Hans Hugo Harold Faltermeyer, born on October 5, 1952, in Munich, West Germany, is a renowned German musician, composer, and record producer. Known for his influential work in the synth-pop genre, Faltermeyer gained international fame for composing the "Axel F" theme for the 1980s film Beverly Hills Cop. This track became a significant synth-pop hit and earned him a Grammy Award in 1986 for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special. He also composed the "Top Gun Anthem" for the movie Top Gun, which won him another Grammy Award in 1987 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance alongside guitarist Steve Stevens.

Faltermeyer began his musical journey at a young age, encouraged by his parents, and was discovered to have absolute pitch by a Nuremberg music professor when he was 11. He combined classical music training with a passion for rock 'n' roll, playing organ in a rock band and studying trumpet and piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. He started his career engineering classical sessions for Deutsche Grammophon and was later brought to Los Angeles by Giorgio Moroder to work on the soundtrack for Midnight Express. This collaboration led to further work with international pop stars like Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand, and Billy Idol.

Faltermeyer's career as a composer and producer expanded as he became more involved in soundtrack work, composing scores for films such as Fletch and Fletch Lives. His precise workmanship and innovative use of synthesizer technology solidified his reputation in the music industry. Throughout his career, Faltermeyer has worked with various artists and contributed significantly to the evolution of film music in the 1980s and beyond.