ScoreKeeper here to pay my respects to Emmy-nominated composer Joel Goldsmith who passed away Saturday at the age of 54.
Joel was the son of Oscar-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith who found his calling in the world of television scoring various sci-fi series including WITCHBLADE (2001-2002), STARGATE SG-1 (1997-2007), STARGATE: ATLANTIS (2004-2009), and SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE (2009-2011). He also composed music for a host of films including LASERBLAST (1978), THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS (1983), SHILOH (1996), and DIAMONDS (1999) starring Kirk Douglas. He even contributed music to STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT (1996) composed by his father Jerry.
Last month BSX Records released what is arguably regarded as the younger Goldsmith's finest film score, MOON 44 (1990). While it's signature sound is unmistakably Joel's you're certainly not surprised it was composed by a man who grew up listening to Jerry Goldsmith's scores.
Neal Acree, a colleague and personal friend of Joel's, penned a heartfelt blog post commemorating their time together. It's a wonderful testament to this great composer and a sullen reminder of the loss we're confronted with by his passing.
Joel's influence on me spilled over into my personal life right from the start and soon came to be like a father or even a cool older brother to me. He was undeniably frank and relentlessly inquisitive. He enjoyed breaking through my shy persona and getting me to admit details of my personal life while being disarmingly candid about his own. He got me to open up a lot and leave my shell behind. He was the first person to admit that he was far from perfect but was so willing to share his mistakes so that I could avoid them. He became one of the first people I would call when a major event happened in my life. The good ones and the bad. I spent some of my darker moments with him on the other end of the phone, listening patiently then always saying exactly what I needed to hear.
Read Neal's entire article entitled "Memories of Joel" by clicking HERE.
On behalf of Ain't It Cool News I'd like to extend our condolences to the Goldsmith family. He left behind a legacy that will endure for a long time and we are most certainly thankful.
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