Bernard Herrmann, born Maximillian Herman on June 29, 1911, in New York City, was a renowned American composer and conductor, celebrated for his innovative film scores. His parents were Russian immigrants, and he grew up in a musically encouraging environment. Herrmann studied at DeWitt Clinton High School, New York University, and the Juilliard School. He began his career in music by forming the New Chamber Orchestra of New York at age 20.

In 1934, Herrmann joined CBS radio, where he worked as a composer, arranger, and conductor for the CBS Symphony Orchestra. His collaboration with Orson Welles on the Mercury Theatre on the Air led to his first film score for Welles's Citizen Kane (1941). Herrmann's work in film music is marked by his partnership with director Alfred Hitchcock, creating iconic scores for films such as Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), and Psycho (1960).

Herrmann's distinctive style, characterized by unique harmonic and rhythmic elements, revolutionized film scoring. He won an Academy Award for The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) and posthumously received a BAFTA Award for Taxi Driver (1976), his final score completed just before his death on December 24, 1975, in Los Angeles.

Beyond film, Herrmann composed for television, including The Twilight Zone, and created concert works like an operatic adaptation of Wuthering Heights. His legacy as a pioneering film composer endures, with his music continuing to influence and inspire.