The American composer passed away of natural causes on Sunday (11 December), aged 85.
Angelo Badalamenti was a close friend and collaborator of David Lynch, know for composing the music for Lynch’s films and series including Twin Peaks – which he won a Grammy for – Mullholand Drive, Wild at Heart and Blue Velvet. In 2008 Badalamenti was given a lifetime achievement award at the 2008 World Soundtrack Awards and he also received the Henry Mancini Award in 2011, the latter of which Lynch presented to him.
Over the course of his career, Badalamenti, who was a classically trained musician, also composed the torch theme song for the 1992 Olympic Games and worked with the likes of Nina Simone, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys and Marianne Faithfull. His music was also used in films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man.
News of Badalamenti’s death was confirmed yesterday by his family who shared a short statement: “The family of Composer Angelo Badalamenti, best known for his work with director David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet) confirms that the composer, loving husband, father and grandfather passed away on December 11th, 2022, peacefully of natural causes, surrounded by his family. The family appreciates their privacy at this time.”
In addition to composing the music for Lynch’s work, Badalamenti also made some on-screen appearances. He played Luigi Castigliane in Mullholand Drive and appeared in Blue Velvet playing piano with Isabella Rossellini.
Badalamenti also worked closely with the late Julee Cruise, the US singer, multi-instrumentalist and actor who sung on tracks such as Falling, from Twin Peaks, and Mysteries of Love which featured in Blue Velvet. The late composer also released two albums with Lynch and Cruise, Floating into the Night in 1989 and the 1993 release The Voice of Love.
Listen back to our tribute mix to Julee Cruise by Patricia Wolf below.
