John Barry was an acclaimed English composer and conductor best known for his influential work in film music. Born in York in 1933, Barry started his career playing trumpet and formed the John Barry Seven band in 1957. He rose to fame by arranging and performing the iconic James Bond Theme for Dr. No, which launched a 25-year association with the Bond franchise, scoring eleven films in the series. Barry also composed award-winning music for major films such as Out of Africa, Dances with Wolves, and Born Free, earning five Academy Awards and several other honors throughout his career. In addition to film, he wrote the theme for the television series The Persuaders and worked on stage musicals. Barry spent his later years in the United States and continued to record and perform until his passing in 2011.