Randall Stuart Newman is an acclaimed American musician known for his distinctive Southern-inflected singing style and contributions to both popular music and film scoring. He gained recognition for hits like "Short People" and "I Love L.A.," as well as for songs like "You've Got a Friend in Me," which found renewed success in the animated film *Toy Story*. Newman's influence extends beyond his own recordings, with other artists achieving hits through covers of his work. His music often reflects Americana influences and showcases his skills as a songwriter, arranger, pianist, and conductor.
November 28, 1913: Birth of Irving George Newman
Randy Newman's father, Irving George Newman, was born on November 28, 1913.
August 30, 1916: Birth of Adele Newman
Adele Newman, Randy Newman's mother, was born on August 30, 1916.
1927: New Orleans Flood
In 1927, a flood occurred in New Orleans, an event that Newman later referenced in his song "Louisiana 1927."
1927: Release of "Louisiana 1927"
The song "Louisiana 1927," featured in the "Harps and Angels" revue, was likely released in 1927, as suggested by its title. The song's inclusion in the revue highlights its enduring relevance and its ability to resonate with audiences across generations.
November 28, 1943: Birth of Randy Newman
Randy Newman was born on November 28, 1943, in Los Angeles, California.
1948: Death of Michael Newman
Randy Newman's grandfather, Michael Newman, passed away in 1948.
March 3, 1954: Death of Luba Newman
Randy Newman's grandmother, Luba Newman, passed away on March 3, 1954.
1962: Early Scoring Work for Television
Randy Newman's foray into scoring began in 1962 when he composed background music for an episode of the TV show "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis."
1962: Release of "Golden Gridiron Boy"
Randy Newman, at the age of 18, released his first single as a performer, "Golden Gridiron Boy," in 1962.
1964: Co-writes "Look At Me" with Bobby Darin
In 1964, Randy Newman co-wrote the song "Look At Me" with Bobby Darin for the film "The Lively Set," marking one of his earliest contributions to film music.
1965: Cilla Black's "I've Been Wrong Before" Reaches UK Top 40
Cilla Black's recording of Randy Newman's song "I've Been Wrong Before" reached the UK top 40, peaking at number 17, in 1965.
1966: Release of "Mama Told Me Not to Come"
The song "Mama Told Me Not to Come" was released by Randy Newman in 1966.
1966: Co-writes "Galaxy-a-Go-Go" with Jerry Goldsmith
In 1966, Randy Newman furthered his work in film music by co-writing the song "Galaxy-a-Go-Go, or Leave It To Flint" with Jerry Goldsmith for the film "Our Man Flint."
1966: Start of Professional Relationship with Lenny Waronker
Randy Newman began a long-lasting professional relationship with Lenny Waronker in 1966.
1966: Release of "Peyton Place" Music Album
In 1966, an album of Randy Newman's incidental music for the TV show "Peyton Place" was released under the name "The Randy Newman Orchestra." Although Newman himself was unaware of the album's release at the time, it marked an early instance of his music being commercially available.
1967: Marries Roswitha Schmale
In 1967, Randy Newman married Roswitha Schmale, who was originally from Germany. The couple had three sons together: Eric, Amos, and John.
1967: Collaboration with Harpers Bizarre Begins
Randy Newman started his professional relationship with the band Harpers Bizarre in 1967.
1967: The Alan Price Set's "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear" Charts in UK
The Alan Price Set's rendition of Randy Newman's song "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear" reached number 4 on the UK charts in 1967.
1968: Debut Album Release
Randy Newman released his debut album as a solo artist in 1968.
1968: Release of Debut Album and Rise of "I Think It's Going to Rain Today"
Randy Newman released his debut album in 1968, which garnered critical acclaim. His song "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" from this album began to gain recognition as a standard.
1968: Release of "I Think It's Going to Rain Today"
Randy Newman released the song "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" in 1968.
1969: Orchestral Arrangements for Gordon Lightfoot and Peggy Lee
Randy Newman provided orchestral arrangements for songs by Gordon Lightfoot and Peggy Lee in 1969.
