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 30th Annual Sammy Film Music Awards
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The Sammy Film Music Awards (SFMA - also called "The Sammys") are the longest-running awards
chosen exclusively for film music recordings.
They are named in honor of Sammy ("High Hopes") Cahn (1913-1993),
the movie lyricist who received 4 Oscars and 1 Emmy Award, more awards than any other movie songwriter,
and he was nominated more than any other songwriter -- 26 times between 1942 and 1973.
These awards are given for Excellence in film music recordings and not based on any other awards or popularity lists.
They are based on the quality of film scores and movie songs on CDs.
Since 1988, the Sammy Film Music Awards have been chosen each year for their Excellence by Roger Hall,
a member of the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA),
author of the popular book, A Guide to Film Music (now in its 7th edition),
and Managing Editor of the e-zine, Film Music Review. Roger is also an ASCAP composer.
Back in the 1980s he wrote music for a play, "The Musical Telephone," that he hoped would be made into a film.
He also wrote a song for another possible film about a romance in London, again unfortunately never made.
This song, "The Soho Serenade," is now available from CD Baby (click the image below):
The first Sammys were chosen for best score and song of 1988 – the year of Sammy Cahn’s 75th birthday.
When notified, Sammy said he was “flattered and honored" to have these awards named after him.
There were just two awards in 1988:
Best Film Score: THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST - music by John Williams
Best Film Song: "Let The River Run" - words & music by Carly Simon from WORKING GIRL.
In the early years the Sammys were announced on the popular Boston radio program,
"Music America," on WGBH-FM, hosted by Ron Della Chiesa.
Some of these radio programs are now included
on the commemorative computer disc available by online donation:
Oscar Meets Sammy- Film Music Awards On Radio
 The Sammy Film Music Awards
Important Notice!
Your support is needed for the Sammy Film Music Awards
to continue its mission recognizing excellence in film music recordings!
Please consider supporting this mission with a donation
and receive a DVD or a CD in return.
To read how to make your donation -- click here
Please Like the Sammy Film Music Awards page on Facebook -- click here
Click these links for each topic:
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Help Support The Sammy Film Music Awards
30th Annual Sammy Film Music Awards for 2017
List of the previous Sammy Film Music Awards
Past Lifetime Achievement Names
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Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
He certainly deserved the honor for these awards. He was nominated for an Oscar 26 times, more than any other songwriter. Sammy received four Oscars for co-writing these songs:
- "Three Coins in the Fountain" from
THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN (1954) -- music by Jule Styne
- "All the Way" from
THE JOKER IS WILD (1957) --
music by James Van Heusen
- "High Hopes" from
A HOLE IN THE HEAD (1959) --
music by James Van Heusen
- "Call Me Irresponsible" from
PAPA'S DELICATE CONDITION (1963) --
music by James Van Heusen
Sammy also received an Emmy for his lyrics to "Love and Marriage" from the television production of OUR TOWN in 1955.
All five songs were recorded by Frank Sinatra, who was a longtime friend and admirer of Sammy's lyrics.
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Please Help Support The Sammy Film Music Awards
The Sammy Film Music Awards
receives no outside support
other than your donations to help keep it going
with its mission to recognize excellence in film music recordings.
Please consider sending in your donation
and in return
you can receive
a DVD or
a CD
listed below...
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DVD-ROM: "HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD" -
Memorable Movie Music
This disc is playable on computer or compatible devices, and has over 100 files about memorable movie music from the past.
There is also the popular book, A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC - SONGS AND SCORES.
In addition, there are over one hour of audio and video highlights.
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CD No. 1: Oscar Meets Sammy - Film Music On Radio
Did you know that one of the themes by Hans Zimmer in THE LION KING is similar to a famous choral piece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
You can hear both of them on this CD which has highlights from "Music America" with Ron Della Chiesa on WGBH radio in Boston with guest, Roger Hall, discussing the Oscars and the Sammys. The CD includes a conversation with Sammy Cahn telling how one of his Oscar-winning songs was written and recorded. Also,
music highlights of
past Oscar winners: John Barry, Bernard Herrmann, Dimitri Tiomkin, Franz Waxman, and John Williams.
CD No. 2: It's Magic -- A One Hundredth Birthday Celebration of Sammy Cahn
A festive recording from American Classics, recorded live in concert
with a marvelous group of cabaret singers,
accompanied by a swinging jazz combo,
and including all four of the Oscar-winning song lyrics by Sammy Cahn.
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Watch the American Classics ensemble
perform an Oscar-winning Sammy Cahn song -
click here
Sammy Cahn Centennial Tribute
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The 30th Annual Sammy Film Music Awards
"What really makes the Sammy Awards worth checking out is the irregular addition
of irreverent and praiseworthy categories."
