Monty Norman Obituary

Monty Norman, composer of the instantly recognizable James Bond theme music, has died aged 94. His death was announced by his official website.

The statement on his website read;

“It is with sadness we share the news that Monty Norman died on 11th July 2022 after a short illness.”

Norman was born Monty Noserovitch in Stepney in the East End of London to Jewish parents, Annie and Abraham Noserovitch, on the second night of Passover, on April 4, 1928.

Norman is best known for writing the “James Bond Theme”, the signature theme of the James Bond franchise, and the score to the first James Bond film, Dr. No.

Norman received royalties for the theme from 1962 on.

However, the producers were dissatisfied with Norman’s arrangement, and contracted John Barry to re-arrange the theme.

Barry later claimed that it was actually he who wrote the theme, but Norman sued and won two libel actions against publishers for claiming that Barry was the composer, the last against The Sunday Times in 2001.

Norman was the first husband of actor Diana Coupland, best known for 70s sitcom Bless This House, who died in 2006.