Composer Behind James Bond Theme Dies At 94

LONDON (AP) – British composer Monty Norman of James Bond theme tune fame has died at the age of 94.

A statement on Norman’s official website said he died Monday after a short illness.

Norman was hired by producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli to compose a theme for the first James Bond film, “Dr. No,” released in 1962.

He drew on a piece he had written for a proposed stage musical, shifting the key riff from sitar to electric guitar.

Producers hired composer John Barry to rearrange the theme, and Barry was widely assumed to have written it – to Norman’s chagrin.

Norman successfully sued the Sunday Times newspaper for libel over a 1997 article asserting the theme was composed by Barry.