Angelo Badalamenti was born on March 22, 1937, in New York City, where he quickly realized that music was his calling. After studying at the Eastman School of Music and later the Manhattan School of Music, he got to work building his discography. Badalamenti — under the name Andy Badale — scored "Gordon's War" in 1973, leading him to numerous other films, television shows, and David Lynch collaborations as the 20th century became the 21st. Unsurprisingly, his hard work amounted to several award wins and nominations in the decades that followed, with his most recent coming in 2016 at the Danish Film Awards.
To call Badalamenti a popular and beloved composer would be an understatement, but if his credits and honors don't convince you, perhaps this story from Badalamenti himself will. Back in the 1990s, Queen Elizabeth II was celebrating her birthday when Paul McCartney arrived to serenade her. However, she didn't sound the least bit interested. He recalled, "When he met her, he started to say, 'I'm honored to be here tonight, your Majesty, and I'm going to play some music for you.' And the Queen says, 'I'm sorry, I can't stay, it's five to eight, and I have to go and watch Twin Peaks!'" Composing one of the queen's favorite shows — one that she'd turn down a McCartney performance to watch — is quite a feather in Badalamenti's cap.
From general television audiences to royalty, Angelo Badalamenti left a lasting impression on all who enjoyed his work. He will be dearly missed the world over.
