These awards are named in honor of lyricist, Sammy Cahn, who received four Oscars for his songs: "Three Coins in the Fountain"; "All the Way"; "High Hopes"; "Call Me Irresponsible." He was Oscar nominated more times than any other songwriter -- 26 times in all.
The Sammy Film Music Awards (or SFMA)
are announced
in one main category -- film music.
The Sammys
are the longest-running awards
chosen exclusively for the best film soundtracks and songs each year.
They are chosen by Roger Hall, a film music historian, composer,
author of A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC, and
editor of the online magazine, Film Music Review.
Help Support The Sammy Awards -
the longest-running awards for film music CDs!
For the 25th anniversary of the Sammys, you can receive a copy of this special non-commercial CD,
Oscar Meets Sammy - Film Music Awards On Radio
(25 tracks)
Make a donation of $20 or more to help support The Sammy Film Music Awards and will receive this CD including Free Shipping.
The CD has radio tributes to the Oscars and Sammys over the years on a popular Boston radio program hosted by Ron Della Chiesa with special guest, Roger Hall, film music historian, member of the International Film Music Critics Association, Managing Editor of Film Music Review, and Founder of the Sammy Film Music Awards.
Included on the CD are highlights from film scores by Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, John Barry, John Williams. There is also a radio guest segment with Sammy Cahn telling about writing one of his Academy Award-winning songs and there are also several examples of his popular songs from the 1950s.
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payable to PineTree Productions,
through safe and secure PayPal.
Worldwide shipping is included.
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Oscar Meets Sammy CD
Most Sammy Awards for a Current Film Composers and Songwriters:
John Williams (11)
[ 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997,1998, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2011]
4 Sammy Film Music Awards to
Alexandre Desplat
[2008. 2010, 2012 (2)]
James Newton Howard
[1995, 2002, 2004, 2007]
Alan Menken
[1989, 1991 (2), 1992]
Randy Newman
[1999, 2000, 2003, 2006]
The Complete List (1988-2012)
25th Sammys For 2012
BEST NEW FILM SCORE CD: RISE OF THE GUARDIANS -
music by Alexandre Desplat (Varese Sarbande)
Honorable Mention: LINCOLN - music by John Williams
BEST NEW SCORE FOR A VIDEO OR INTERACTIVE MEDIA:
JOURNEY -
music by Austin Wintory
(Sumthing CD)
BEST NEW FILM SONG: "Still Dream" -
music by Alexandre Deplat/
lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
in RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
(Varese Sarabande CD)
MOST OVERRATED FILM SCORE: SKYFALL - music by Thomas Newman
(Sony Classical CD)
BEST GOLDEN AGE CD RELEASE (1930s-1950s): ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN and ARSENIC AND OLD LACE-
music by Max Steiner
(Tribute Film Classics 2 CD box set)
BEST SILVER AGE CD RELEASE (1960s-1970s): SHIP OF FOOLS - music by Ernest Gold
(Monstrous Movie Music CD)
BEST BRONZE AGE CD RELEASE (1980s-1990s): BODY HEAT -
music by John Barry
(Film Score Monthly, 2 CDs)
BEST NEWLY RECORDED VINTAGE FILM SCORE CD RELEASE:
QUO VADIS -
music by Miklos Rozsa
(Prometheus Records 2 CDs)
SPECIAL PRESERVATION AWARD (Best Album Producers):
David Schecter and Kathleen Mayne
