop. Has been a quadriplegic ever since he was struck by lighting rig during outdoor concert in New York, 1990. ...

19. David Shire

Music_department | Zodiac

David Shire was born on July 3, 1937 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He is a composer and writer, known for Zodiac (2007), Short Circuit (1986) and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). He has been married to Didi Conn since February 11, 1984. They have one child. He was previously married to Talia...

20. Dennis Coffey

Soundtrack | One for the Money

Dennis Coffey was born on November 11, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for One for the Money (2012), Sleep Tight (2011) and Hitch (2005).

21. Dominic Frontiere

Music_department | Color of Night

Dominic Carmen Frontiere, 86, Emmy and Golden Globe winning film and television composer, former head of music at Paramount Pictures, passed away in Tesuque, New Mexico on 21 December 2017. He is survived by his wife Robin and their children Emily, Joseph, Nicholas and Sofia, as well as daughter ...

22. Don Costa

Music_department | Hello, Dolly!

Don Costa was born on July 10, 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Hello, Dolly! (1969), The Steve Lawrence Show (1965) and The Impossible Years (1968). He was married to Terry Ray Costa. He died on January 19, 1983 in New York City, New York, USA.

23. Don Julian

Soundtrack | Savage!

Don Julian was born on April 7, 1937 in Houston, Texas, USA. Don was a composer, known for Savage! (1973), A House in the Hills (1993) and American Me (1992). Don died on November 6, 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

24. Donald Byrd

Soundtrack | Confidence

Donald Byrd was born on December 9, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Confidence (2003), Very Bad Things (1998) and A Bronx Tale (1993). He was married to Lorraine Glover. He died on February 4, 2013 in Dover, Delaware, USA.

25. Donny Hathaway

Soundtrack | Two Weeks Notice

Donny Hathaway was born on October 1, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a composer, known for Two Weeks Notice (2002), The Intouchables (2011) and Malcolm X (1992). He was married to Eulaulah Hathaway. He died on January 13, 1979 in New York City, New York, USA.

26. Doug Riley

Music_department | Shoot

Doug Riley was born on April 24, 1945 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was a composer, known for Shoot (1976), Liberty Heights (1999) and Foxy Lady (1971). He was married to Jan. He died on August 27, 2007 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

27. Earth Wind & Fire

Soundtrack | Ready Player One

Earth Wind & Fire is known for Ready Player One (2018), Doctor Strange (2016) and Polar (2019).

28. Ed Bogas

Composer | Black Girl

Ed Bogas was born on February 2, 1942 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Black Girl (1972), Eddie Macon's Run (1983) and Sunburst (1975). He is married to Desirée Goyette. They have two children.

29. Ed Townsend

Soundtrack | High Fidelity

Ed Townsend was born on April 16, 1929 in Fayetteville, Tennessee, USA. He was a composer, known for High Fidelity (2000), R.I.P.D. (2013) and The Bounty Hunter (2010). He was married to Janice Townsend and Cherrigale Townsend. He died on August 13, 2003 in San Bernardino, California, USA.

30. Edwin Starr

Soundtrack | Lost in Space

Born Charles Hatcher in Nashville, Tennessee, Starr formed his first group, the Future Tones, in 1957, recording one single before his three-year army service. In 1965, he was offered a solo deal following two years of touring with another band.

Starr's early hits included "Agent Double-O Soul" and ...

31. Galt MacDermot

Soundtrack | Hair

Galt MacDermot was born on December 18, 1928 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was a composer, known for Hair (1979), Zodiac (2007) and Forrest Gump (1994). He was married to Marlene Bruynzeel. He died on December 17, 2018 in Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA.

32. Garfeel Ruff

Soundtrack | The Hitter

Garfeel Ruff is known for The Hitter (1978).

33. Gene Page

Composer | Blacula

Gene Page was born on September 13, 1939 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was a composer, known for Blacula (1972), Together Brothers (1974) and Cool Breeze (1972). She died on August 24, 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

34. Gerald Lee

Composer | Angels' Brigade

Gerald Lee is known for Angels' Brigade (1979), Black Shampoo (1976) and Hi-Riders (1978).

35. Gerard Damiano

Director | Never So Deep

Gerard Damiano was born on August 4, 1928 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was a director and writer. He was married to Paula Morton and Barbara. He died on October 25, 2008 in Fort Myers, Florida, USA.

36. Gordon Parks

Director | The Learning Tree

The pre-eminent American photojournalist of sub-Saharan descent. An acclaimed photographer for Life magazine from the late 40s through late 60s, he turned to directing films, his second of which, the blaxploitation movie Shaft (1971), achieved success at the box office. In 1989 his first film ...

