John Du Prez | |
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| Born | Trevor Jones (1946-12-14)14 December 1946 (age 78) Sheffield, England |
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| Instrument | Trumpet |
John Du Prez (bornTrevor Jones; 14 December 1946) is a British musician, conductor and composer. He was a member of the 1980ssalsa-driven pop bandModern Romance and has since written severalfilm scores includingOxford Blues (1984),Once Bitten,[1]Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), and the finalCarry On film,Carry On Columbus (1992). He contributed toThe Wild (2006)soundtrack.[2][3]
He is also known for his extensive collaborations withMonty Python, having worked on several films and shows by members of the troupe, including composing, conducting, and arranging forMonty Python’s Life of Brian (1979),Time Bandits (1981),Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (both 1982),Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983),A Private Function (1984),A Fish Called Wanda (1988),The Wind in the Willows (1996),Spamalot (2004),Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) (2010), andMonty Python Live (Mostly) (2014). For his work onSpamalot, which ran 1,575 performances on Broadway, he was nominated for theTony Award for Best Original Score.
Du Prez was born inSheffield, England. He received his MA (Oxon), B.Mus.,ARCM, and was aTrevelyan Scholar at Christ Church,Oxford. In 1976 he joined the staff of theUniversity of London's music department before becoming a full-timecomposer. He would then begin a 30-year working relationship withEric Idle.[4]
Du Prez has often worked withEric Idle for the music forMonty Python, most notably the score forMonty Python's The Meaning of Life as well as withJohn Cleese onA Fish Called Wanda. He acted asmusic arranger on theTerry Jones filmMonty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and on theTerry Gilliam filmTime Bandits (1981), and he also co-wrote the music for the stage musicalSpamalot, as well as the music and the intro theme of the British seriesCaptain Star. In 1986, Du Prez contributed songs to thesoundtrack of theMadonna andSean Penn movieShanghai Surprise: "The Hottest Gong in Town" and "Zig-Zag" (both sung by the film's executive producerGeorge Harrison).[5][6]
The adoption of the name John Du Prez was to avoid confusion with the South African film composerTrevor Jones.[7] He is probably best known as thetrumpet andhorn player in the 1980s Pop groupModern Romance, who had a string of Top 40 hits from 1981 to 1983, and made many guest appearances onTV shows such as theBBC programmeTop of the Pops.[3]
John Du Prez has also scored various films including theRob Lowe vehicleOxford Blues (1984), theComedy filmA Private Function (1984), theJim Carreyhorror comedyOnce Bitten (1985), and theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies; his piece of music – orSuite –Shredder's Suite is taken from thesoundtrack to the first of the three films,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990).[8] He recently contributed to thesoundtrack of the animated filmThe Wild (2006).[3]
Du Prez joinedModern Romance during the early 1980s and remained with them throughout their most successful years. He appeared on their debut albumAdventures in Clubland (1981) and on two further albums:Trick of the Light (1983) andParty Tonight (1983). He is probably best remembered as playing the trumpet solo on the Modern Romance cover version of "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" which made the UK top twenty in 1982. The B-side to "Cherry Pink ..." was dedicated to Du Prez, a (nearly) instrumental track titled "Who Is John Du Prez?". Modern Romance scored seven further Top Forty hits before disbanding in 1985, including "Best Years of Our Lives" which reached number four on theUK Singles Chart and later featured in the movieShrek. The other members of Modern Romance includedGeoff Deane (lead vocalist),Paul Gendler (guitarist), David Jaymes (bass player, vocals), Robbie Jaymes (keyboard player), Andy Kriacou (drummer), andMichael J. Mullins (lead vocalist).[9][10]
