Trevor Alfred Charles Jones, born on March 23, 1949, in Cape Town, South Africa, is a renowned composer known for his work in film and television scores. He grew up in a challenging environment, with his family facing chronic poverty and substance abuse issues, and his mother being the sole breadwinner. Despite these hardships, Jones was inspired by the old Gem Cinema across the street from his home, where the frequent loss of soundtrack audio highlighted for him the powerful role of music in films.

At the age of six, Jones decided to become a film composer. He was accepted into the South African College of Music at ten and later won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London at seventeen. After studying there, he worked for the BBC as a classical music reviewer, which eventually led him to the University of York and the National Film and Television School, where he further honed his skills in film music.

Jones's career took off after John Boorman commissioned him to write music for the film "Excalibur" in 1981. This project brought him to the attention of Jim Henson, leading to his work on "The Dark Crystal" and other Henson projects. Over the years, Jones has composed scores for numerous acclaimed films, including "Labyrinth," "Mississippi Burning," "The Last of the Mohicans," and "In the Name of the Father." His collaborations with filmmakers like John Boorman, Jim Henson, and Michael Mann have been particularly notable.

Throughout his career, Jones has received multiple nominations for prestigious awards, including three BAFTA Awards for Best Film Music and two Golden Globe Awards. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music since 2006 and was the first chair of the music department at the National Film and Television School in 1999.

Jones's dedication to his craft and his ability to work on both large-scale and smaller, low-budget films have made him a respected figure in the industry. His family often accompanies him to Los Angeles, where he continues to be in demand for his exceptional talent in film scoring.