(Monstrous Movie Music)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR A PAST FILM COMPOSER:
Jerome Moross (1913-1983)
24th Sammys For 2011
BEST NEW FILM SCORE CD: WAR HORSE -
music by John Williams
(Sony Classical)
BEST OVERLOOKED NEW FILM SCORE CD: THE GREATEST MIRACLE -
music by Mark McKenzie
(BSX Records)
BEST NEW TELEVISION SCORE (New Category): DOWNTON ABBEY
Music score by John Lunn
BEST GOLDEN AGE FILM SCORE CD: THE EGYPTIAN -
music by Alfred Newman and Bernard Herrmann - Album Produced by Nick Redman
(Varese Sarabande, 2 CDs)
BEST SILVER AGE FILM SCORE CD: THE SAND PEBBLES -
music by Jerry Goldsmith
- Album Produced by Nick Redman and Mike Matessino
(Intrada 2 CDs)
BEST BRONZE AGE FILM SCORE CD: CONAN THE DESTROYER and
SWORD AND SORCERY: THE ADVENTURES OF CONAN -
music by Basil Poledouris
Produced by James Fitzpatrick
(Prometheus, 2 CDs)
BEST VINTAGE COMPILATION CD: 20th CENTURY FOX -
75 YEARS OF GREAT FILM MUSIC -
Compilation Produced by Robert Townson
(Varese Sarabande - 3 CD Box Set)
BEST NEWLY RECORDED VINTAGE FILM SCORE:THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE - music by Dimitri Tiomkin -
Produced by James Fitzpatrick
(Prometheus, 2 CDs)
SPECIAL PRESERVATION AWARD (Best Album Producer):
Nick Redman
LIFETIME ACIEVEMENT FOR A PAST FILM COMPOSER:
David Raksin (1912-2004)
23rd Sammys For 2010
BEST NEW FILM SCORE CD: THE KING'S SPEECH -
music by Alexandre Desplat
(Decca)
BEST OVERLOOKED NEW FILM SCORE CD: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER -
music by David Arnold
(Sony)
MOST OVERRATED NEW FILM SCORE CD: INCEPTION -
music by Hans Zimmer
(Water Tower Music)
BEST GOLDEN AGE FILM SCORES: CITIZEN KANE and HANGOVER SQUARE
music by Bernard Herrmannn
(Chandos)
BEST SILVER AGE FILM SCORE: THE ALAMO - Complete Score
music by Dimitri Tiomkin
(Prometheus 3 CD Box Set)
BEST BRONZE AGE FILM SCORE: PATTON -
music by Jerry Goldsmith
(Intrada 2 CDs)
BEST VINTAGE COMPILATION: THE SEA HAWK -
music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
(Classic Film Score Series - RCA)
NEWLY RECORDED VINTAGE FILM SCORE: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA -
Complete Score -
music by Maurice Jarre
(Tadlow, 2 CDs)
SPECIAL PRESERVATION AWARD (Best Album Producer):
Robert Townson for SPARTACUS -
music by Alex North
6 CD/1 DVD Box Set with illustrated book
Varese Sarabande
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: John Barry (1933-2011)
22nd Sammys For 2009
BEST NEW FILM SCORE: UP
- music by Michael Giacchino (Disney Pixar)
BEST OVERLOOKED NEW FILM SCORE: CAPTAIN ABU RAED -
music by Austin Wintory (BSX Records)
MOST OVERRATED FILM SCORE (New Category):
AVATAR -
music by James Horner ( Fox Music/Atlantic)
BEST GOLDEN AGE FILM SCORE: THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE -
music by Max Steiner (Tribute Film Classics)
BEST SILVER AGE FILM SCORE: TIME AFTER TIME -
music by Miklos Rozsa (Film Score Monthly)
BEST BRONZE AGE FILM SCORE: TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE -
music by Jerry Goldsmith (Film Score Monthly)
BEST VINTAGE COMPILATION: A JOHNNY MANDEL TRIO -
(3 CD Box Set, Film Score Monthly)
BEST NEWLY RECORDED VINTAGE FILM SCORE: EXODUS -- music by Ernest Gold
also other film scores (2 CDs, Tadlow)
SPECIAL PRESERVATION AWARD (Best Album Producers) -
Anna Bonn, William Stromberg, John Morgan
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR A PAST FILM COMPOSER:
Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990)
