Jerry Goldsmith was an American composer and conductor whose five-decade career made him one of the most versatile and influential voices in film music. From avant-garde experiments to sweeping orchestral adventure, his scores helped define the sound of science fiction, horror, and action cinema.
Born Jerrald King Goldsmith on February 10, 1929 in Los Angeles, he studied piano with Jakob Gimpel and composition at the University of Southern California, where he was influenced by Miklós Rózsa. He began his career writing for CBS radio and television before moving into feature films in the late 1950s.
Across more than 200 film and television scores, Goldsmith continually pushed the boundaries of the orchestra. His atonal, percussion-driven score for Planet of the Apes (US, 1968) reimagined what film music could be, while Patton (US, 1970), Chinatown (US, 1974), Alien (US, 1979), Poltergeist (US, 1982), Total Recall (US, 1990), and L.A. Confidential (US, 1997) showcased his extraordinary range. His main theme for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (US, 1979) later became the signature melody of Star Trek: The Next Generation (US, 1987).
Nominated for eighteen Academy Awards, Goldsmith won a single competitive Oscar — for his choral horror score to The Omen (US, 1976) and its unforgettable Ave Satani. He also received five Emmy Awards and numerous Golden Globe nominations. He died on July 21, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California, leaving a body of work that continues to influence composers today.
Further reading: Jerry Goldsmith on Wikipedia.
Rio Conchos / The Artist Who Did Not Want To Paint (Original Motion Picture Score)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2021-05-04
Intrada INT 7163
1xCD (Album) / 16 Tracks / 59:19 m:s
Rio Conchos / The Artist Who Did Not Want To Paint (Original Motion Picture Score)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1989
Intrada RVF 6007D
1xCD (Album) / 13 Tracks / 56:21 m:s
Rio Conchos (Original Motion Picture Score)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2013-07-09
Intrada MAF 7126
1xCD (Album) / 16 Tracks / 59:19 m:s
Rio Lobo (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2012-06-26
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1221
1xCD (Album)
The River Wild (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2015-01-20
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 301
2xCD (Album)
Rudy
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2015-10-09
Varèse Sarabande 302 065 446 5
1xLP (Album)
Rudy: The Deluxe Edition (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2022-09-16
Varèse Sarabande
1xCD (Album) / 24 Tracks / 65:54 m:s
Rudy: The Deluxe Edition (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2022-09-16
Varèse Sarabande VSD00555
Digital (Album) / 24 Tracks / 66:51 m:s
Runaway
United States / 2013-12-09
Varèse Sarabande (Encore Series) VCL 1213 1148
1xCD (Album) / 24 Tracks / 44:09 m:s
Runaway: The Deluxe Edition (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2006-11-06
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 1106 1055
1xCD (Album) / 24 Tracks / 44:09 m:s
The Sand Pebbles
United States / 2002
Varèse Sarabande (CD Club) VCL 0702 1010
1xCD (Album) / 30 Tracks / 75:26 m:s
The Sand Pebbles (Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2011-12-13
Intrada MAF 7116
2xCD (Album) / 50 Tracks / 106:50 m:s
The Sand Pebbles (Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2022-04-12
Intrada INT 7170
2xCD (Album) / 51 Tracks / 112:51 m:s
The Satan Bug
Variant: Archival Edition
United States / 2007-05-18
Film Score Monthly FSM Vol. 10, Nr. 6
1xCD (Album)
Screen Themes, Volume I (Original Soundtracks and Themes)
Various Artists
Germany / 1989-11-01
Colosseum Schallplatten CVS 5208.2
1xCD (Album) / 15 Tracks / 58:15 m:s
Sebastian
United States / 2013-09-03
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 250
1xCD (Album)
Seconds (Music From The Motion Picture)
Jerry Goldsmith
Spain / 2022-05-09
Quartet Records QR489
1xCD (Album) / 16 Tracks / 35:29 m:s
The Secret of NIMH
United Kingdom / 2008-05-26
TER Limited CDTER 1026
1xCD (Album) / 12 Tracks / 48:25 m:s
The Secret of NIMH
Germany / 1994-10-11
Colosseum Schallplatten CVS 5541.2
1xCD (Album) / 12 Tracks / 48:22 m:s
The Secret of NIMH (Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2015-08-18
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 332
1xCD (Album) / 16 Tracks / 62:23 m:s
The Secret of NIMH (Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 2025-07-22
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 524
2xCD (Album) / 36 Tracks / 119:15 m:s
Seven Days in May / The MacKintosh Man
United States / 2013-04-02
Intrada ISC 235
1xCD (Album)
SFPM Tribute To Jerry Goldsmith
Jerry Goldsmith
United States / 1993
Intrada
1xCD (Album) / 23 Tracks / 71:20 m:s
The Shadow
United States / 2012-07-24
Intrada (Special Collection) ISC 204
2xCD (Album) / 42 Tracks / 134:05 m:s