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 31st Annual Sammy Film Music Awards
for 2018 recordings
Sammy Cahn (1913-1993)
Begun in 1988, The Sammy Film Music Awards (SFMA)
are now the longest-running awards
chosen exclusively for film music recordings.
They are named in honor of Sammy ("High Hopes") Cahn,
the movie lyricist who received 4 Oscars and 1 Emmy Award,
more awards than any other movie songwriter,
and he was nominated more times 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.
The Sammy Film Music Awards are selected from reviews on Film Music Review by Roger Hall, Managing Editor. He is
a member of the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA),
and author of the popular book, A Guide to Film Music: Songs and Scores (now in its 7th edition).
 The Sammy Film Music Awards
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
The 31st Annual Sammy Film Music Awards
To see the list of awards
click here
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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 No. 1: "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.
DVD No. 2: "As Time Goes By" -
A Guide To Film Music: Songs and Scores
(PineTree Press, 7th edition)
For a detailed description for this DVD -- click here
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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.
Commentary by WGBH-FM Radio Host -- Ron Della Chiesa
For the list of movie songs on this CD -- click here
If you donate $30 (USA address) or $35 for Overseas Air Mail delivery
you will receive your choice of one of these DVDs:
"As Time Goes By" - A Guide To Film Music: Songs and Scores
or
"Hooray For Hollywood: Memorable Movie Music
To receive one of the CDs:
Oscar Meets Sammy - Film Music On Radio
or It's Magic: O One Hundreth Birthday Celebration of Sammy Cahn
make a donation of $20 (U.S.A. address) or $25 (Overseas Air Mail delivery).
Your donation helps support the Sammy Film Music Awards
and its mission to recognize excellence in film music recordings.
Any larger donations would be gratefully appreciated.
Your donation is payable to the owner of this website,
PineTree Productions,
through safe and secure PayPal.
Shipping is included with your donation.
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Click on this button to
After you have made your donation,
to insure proper delivery mention the CD or DVD title you wish to receive
and send your mailing address to:
Sammy Film Music Awards Donation Disc
Thank you for your support!
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The 31st 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, Managing Editor, Film Music Review
February 17, 2019
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On this 31st anniversary year -- the longest running awards for film music recordings --
I am pleased to announce the latest awards for the Sammy Film Music Awards
as chosen by the film music critics
from Film Music Review.
The SFMA are based on CDs of soundtracks with new and vintage film scores or songs.
The categories for this year's Sammy Film Music Awards for CDs:
31st Annual Sammy Film Music Awards for 2018
Best New Film Score on CD
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
Music by Nicholas Britell
Lakeshore Records
CD
This is what the composer has said about one of his themes:
What I was trying to explore with something like “Encomium” was almost trying to write what I felt was more modern string-chamber music, you know? Almost classical chamber music but with twentieth-century New York jazz chords. That was really the idea of that piece. Like, what if I wrote something that was, let’s say, a classical string quartet, but instead of a string quartet it’s like a cello octet. And instead of nineteenth-century western classical chords, they’re actually twentieth-century jazz chords. That was kind of my intellectual approach.
To read the complete Nicholas Britell interview
with Charles Steinberg -- click here
This is an incredibly moving score
for a sensitively told film.
Listen to the "Encomium" theme -- click here
You can listen to highlights
from this excellent score -- click here
Film music critic, Steven Kennedy,
has selected this film score for his Best of the Year list,
writing in part:
"Thematic material is well developed throughout
and there are even some noir-ish moments."
To read his complete comments -- click here
Best New Film Song on CD
"The Place Where Lost Things Go"
Music
by Marc Shaiman/ Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
from the Disney film, MARY POPPINS RETURNS
Walt Disney Records CD
While many folks are probably in favor of "Shallow" from A STAR IS BORN,
I don't agree since this is just another overheated pop song belted out.
Why do you need 4 songwriters to write it,
including Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta,
known to everyone as "Lady Gaga"?
I think this song from MARY POPPINS RETURNS
has more appealing words and music
and is beautifully sung by Emily Blunt in the film.
It's a lovely song that deserves to be remembered.
Steven Kennedy also named the score for his Best of the Year list, writing:
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it remains one of the most enjoyable times one might have spent in the theater last year."
See his complete comments -- click here
Watch the video of this song from MARY POPPINS RETURNS on YouTube -- click here
Preservation Award
Best Expanded Film Score Release
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SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
Music by John Williams
La-La Land CD
Music performed by The Boston Symphony Orchestra
and Tanglewood Festival Chorus
Conducted by John Williams
20th Anniversary Limited Edition
Produced by Mike Matessino
Reissue Executive Producers for La-La Land Records:
M.V. Gerhard and Matt Verboys.
This expanded CD is fully deserving of a new release with the extra music,
better sound, and a much longer booklet than the original release from 1998.
Best Animated Film Score CD
Joshua Bell, violin
David Arch, piano
Clara Sanabras and Isaac London, soloists
Libera Boys Choir,
The London Singers
Max & Me Orchestra
Sony Classical CD
The film score for MAX AND ME by Mark McKenzie has been chosen for its "EXCELLENCE."
It was composed for an animated film from the Dos Corazones film studio of Mexico.
Film music critic, Steve Vertlieb,
has written a highly favorable review of this soundtrack recording
He writes:
"Mark McKenzie’s score for MAX AND ME is a triumphant, ravishing masterwork -
a glorious, infinitely exquisite tribute to the overpowering faith
and inherent goodness alive within the human soul."
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Sammy Lifetime Achievement
Since 1988, there have been 21 past American film composers or arrangers and 9 songwriters and lyric writers
named for this Lifetime Achievement,
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, Ned Washington.
I began the first Sammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1988 with the movie lyricist whose name is used for these awards: Sammy Cahn.
This year I select the 31st Sammy Lifetime Achievement to the orchestrator, arranger and composer on the centennial of his birth:
Alexander "Sandy" Courage (1919-2008)
He is especially known for his excellent work as orchestrator at M-G-M on musicals including:
THE BAND WAGON, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, GIGI and others.
Later on he worked on film scores for composers like Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams.
In 1982 I presented a birthday tribute to John Williams on WGBH radio in Boston. I began that tribute with the beautiful "Love Theme" from SUPERMAN,
orchestrated by Alexander Courage.
He also composed for television shows. He is especially remembered for the original STAR-TREK TV series, including the Main Title.
The work of this brilliant orchestrator and arranger will continue to live on and most deservedly so.
-- Roger Hall
Watch the wonderful tribute to Alexander Courage, hosted by world-famous composer, John Williams -- 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, Arrangers and Songwriters
Ned Washington (1901-1976)
Leigh Adrian Harline (1907-1969)
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Paul Francis Webster (1907 – 1984)
Roy Webb (1888-1982)
Jerome Moross (1913-1983)
: 
Susan Moross Tarjan
in memory of
her father,
film composer, Jerome Moross
David Raksin, 1912-2004
John Barry (1933-2011)
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
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)
"High Hopes" -
Sammy Cahn Centennial Birthday Tribute
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Are you a fan of classic film music?
Here is a popular reference book
now in its 7th edition,
with bonus audio and video files
all on a computer disc:
"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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