In the 1970s, Newman co-wrote with Jake Holmes the "Most Original Soft Drink Ever" jingle for Dr Pepper. [21] Kevin Courrier (2005). Randy Newman's American Dreams. ECW Press. p.298. ISBN 9781550226904. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023 . Retrieved August 29, 2016.

His 1983 album Trouble in Paradise included the single " I Love L.A.", a song that has been interpreted as both praising and criticizing the city of Los Angeles. This ambivalence is borne out by Newman's own comments on the song. As he explained in a 2001 interview, "There's some kind of ignorance L.A. has that I'm proud of. The open car and the redhead, the Beach Boys... I can't think of anything a hell of a lot better than that." The ABC network and Frank Gari Productions transformed "I Love L.A." into a popular 1980s TV promotional campaign, retooling the lyrics and title to "You'll Love It!" (on ABC) The song is played at home games for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers as well as the Los Angeles Kings who use the song along with their goal horn. In spite of its prominence, however, it failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Newman's mother's family came from Louisiana, a state that was later to inform what many regard as his finest album, Good Old Boys, a double-edged but affectionate portrait of the south made in 1974. Randy did not follow his father into medicine, choosing instead to pursue the other family profession of writing music for films, like his celebrated uncles Alfred, Lionel and Emil.In 1985 Newman performed a set at the first Farm Aid concert that included a duet with Billy Joel on facing grand pianos. Newman performed " Sail Away". Bloom, Nate (February 18, 2011). "Jewish Stars 2/18". Cleveland Jewish News. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019 . Retrieved January 5, 2018. Newman has been a professional songwriter since he was 17. He cites Ray Charles as his greatest influence growing up, stating, "I loved Charles' music to excess." [17] His first single as a performer was 1962's "Golden Gridiron Boy", released when he was 18. [18] The single flopped and Newman chose to concentrate on songwriting and arranging for the next several years. Newman was born to a Jewish family on November 28, 1943, his father's 30th birthday, [9] in Los Angeles. He is the son of Adele "Dixie" ( née Fuchs/Fox; August 30, 1916 – October 4, 1988), a secretary, and Irving George Newman (November 28, 1913 – February 1, 1990), an internist. [10] He lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, as a small child and spent summers there until he was 11 years old, when his family returned to Los Angeles. The paternal side of his family includes grandparents Luba ( née Koskoff) (July 21, 1883 – March 3, 1954) and Michael Newman (Nemorofsky) (1874–1948), and three uncles who were Hollywood film-score composers: Alfred Newman, Lionel Newman, and Emil Newman. [11] Newman's cousins, Thomas, Maria, David, and Joey, are also composers for motion pictures. He graduated from University High School in Los Angeles. He studied music at the University of California, Los Angeles, but dropped out one semester shy of a B.A. [12] In June 2021, he finally completed his degree at UCLA. [13]

He studied music at the University of California in the same city, but dropped out shortly before completing his B.A. Winkler, Peter. "Randy Newman's Americana," in Middleton, Richard, ed. Reading Popular Music (2000, Oxford University Press) ISBN 978-0198166115. originally published in Popular Music [Great Britain], vii (1988), 1–26 Kamf, David (February 18, 2016). "How Randy Newman and His Family Have Shaped Movie Music for Generations". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016 . Retrieved February 26, 2020. Burlingame, Jon (November 16, 2009). "Newman mines Big Easy music for 'Frog' ". Variety. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.

A revue of Newman's songs, titled Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong, was performed at the Astor Place Theatre in New York City in 1982, and later at other theaters around the country. The New York cast featured Mark Linn-Baker and Deborah Rush, [36] and at one point included Treat Williams. [37]

After starting his songwriting career as a teenager, Newman launched into recording as a singer and pianist in 1968 with his self-titled album Randy Newman. Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s he released several acclaimed albums such as: 12 Songs, Sail Away, Good Old Boys, Little Criminals, Born Again, Trouble in Paradise, Land of Dreams, and Bad Love.

Tracklist

World Premiere of Randy Newman's Harps and Angels Opens Nov. 21". Playbill. November 21, 2010. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. In 2011, Newman endorsed jazz singer Roseanna Vitro's album, The Randy Newman Project ( Motéma Music, 2011). [22]

a b "Chronology". Randynewman.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012 . Retrieved July 29, 2011.

In 2003 Newman's song " It's a Jungle Out There" was used for season 2 of the USA Network's show Monk; it won him the 2004 Emmy Award for Best Main Title Music. In total, Newman has received 22 Academy Award nominations with two wins, both for Best Original Song. While accepting the award for " We Belong Together" in 2011, he joked "my percentages aren't great." [35] Musical theatre [ edit ] Kevin Courrier (2005). Randy Newman's American Dreams. ECW Press. p.205. ISBN 9781550226904 . Retrieved August 29, 2016.