1969: End of Collaboration with Harpers Bizarre
Randy Newman's musical collaboration with Harpers Bizarre ended in 1969.
1970: Contribution to "Performance" Soundtrack
Randy Newman recorded "Gone Dead Train" in 1969 for the soundtrack of the film "Performance," released in 1970.
1970: Co-writes Title Song for "Cover Me Babe"
In 1970, Randy Newman collaborated on the title song for the drama film "Cover Me Babe." The song was performed by the popular group Bread.
1970: Nilsson Sings Newman and 12 Songs Released
In 1970, Harry Nilsson released an album of Randy Newman songs, and Newman himself released the critically acclaimed album "12 Songs".
1971: Randy Newman Live and Film Debut
Newman released his first live album, "Randy Newman Live," which charted on Billboard, and he wrote his first film theme song for "Cold Turkey."
1971: Scoring of "Cold Turkey"
Randy Newman composed the score for the film "Cold Turkey" in 1971.
1971: Composes Score for Norman Lear's "Cold Turkey"
Randy Newman's career as a film composer took off in 1971 when he scored Norman Lear's satirical film "Cold Turkey."
1972: Release of "You Can Leave Your Hat On"
In 1972, Randy Newman released the song "You Can Leave Your Hat On".
1972: Sail Away Released
Newman released his album "Sail Away" in 1972, featuring the title track and "You Can Leave Your Hat On," which gained popularity through covers by various artists.
1972: Release of "Sail Away"
The album "Sail Away" by Randy Newman was released in 1972.
1974: "Louisiana 1927" Released
Newman released his song "Louisiana 1927" as part of his album "Good Old Boys."
1974: Good Old Boys Released
Newman released the critically acclaimed album "Good Old Boys," exploring themes of the American South, in 1974.
1974: Release of "Good Old Boys"
Randy Newman released the album "Good Old Boys" in 1974.
September 1977: Little Criminals Released
In September 1977, Newman released "Little Criminals," which included the controversial hit "Short People" and became his most popular album to date.
1977: Release of "Short People"
In 1977, Randy Newman released the song "Short People".
1977: Release of "Little Criminals"
In 1977, Randy Newman released the album "Little Criminals".
1979: Born Again Released
Newman's album "Born Again," featuring the satirical song "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band," was released in 1979.
1981: Scoring of "Ragtime"
In 1981, Randy Newman composed the score for the film "Ragtime."
1981: Receives Two Oscar Nominations for "Ragtime"
In 1981, Randy Newman's work on the film "Ragtime" earned him two Academy Award nominations, further solidifying his reputation as a talented film composer.
1982: "Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong" Revue Premieres in New York City
In 1982, "Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong," a revue showcasing Randy Newman's songs, premiered at the Astor Place Theatre in New York City. The production featured actors Mark Linn-Baker and Deborah Rush, with Treat Williams joining the cast later on. The revue's success led to subsequent stagings across the United States.
1983: Trouble in Paradise and "I Love L.A." Released
Newman released "Trouble in Paradise" in 1983, featuring the song "I Love L.A.," which became associated with Los Angeles and was used in TV promotions and sports games.
1983: Release of "I Love L.A."
Randy Newman released the song "I Love L.A." in 1983.
1984: Scoring of "The Natural"
Randy Newman composed the score for the 1984 film "The Natural".
1985: Performance at Farm Aid Concert
Newman performed at the first Farm Aid concert, including a duet with Billy Joel, in 1985.
1985: Divorces Roswitha Schmale
Randy Newman and Roswitha Schmale divorced in 1985 after 18 years of marriage.
1986: Co-writes and Contributes Music to "Three Amigos"
In 1986, Randy Newman collaborated with Steve Martin and Lorne Michaels on the film "Three Amigos," co-writing the screenplay, contributing songs to the soundtrack, and even lending his voice to the character of the singing bush.
October 4, 1988: Death of Adele Newman
Adele Newman, Randy Newman's mother, passed away on October 4, 1988.