-- Timothy Sexton (Yahoo Network)
By Roger Hall
February 18, 2018
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On this 30th anniversary year of the SFMA, I am pleased to announce the latest awards.
It has been my pleasure each year to select the recordings I believe are worthy of special recognition.
It so happens that two of the film composers I respect the most, Miklos Rozsa and John Williams,
are listed on this year's awards list.
As a writer myself, I have always felt that CD booklet writers deserve to be mentioned.
They deserve to be recognized
and are listed under each title when appropriate.
The SFMA are based on CDs of soundtracks with new or vintage film scores and songs,
but not video game or television scores, which are named elsewhere,
for example
by the International Film Music Critics Association where I'm a member. Learn more about them --click here
I am pleased to mention that John Williams, who was named for the First Sammy Film Music Award in 1988,
has received more of these awards than any other film composer.
See the other scores and songs he has received SFMA -- click here.
Here are the categories for this year's 30th Sammy Film Music Awards:
30th Annual Sammy Film Music Awards for 2017
Best New Film Score on CD
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
Music by John Williams
Walt Disney Records D002714602
Album Produced by John Williams
John Williams, the best known film composer in the world,
has crafted a distinctive
collection of themes, both new and old,
in this eighth installment of the STAR WARS saga.
All the themes are on this enjoyable CD lasting over 70 minutes,
with a Finale that sums it up with masterful scoring.
See also Steven Kennedy's comments about this CD release -- click here
Honorable mention: THE SHAPE OF WATER
Music by Alexandre Desplat
Best New Film Song on CD
"Remember Me"
Music & lyrics
by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
from the popular Disney-Pixar film, COCO
Hear this lovely song with lyrics on YouTube
and the official Disney Music VEVO
Best Golden Age CD Release
(1930s - 1950s)
BEN-HUR (1959)
Tadlow 026 (2 CDs)
James Fitzpatrick, Album Producer
Booklet notes by Frank K. DeWald
One of the greatest re-recordings ever released.
The sound on these CDs is superb
and better than any previous release.
A triumph of today's technology and beautifully performed
by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus,
under the assured direction of Nic Raine.
For the review of this CD release -- click here
James Fitzpatrick
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Best Silver Age CD Release
(1960s - 1970s)
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1433 (2 CDs)
Remastered Edition Produced, Mixed, Mastered,
and Booklet Notes
by
Mike Matessino
"The idea of contact with life that we know out there in some form
is an irresistibleness attraction for any artist working in any medium"
-- John Williams
as quoted in the CD booklet
This marvelous remastered and expanded release on 2 CDs
for what I consider the best John Williams
film score of his early career.
The score was also a personal favorite of his,
as I heard him say years ago
at
a Boston Pops event.
Though the score is
complex in its scoring, there are themes of simple poignancy too.
The film's finale and arrangement of "When You Wish Upon A Star" is a magical moment.
The booklet notes are well worth reading and provide an excellent
evaluation of how this landmark score was conceived and recorded.
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Mike Matessino
Best Bronze Age CD Release
(1980s - 1990s)
THE RUSSIA HOUSE (1990)
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Quartet Records CD QR303
Resissue Producer: Mike Matessino
Booklet notes by Dirk Wickenden
An expanded release with well written booklet notes,
for one of Jerry Goldsmith's best late film scores,
with over 75 minutes of wonderful music,
including the hauntingly beautiful Love/Main Theme
heard on various
cues. A most welcome release.
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Mike Matessino
Special Preservation Award
Best Film Music Compilation
CAPTAINS CORAGEOUS:
The Franz Waxman Collection (INTRADA 4CDs)
Album Produced by Douglass Fake
Booklet notes by Frank K. DeWald
This is an outstanding collection of score highlights by one of the best past
film music masters,
Franz Waxman.
Read a centennial tribute to Franz Waxman --
click here.
See Steven Kennedy's description of this outstanding collection
on his Best of 2017 list -- click here
Listener Choice Award
 
THE RED PONY and THE HEIRESS (1949)
Music composed and conducted by Aaron Copland
Intrada Special Collection Volume 373
Booklet notes by Jim Lochner
CD Producers: Douglass Fake and Roger Feigelson
This Dual CD was chosen by James Phillips
For a review of this CD release -- click here
Most Overrated Soundtrack Release
DUNKIRK
Music by Hans Zimmer,
with Benjamin Wallfisch and Lorne Balfe
What passes for a "film score" is mostly electronic soundscapes
with nothing approaching a memorable theme
except for a bit
from the Enimga Variations
by Sir Edward Elgar
composed way back in 1899.
This music sounds more like
a score for a creepy horror film,
than a dramatic World War II film.
Sammy Lifetime Achievement
For a Past Composer or Songwriter
Since 1988, there have been 21 past American film composers or arrangers and 8 songwriters and lyric writers named for this Lifetime Achievement Award, and each of them have made significant accomplishments in film music.
