Film Music Reporter

John Morris has passed away this past Thursday, January 25, at age 91 at his home in Red Hook, New York. The composer is best known for collaborations on numerous films directed by Mel Brooks, including Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, The Producers, Life Stinks and Silent Movie. He received two Academy Award nominations for the original title song from Blazing Saddles in 1976 and for his score to David Lynch’s 1980 feature The Elephant Man, for which he was also Grammy Award-nominated. Morris’ other film scoring credits include Arthur Hiller’s 1979 comedy The In-Laws, 1983’s Yellowbeard, 1984’s The Woman in Red starring Gene Wilder, 1985’s Clue, the 1987 classic Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze and 1990’s Stella starring Bette Midler.