1988: Land of Dreams Released
Newman released "Land of Dreams," featuring the notable song "It's Money That Matters," in 1988.
1989: "Burn On" Featured in Major League
Newman's song "Burn On" from his 1972 album "Sail Away" was used as the opening theme for the film "Major League."
February 1, 1990: Death of Irving George Newman
Randy Newman's father, Irving George Newman, died on February 1, 1990.
1990: Scoring of "Awakenings"
In 1990, Randy Newman composed the score for the film "Awakenings".
1990: Marries Gretchen Preece
In 1990, Randy Newman married Gretchen Preece, the daughter of film director Michael Preece. They have two children together: Patrick and Alice.
1995: Release of "You've Got a Friend in Me"
"You've Got a Friend in Me," a collaboration between Randy Newman and Lyle Lovett, was released in 1995.
1995: "Randy Newman's Faust" Premieres at La Jolla Playhouse
Randy Newman's adaptation of Goethe's "Faust" premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in 1995. This ambitious project showcased Newman's talents as a composer and lyricist in the realm of musical theater.
1996: "Randy Newman's Faust" Opens at Chicago's Goodman Theatre
In 1996, following its premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse, a revised version of "Randy Newman's Faust," with contributions from playwright David Mamet, opened at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.
1996: Scoring of "James and the Giant Peach"
Randy Newman composed the score for the Disney film "James and the Giant Peach" in 1996.
1997: Scoring of "Cats Don't Dance"
Randy Newman composed the score for the animated film "Cats Don't Dance" in 1997.
1997: "You Can Leave Your Hat On" in The Full Monty
Tom Jones's version of Newman's song "You Can Leave Your Hat On" was featured in the film "The Full Monty."
1998: Scoring of "A Bug's Life" and "Pleasantville"
Randy Newman composed the scores for two films in 1998: Disney-Pixar's "A Bug's Life" and "Pleasantville".
1999: Bad Love Released
"Bad Love," an album by Newman that included the song "I Miss You," was released in 1999.
2000: "The Education of Randy Newman" Premieres at South Coast Repertory
The year 2000 saw the premiere of "The Education of Randy Newman" at the South Coast Repertory (SCR). This musical, set in New Orleans and Los Angeles, drew inspiration from the American autobiographical work, "The Education of Henry Adams," and offered a fictionalized look into the life of a songwriter who shared some similarities with Randy Newman himself.
2000: Scoring of "Meet the Parents"
In 2000, Randy Newman composed the score for the film "Meet the Parents".
2001: Newman Discusses "I Love L.A."
In 2001, Newman commented on his song "I Love L.A.," expressing a mixture of pride and criticism towards Los Angeles.
2001: Scoring of "Monsters, Inc."
Randy Newman composed the score for the Disney-Pixar film "Monsters, Inc." in 2001.
2002: Wins First Oscar for "If I Didn't Have You"
In 2002, after receiving numerous nominations throughout his career, Randy Newman won his first Academy Award for Best Original Song for "If I Didn't Have You" from the Disney Pixar film "Monsters, Inc." His humorous acceptance speech, where he acknowledged his history of nominations, became a memorable moment in Oscar history.
2002: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
In recognition of his significant contributions to songwriting, Randy Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.
2002: Induction into Songwriters Hall of Fame
Randy Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.
2003: The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1
Newman released the first volume of "The Randy Newman Songbook," featuring rerecordings of his songs, in 2003.
2003: "It's a Jungle Out There" for Monk
Newman's song "It's a Jungle Out There" was used as the theme song for season 2 of the TV show "Monk."
2003: Scoring of "Seabiscuit"
Randy Newman composed the score for the film "Seabiscuit" in 2003.
2004: Emmy Award for "Monk" Theme Song
Newman won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Music for his work on the "Monk" theme song in 2004.
2005: "Louisiana 1927" as Hurricane Katrina Anthem
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Newman's song "Louisiana 1927" gained significant attention and radio play, resonating with the events surrounding the disaster.