37. Grant Green

Soundtrack | The Two Popes

Grant Green was born on June 6, 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He is known for The Two Popes (2019), Duplex (2003) and The Final Comedown (1972). He died on January 31, 1979 in New York City, New York, USA.

38. H.B. Barnum

Soundtrack | Pulp Fiction

H.B. Barnum was born on July 15, 1936 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Pulp Fiction (1994), Fly and The Domestics (2018).

39. Harry Betts

Soundtrack | Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Harry Betts is known for Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Nighthawks (1981) and Black Mama White Mama (1973).

40. Isaac Hayes

Actor | Escape from New York

Isaac Hayes, the second-born child of Eula and Isaac Hayes Sr., was raised by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Wade Sr. The child of a poor family, he grew up picking cotton in Covington, Tennessee. He dropped out of high school, but later his former high-school teachers to get his diploma, ...

41. J.J. Johnson

Composer | Shaft

J.J. Johnson was born on January 22, 1924 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. He was a composer, known for Shaft (1971), Sea of Love (1989) and Cleopatra Jones (1973). He was married to Carolyn and Vivian. He died on February 4, 2001 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

42. Jack Ashford

Soundtrack | Blackjack

Jack Ashford was born on May 18, 1934 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Blackjack (1978), Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (2014) and Great Performances (1971).

43. Jack Conrad

Soundtrack | Club Life

Jack Conrad is known for Club Life (1986), Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985) and Spitfire (1995).

44. James Brown

Actor | The Blues Brothers

James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer, and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honorific nicknames "Godfather of Soul", "Mr. Dynamite", and ...

45. Jerry Butler

Soundtrack | Hollywoodland

Jerry Butler got his start in the music business at age 18 when he and his friend Curtis Mayfield formed a singing group and named them The Impressions. They had an almost immediate hit with a song Butler wrote, "For Your Precious Love", which became the group's first gold record. Nicknamed "The ...

46. Jimmy Cliff

Soundtrack | The Harder They Come

Jimmy Cliff was born on July 30, 1944 in St. Catherine, Jamaica. He is an actor and composer, known for The Harder They Come (1972), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) and Mission: Impossible III (2006).

47. Johnnie Taylor

Soundtrack | Bedazzled

Johnnie Taylor is a three-time Grammy-nominated American recording artist and songwriter who performed a wide variety of genres, from blues, rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel to pop, doo-wop, and disco.

Johnnie Taylor was born in Crawfordsville, Arkansas. He grew up in West Memphis, Arkansas, ...

48. Johnny Harris

Music_department | The Powers of Matthew Star

Johnny Harris was born in Edinburgh, Scotland 1932 (of Welsh parentage) and is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London. He originally played trumpet with English big bands in the 50's and started freelance writing and arranging in the early 60's before he was hired by Tony Hatch for ...

49. Johnny Pate

Composer | Shaft in Africa

Johnny Pate was born on December 5, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a composer, known for Shaft in Africa (1973), Brother on the Run (1973) and Super Fly (1972).

50. Joseph Koo

Composer | Meng long guo jiang

Joseph Koo was born on February 23, 1931 in Guangzhou, China. He was a composer and actor, known for The Way of the Dragon (1972), A Better Tomorrow (1986) and Fist of Fury (1972). He died on January 3, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

51. Keith Mansfield

Soundtrack | X: First Class

Keith Mansfield was born in June 1940 in Slough, Berkshire, England, UK. He is a composer, known for X: First Class (2011), Death Proof (2007) and The Fighter (2010).

52. Lamont Dozier

Soundtrack | Bad Times at the El Royale

Lamont Dozier was born on June 16, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). He was married to Barbara Ellen Ullman, Daphe Dumas and Elizabeth Ann Dozier. ...

53. Luchi De Jesus

Soundtrack | Nights in Rodanthe

Luchi De Jesus was born on August 19, 1923 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer, known for Nights in Rodanthe (2008), Detroit 9000 (1973) and The Six Million Dollar Man (1974). He died on August 19, 1984 in Canoga Park, California, USA.

54. Marvin Gaye

Soundtrack | High Fidelity

Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. (known professionally as Marvin Gaye; April 2, 1939 - April 1, 1984) was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of successes, earning him the nicknames ...

55. Melvin Van Peebles

Actor | The Shining

Melvin Van Peebles was born on August 21, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Shining (1997), Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) and Don't Play Us Cheap (1972). He was married to Maria Marx. He died on September 21, 2021 in Manhattan, New York City, New ...

56. Michael Tschudin

Composer | Injun fender

Michael Tschudin is known for Injun fender (1974), Honeybaby, Honeybaby (1974) and Girl Shy (1924).

