IN MEMORIAM: Michel Colombier (1939-2004)

The decease of many film composers is marking a sad record for 2004. Departed masters such as Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein or David Raksin have left together with other less famous composers like Piero Piccioni, Fred Karlin or Manuel Balboa.
Pitiful news came a few days ago concerning the obituaries of Gil Melle and Carlo Rusticelli. Now is the turn for French composer Michel Colombier, whose film scoring period, particularly during the 80s, was indeed a successful one.
Colombier started his film music career in France in 1964. His international fame came with Against All Odds (1984), a film in which rock singer Phil Collins was first nominated to the Oscar for best song. Colombier was then involved in some Hollywood projects such as Purple Rain, New Jack City and Barb Wire.
His award collection includes as well a Golden Globe nomination in 1986 for White Nights, and a César one year before that for Elisa.