Modern Romance toured extensively throughout the early 1980s – including the UK, Europe, the Far East, and Venezuela – and were awarded severalGold Discs for their efforts. Their album,Adventures in Clubland, hit the number one spot – and went Gold – inSouth America, and produced three UK hits ("Everybody Salsa" number 12, "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey" number 10, and "Queen of the Rapping Scene (Nothing Ever Goes the Way You Plan') number 37. The single "Can You Move" also peaked at number two on theUS Dance chart. Following a change in lead vocalist – from Geoff Deane to Michael J. Mullins – Modern Romance enjoyed what would be their watershed year, 1983. They made a significant dent in the UK chart with the following singles: "Best Years of Our Lives", "High Life", "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm", "Walking in the Rain", and "Good Friday". Two albums – a studio album and a Christmas compilation – also made theUK Albums Chart that year:Trick of the Light andParty Tonight. Du Prez's trumpets and horns featured on nearly every track, from the party songs "Best Years of Our Lives" and "High Life" to the salsa tunes "Everybody Salsa" and "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey" to the band's bluesy and soulful ballads such as "Walking in the Rain". He also played on the band's cover version of "Band of Gold" (1983). Du Prez left Modern Romance before they called it quits in 1985, but his trumpets sounds could be heard on their farewell single, "Best Mix of Our Lives" (1985), their last chart entry.[11][12][13]
Du Prez can be found – with the other band members – on the cover of theTrick of the Light, which was featured in theTaschen Book1000 Record Covers.[14] The book presents a selection of the best vinyl cover art from the 1960s to the 1990s, and from a cross section of music genres. From a recording and production standpoint, the bulk of Modern Romance's music was produced byTony Visconti; they were signed by therecord labelsWEA andRonco.[15] Du Prez and Modern Romance performed their hit single, "High Life", on theRussell Harty Television Show in 1983, withCleo Rocos as backing vocalist.[12]
In 2006, Du Prez featured on the Warner CDModern Romance: The Platinum Collection, a compilation featuring the best of Modern Romance.[16]
A long-time friend ofEric Idle, Du Prez composed the score forMonty Python's The Meaning of Life in 1983, while still a member ofModern Romance. The film starsJohn Cleese,Terry Gilliam,Graham Chapman, Idle, andMichael Palin. It is directed by – and also features –Terry Jones. Du Prez also contributed ascomposer.[17][18]
Du Prez composed the score for this 1980s remake ofA Yank at Oxford (1938).Oxford Blues (1984) was an early project forRob Lowe, a teen drama which also featuredCary Elwes,Michael Gough,Chad Lowe,Amanda Pays,Julian Sands andAlly Sheedy.[19]
A Private Function (1984) marks another team-up withMichael Palin. Thiscomedy – the score composed by Du Prez – also starsAlan Bennett,Denholm Elliott,Pete Postlethwaite andMaggie Smith. Du Prez also contributes asconductor.[20]
The film was an early vehicle forJim Carrey,Karen Kopins andLauren Hutton.Once Bitten (1985) is a mixture of thehorror film and thecomedy. It also featuresCleavon Little. Du Prez is score composer.[20]
Featuring some of theMonty Python cast,A Fish Called Wanda (1988) includedJohn Cleese,Jamie Lee Curtis,Kevin Kline andMichael Palin. This is a Britishcomedy for which Du Prez wrote the score.[21][22]
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) is anaction,adventure andcomedy – based on theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book. Du Prez composed the score for the movie, whilstCorey Feldman,Judith Hoag,Elias Koteas,David Warner and otheractors provided the voices or played live-action roles. Du Prez also provided the score for thesequels,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze andTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, and his song –That's Your Consciousness – can be found on the second film'ssoundtrack.[21][23]
Carry On Columbus (1992) is a landmark in film, in that it is the final chapter in theCarry On films. Du Prez composed the score for thiscomedy which starsJulian Clary,Bernard Cribbins,Jim Dale,Maureen Lipman,Rik Mayall,Leslie Phillips,Nigel Planer,Alexei Sayle, andJune Whitfield.[20][24]
Fascination (2004) is an Americanmysterythriller starringJacqueline Bisset,Adam Garcia, andJames Naughton. Du Prez composed the score for the film and would work once more withModern Romance member, David Jaymes, who acted as music supervisor, having since ventured into the management side of the business.[25][26][27]