March 2007: Performs Song from "The Princess and the Frog"
During Disney's annual shareholder meeting in March 2007, Randy Newman performed a new song from the then-upcoming animated film "The Princess and the Frog." His performance, accompanied by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, provided a glimpse into the film's New Orleans-inspired soundtrack.
2007: Inducted as a Disney Legend
Randy Newman's contributions to Disney films were formally acknowledged in 2007 when he was inducted as a Disney Legend, joining the ranks of other individuals who have made significant contributions to the Walt Disney Company.
2007: Contribution to Fats Domino Tribute Album
Newman participated in the tribute album "Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino," contributing his rendition of "Blue Monday."
2007: Disney Legend Award
Randy Newman was honored as a Disney Legend by the Walt Disney Company in 2007.
2008: Harps and Angels Released
Newman released the album "Harps and Angels" in 2008.
2008: Release of "Harps and Angels"
Randy Newman's album "Harps and Angels" was released in 2008.
2009: Scoring of "The Princess and the Frog"
Randy Newman scored the Disney film "The Princess and the Frog" in 2009.
2010: "Harps and Angels" Revue Premieres in Los Angeles
"Harps and Angels," a musical revue celebrating the songbook of Randy Newman, premiered at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in 2010. The production, directed by Jerry Zaks, wove together a selection of Newman's well-known songs with narratives exploring the inspirations behind his music.
2010: Receives Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2010, Randy Newman's contributions to the entertainment industry were commemorated with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2011: Endorsement of Roseanna Vitro's "The Randy Newman Project"
Randy Newman endorsed jazz singer Roseanna Vitro's album, "The Randy Newman Project," in 2011.
2011: Wins Second Oscar for "We Belong Together"
Randy Newman won his second Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2011 for "We Belong Together" from "Toy Story 3." His acceptance speech, where he jokingly referenced his previous Oscar nominations, highlighted his characteristic wit and humility.
2011: Wins Second Oscar for "We Belong Together"
Randy Newman won his second Academy Award in 2011 for the song "We Belong Together" from the animated film "Toy Story 3." This win further solidified his legacy as a celebrated film composer.
2011: The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 2
The second volume of "The Randy Newman Songbook" was released in 2011.
2012: Endorses Barack Obama and Releases Satirical Song
Randy Newman publicly endorsed Barack Obama for reelection in the 2012 US Presidential Election. He also released a satirical song commenting on the tendency to vote for white candidates.
2013: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Randy Newman's influence on rock and roll music was acknowledged in 2013 when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2013: Scoring of "Monsters University"
In 2013, Randy Newman composed the score for "Monsters University".
2013: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2013, Randy Newman was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
July 1, 2014: One-Time Performance of "Randy Newman's Faust" at City Center
On July 1, 2014, "Randy Newman's Faust" was performed once again at the City Center in New York City, offering audiences another opportunity to experience Newman's unique take on the classic tale.
September 2014: Receives Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award
Randy Newman was honored with the prestigious Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award in September 2014. He marked the occasion by performing at the annual film music gala Hollywood in Vienna for the first time alongside his cousin, David Newman.
October 2016: Release of "Putin"
In October 2016, Randy Newman released the satirical song "Putin", inspired by the Russian leader. The song was met with mixed reactions and was said to be part of a new album to be released the following year.
2016: The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 3
Newman released the third volume of "The Randy Newman Songbook" in 2016.
August 2017: "Dark Matter" Receives Positive Reviews
In August 2017, Randy Newman's album "Dark Matter" was released to positive reviews, with critics praising its musical ambition and lyrical depth.
2017: Release of "Dark Matter" Album
In 2017, Randy Newman released his album "Dark Matter," which he had previously mentioned in relation to his song "Putin." The album was well-received for its musicality and lyrical content.
2017: Dark Matter Released
Newman released his album "Dark Matter" in 2017.
2019: Scoring of "Marriage Story"
Randy Newman composed the score for the 2019 film "Marriage Story".
2020: Release of "Stay Away"
In 2020, Randy Newman released the song "Stay Away" to support people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2021: Completion of UCLA Degree
In June 2021, Randy Newman completed his degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).