David Campbell (composer)

Campbell was born in Toronto, Ontario. His father, D. Warren Campbell, was from Winnipeg, Manitoba, but was attending seminary in Toronto in order to become a Presbyterian minister. Campbell subsequently was assigned to a church in Pittsburgh, taking his family with him, before settling in Seattle when Campbell was 10.[4] Campbell took up the violin at age 9. At age 12, he began venturing into orchestration, studying the works of Bartók, Schoenberg and Stravinsky.[3][5]

In the late 1960s, after studying at Manhattan School of Music, Campbell moved from New York to Los Angeles and began studying pop music. He studied the music of The Beatles, Leonard Cohen and The Rolling Stones, and he played bluegrass music for crowds in line for movies in Westwood Village.[3][5]

At age 23, Campbell played on his first major album, Tapestry, by Carole King. This led to his first arranger role, for King's Rhymes and Reasons album. Campbell also played viola on recording sessions such as Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" and Bill Withers' "Lean on Me".[3][5][6] Since then, he has gone on to arrange songs for such artists as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Paul McCartney, Green Day, Avril Lavigne, Radiohead, Leona Lewis, Juanes, Dixie Chicks, Adele, Ricky Martin, Neil Diamond and Sheryl Crow.[1][3][5][7]

As a composer, David has written music for many films including Joy, Paper Tigers and Colombia: magia salvaje. He has also arranged and orchestrated music for over 80 films including Annie (2014), Foxcatcher (2014), August: Osage County (2013), Rock of Ages (2012), Dreamgirls (2007), North Country (2005) and Brokeback Mountain (2005).[8] In 2010 he worked with Nigel Godrich on the score for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.[3][9]

David has guest-conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl for Faith Hill, Death Cab for Cutie, Ray LaMontagne, Beck, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson and The xx. He collaborated with Muse for the performance of "Survival", the official song of the London Olympics. He also collaborated with Beck for the Lincoln Motor Company ad campaign, "Hello, Again", which featured a live performance of Beck's "Sound and Vision" cover and included 167 live musicians playing simultaneously.[3][7][10][11] In February 2009 Campbell arranged Radiohead's "15 Step" for the band's collaboration with the USC Marching Band at the 2009 Grammy Awards.[12] He conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as arranged and orchestrated the music for Beck's Song Reader concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, which featured many performers, including Childish Gambino, Juanes, Anne Hathaway, John C. Reilly, Jack Black and Jarvis Cocker.[13][14][15][16] He arranged and orchestrated for the Seattle Symphony and Pickwick's Sonic Evolution show on June 6, 2014.[17][18]

In 2003, he served as conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra during their one-night performance with Kiss, which was released on the album Kiss Symphony: Alive IV. During the concert, Campbell and the members of the orchestra wore the iconic Kiss makeup along with the members of the band.

In 2018, for the LA Phil’s 100th anniversary celebrations, David wrote arrangements for Chris Martin’s and Corinne Bailey Rae’s performances at Disney Hall, as well as Katy Perry’s and Kali Uchis’ performances at the Hollywood Bowl, all of which were conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.[19][20]

In 2019, he wrote arrangements for and conducted the LA Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Orchestra for Iron & Wine's 15th anniversary of Our Endless Numbered Days.[21]

He created the song arrangements, dance arrangements, underscoring and orchestrations for the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.[7][22]

Campbell has two sons and one daughter: musician Beck Hansen, artist Channing Hansen, and musician Alyssa Suede.

He is married to theatrical composer Pauline Frechette (aka Raven Kane).[23][24]

His father was a Presbyterian minister but Campbell himself has been a Scientologist for over 45 years.

In 2012, he donated to Ron Paul's campaign in the United States Presidential election.[3][25]

Partial list of films that David Campbell's work contributed to.[8]

sources:[1][26][27][28][29]

2020

• Cam - The Otherside (orchestra)
• Ariana Grande - Positions (strings)
• Charlie Puth - Free (strings)
• Laura Pausini - Seen (strings)
• Kane Brown & John Legend - Last Time I Say Sorry (strings)
• Tommy Torres - Aprenderemos (strings)
• Carrie Underwood - My Gift (orchestra)
• Tim McGraw - Here On Earth (strings)
• Garth Brooks - Fun (strings)
• Bon Jovi - 2020 (strings)

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1989

1987

1986

1981

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

• List of music arrangers