Don Black
Don Black, born Donald Blackstone on June 21, 1938, in South Hackney, London, is a renowned English lyricist celebrated for his extensive contributions to popular music, film, and musical theatre. He began his career in the music industry as an office boy and song-plugger and later managed singer Matt Monro, for whom he wrote several songs. Black's breakthrough in film came with the lyrics for the James Bond theme "Thunderball" in 1965, leading to further collaborations on "Diamonds Are Forever" and "The Man with the Golden Gun" with composer John Barry. His work on "Born Free" with Barry won an Oscar for Best Song.
In musical theatre, Black is acclaimed for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, including "Tell Me on a Sunday," "Aspects of Love," and "Sunset Boulevard," the latter earning him two Tony Awards. His film credits include themes for "The Italian Job," "The Pink Panther Strikes Again," and several James Bond films. Black has also penned hit songs like Michael Jackson's "Ben" and Lulu's "To Sir With Love." His accolades include five Academy Award nominations, five Ivor Novello Awards, and a Golden Globe. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007 and continues to work on new musical projects.
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