57. Monk Higgins

Music_department | Sheba, Baby

Monk Higgins was born on October 3, 1936 in Menifee, Arkansas, USA. He was a composer, known for 'Sheba, Baby' (1975), Clockers (1995) and Elephant Juice (1999). He died on July 3, 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

58. Nat Dove

Music_department | Petey Wheatstraw

Nat Dove was born on November 13, 1939 in Mumford, Texas, USA. Nat is a composer, known for Petey Wheatstraw (1977).

59. Osibisa

Soundtrack | Boyhood

Osibisa is known for Boyhood (2014), Super Fly T.N.T. (1973) and The Goodbye Girls (2006).

60. Paul Riser

Soundtrack | Bad Times at the El Royale

Paul Riser is known for Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), Coach Carter (2005) and Fried Green Tomatoes (1991).

61. Quincy Jones

Producer | The Color Purple

Considered to be one of the greatest minds in music and television history, Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. was born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Sarah Frances (Wells), a bank executive, and Quincy Delight Jones, Sr., a carpenter.

Jones found his love for music while he was ...

62. Robert O. Ragland

Composer | Top of the World

A versatile, accomplished and yet often times a rather underrated composer, conductor and orchestrator, Robert O. Ragland remained one of the busiest film composers in the motion picture industry. Originally from Chicago, Ragland gave up a comfortable executive position in advertising to gamble on ...

63. Roger Hamilton Spotts

Composer | Tongue

Roger Hamilton Spotts is an American composer and arranger who has enjoyed a highly successful career that has spanned over five decades. He has collaborated with noted musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton, to name a few. For Roger, his 'work' was always a...

64. Roy Ayers

Soundtrack | Ant-Man

Roy Ayers was born on September 10, 1940 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Ant-Man (2015), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Summer of Sam (1999).

65. Rudy Ray Moore

Actor | Dolemite

Rudy Ray Moore was born on March 17, 1927 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Dolemite (1975), The Human Tornado (1976) and Disco Godfather (1979). He died on October 19, 2008 in Akron, Ohio, USA.

66. Sid Ramin

Music_department | West Side Story

Sid Ramin was born on January 22, 1919 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was a composer, known for West Side Story (1961), Demolition Man (1993) and Secretary (2002). He was married to Gloria Breit. He died on July 1, 2019 in New York City, New York, USA.

67. Smokey Robinson

Soundtrack | Big Time

Multi-talented performer/writer/producer Smokey Robinson's career, and life, is inextricably tied up with Motown Records' founder Berry Gordy (his first two children are named Tamla, for the Gordy-owned label Smokey recorded for, and Berry, for Gordy himself). He and Gordy have had a professional ...

68. Solomon Burke

Soundtrack | Unbreakable

Solomon Burke was born on March 21, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Unbreakable (2000), '71 (2014) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015). He died on October 10, 2010 in Schiphol Airport, Haarlemmermeer, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.

69. Sonny Terry

Soundtrack | The Jerk

Sonny Terry was born on October 24, 1911 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for The Jerk (1979), House at the End of the Street (2012) and Superbad (2007). He died on March 11, 1986 in Mineola, Long Island, New York, USA.

70. Steve Dexter

Soundtrack | Black Lolita

Steve Dexter is known for Black Lolita (1974).

71. Sun Ra

Soundtrack | Space Is the Place

Sun Ra was born on May 22, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. He was a composer and writer, known for Space Is the Place (1974), The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) and Deceiver (1997). He died on May 30, 1993 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

72. Thom Bell

Soundtrack | Attack the Block

Composer / arranger / record producer Thom Bell is known as one of the chief architects of "The Sound Of Philadelphia". In the mid-'60s he was the house pianist at The Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia and later became musical director for Chubby Checker. In 1966 he partnered up with entrepreneur Stan...

73. Tito Sotto

Actor | Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After (The Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure)

Tito Sotto was born on August 24, 1948 in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Luzon, Philippines. He is a producer and composer, known for Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After (The Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure) (2008), Naku...Ha! (1984) and Iskul bukol (1980). He is married to Helen Gamboa.

74. Tom McIntosh

Music_department | Shaft

Tom McIntosh was born on February 6, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Tom was a composer, known for Shaft (1971), The Bus Is Coming (1971) and The Red, White, and Black (1970). Tom died on July 26, 2017.

75. Vic Caesar

Soundtrack | Bare Knuckles

Vic Caesar was born on May 27, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Bare Knuckles (1977), The Hoax (2006) and Ride in a Pink Car (1974). He died on June 21, 2000 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

76. Wade Marcus

Music_department | The Final Comedown

Wade Marcus is known for The Final Comedown (1972) and Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002).

77. Wilbur Kirk

Music_department | Nothing But a Man

Wilbur Kirk is known for Nothing But a Man (1964) and The Subject Is Jazz (1958).