The film composers and arrangers so far are (in the order of their listing):
Bernard Herrmann, Henry Mancini, Alfred Newman, Max Steiner, Miklós Rózsa, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Dimitri Tiomkin, Franz Waxman,
Victor Young, Hugo Friedhofer, Johnny Green, Bronislau Kaper, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein,
Jerry Goldsmith, , Aaron Copland, John Barry, David Raksin, Jerome Moross, Roy Webb, Leigh Harline.
The songwriters and lyricists are (in order of their listing):
Sammy Cahn, Ken Darby, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, Johnny Mercer, James Van Heusen,
Harry Warren,
Paul Francis Webster.
I began the first Sammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1988 with the movie lyricist whose name is used for these awards: Sammy Cahn.
For this 30th Anniversary Year I select the Lifetime Achievement Award to the prolific lyricist who
wrote such lyrics as:
"When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are"....
Also,
"Do not forsake me oh my darlin'
On this our wedding day"....
He wrote these lyrics and received well deserved Oscars for both movie songs:
"When You Wish Upon A Star" from PINOCCHIO (1940) and "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'" from HIGH NOON (1952).
He worked with many composers, including Dimitri Tiomkin, and the composer I chose last year, Leigh Harline.
Who is that lyricist?
His name is...
Ned Washington (1901-1976)
His lyrics will last for years to come because they have what all great movie songs have...
a melding of memorable words to music.
-- Roger Hall, February 2018
12-time Oscar nominated lyricist Ned Washington was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on August 15, 1901.
He began his career as a vaudeville Master of Ceremonies, where he not only introduced acts, but also acted as agent for some of them. His first success came in 1928 with the song “Singing in the Bathtub,” which was included in the musical revue Earl Carroll Vanities of 1929.
One of the most prolific of the Tin Pan Alley writers, Washington collaborated on several scores for Broadway including several years of the Earl Carroll’s Vanities, Vanderbilt Revue, Murder at the Vanities, Blackbirds of 1934 and Hello, Paris.
In 1934, he moved to Hollywood under contract with MGM for whom he wrote complete scores for the films Tropic Holiday, Pinocchio (winning the 1940 Academy Award and Box Office Blue Ribbon Award), Dumbo, Hands Across the Border, Mexicana, Let’s Do It Again. Subsequently, he also contributed songs to the Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney films No, No, Nanette, Little Johnny Jones, Brazil, The Greatest Show on Earth, Miss Sadie Thompson and Gulliver’s Travels.
Washington collaborated with many composers including Victor Young, Dimitri Tiomkin, Lester Lee, Michael Cleary, Allie Wrubel, George Duning, Max Steiner, Jimmy McHugh, Bronsilaw Kaper, Walter Jurmann, Leigh Harline and Sam Stept.
Highlights from Washington’s extensive catalog include “Singin’ in the Bathtub”, “My Impression of You”, “Makin’ Faces at the Man in the Moon”, “Can’t We Talk it Over?”, “Waltzing in a Dream”, “Someone Stole Gabriel’s Horn”, “Shadows on the Window”, “Got the South in My Soul”, “Love Me Tonight”, “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You”, “I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You”, “I’ll Be Faithful”, “Give Me a Heart to Sing To”, “When You Wish Upon a Star” (1940 Academy award), “The Nearness of You”, “Someday I’ll Meet You Again”, “Hear No Evil-See No Evil”, “High Noon” (Academy award 1952), “Circus World” and “Song Without End.”
Ned Washington died in Los Angeles, California on December 20, 1976.
--This description is reprinted from the Songwriters Hall of Fame site --click here
There have been over 150 awards chosen
so far.
To see the complete list of Sammy Film Music Awards
click here
Past SFMA Lifetime Achievement Composers and Songwriters
Leigh Adrian Harline (1907-1969)
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Paul Francis Webster (1907 – 1984)
Roy Webb (1888-1982)
Jerome Moross (1913-1983)
David Raksin, 1912-2004
John Barry (1933-2011)
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Article: Aaron Copland Talks About Film Music
Ken Darby (1909-1992)
"River Of No Return" - Centennial Tribute to Ken Darby
Jerry Goldsmith (1929-2004)
Jay Livingston (1915-2001)
and
Ray Evans (1915-2007)
Elmer Bernstein (1922-2004)
See also:
Elmer Bernstein - The Magnificent One
"High Hopes" - Centennial Birthday Tribute to Sammy Cahn
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Are you a fan of classic film music?
Here is a popular reference book
now in its 7th edition,
with audio and video files
on a computer DVD:
"As Time Goes By" - A Guide to Film Music
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For any comments or questions, write to:
The Sammy Film Music Awards
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Sammy Film Music Awards (home page)
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