21st Sammys For 2008
BEST NEW FILM SCORE: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON --
music by Alexandre Desplat
(Concord CD)
BEST OVERLOOKED FILM SCORE: SOMETHING THE LORD MADE --
music by Christopher Young
(BSX Records CD)
BEST GOLDEN AGE FILM SCORE (1930s-1950s): HIGH NOON (1952)--
music by Dimitri Tiomkin
(Screen Archives Entertainment)
BEST SILVER AGE FILM SCORE (1960s-1970s):
EL CID (1961)--
music by Miklos Rozsa
(Tadlow 3 CD Box Set)
BEST BRONZE AGE FILM SCORE (1980s-1990s):
CROSS CREEK (1983) --
music by Leonard Rosenman (Intrada)
[Note: The Bronze Age Film Score award originally was named for
THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (John Williams) but that score had been named for the very first Sammy in 1988, so the award was given to CROSS CREEK instead]
BEST VINTAGE COLLECTION: THE INTRUDER (1961) and other music by Herman Stein
(Monstrous Movie Music CD)
BEST NEWLY RECORDED VINTAGE SCORES: THE KENTUCKIAN (1955) and
WILLIAMSBURG: THE STORY OF A PATRIOT (1957)--
music by Bernard Herrmann
(Tribute Film Classics CD)
SPECIAL PRESERVATION AWARD (BEST ALBUM PRODUCER):
James Fitzpatrick (Tadlow Music)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR PAST SONGWRITER:
Ken Darby (1909-1992)
20th Sammys For 2007
BEST SCORE: ATONEMENT --
music by Dario Marianelli
(Decca CD)
BEST SONG:
"Lies" from ONCE --
words and music by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
(Sony Music Soundtrax CD)
BEST NEW SONG/SCORE COMPILATION:
WE ALL LOVE ENNIO MORRICONE
(Sony Classical CD)
BEST OVERLOOKED NEW FILM SCORE:
THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP --
music by James Newton Howard
(Sony Classical CD)
BEST VINTAGE FILM SCORE:
RAINTREE COUNTY (1957) --
music by Johnny Green
(Film Score Monthly - 2 CDs )
BEST VINTAGE COMPILATION:
Miklós Rózsa: A Centenary Clebration
(Varese Sarabande - 3 CD Box Set)
BEST RESTORED FILM SCORE:
FAHRENHEIT 451 --
music Bernard Herrmann
(Tribute Film Classics CD)
BEST RESTORED COMPILATION:
AMAZING STORIES - Anthology Three (Intrada 2 CDs)
SPECIAL PRESERVATION (Best Album Producer):
Douglass Fake at INTRADA
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR PAST COMPOSER:
Jerry Goldsmith, 1929 - 2004
19th Sammys For 2006
BEST SCORE: NOTES ON A SCANDAL - music by Philip Glass (Rounder)
BEST SONG: “Our Town” from CARS (music & lyrics by Randy Newman)
(Disney Pixar)
BEST COMPILATION:
CHARLIE CHAPLIN: THE ESSENTIAL FILM MUSIC COLLECTION (Silva Screen)
BEST VINTAGE SCORE: TRUE GRIT - music by Elmer Bernstein (Tadlow)
SPECIAL PRESERVATION AWARD:
ELMER BERNSTEIN'S FILM MUSIC COLLECTION (Film Score Monthly)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR A SONGWRITING TEAM:
Jay Livingston, 1915-2001 and Ray Evans, 1915-2007
18th Sammys For 2005
BEST SCORE: MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA - music by John Williams
BEST SONG: “A Love That Will Never Grow Old” from BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
music by Gustavo Santaolalla/ lyrics by Bernie Taupin
BEST SONG COMPILATION: GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK – arrangements by Matt Catingub
WORST COMPILATION: MURDERBALL - various songs and original music by Jamie Saft
BEST OVERLOOKED SCORE: LADIES IN LAVENDER - music by Nigel Hess
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR PAST COMPOSER:
Elmer Bernstein, 1922 -2004
17th Sammys For 2004
BEST SCORE: THE VILLAGE - music by James Newton Howard
BEST SONG: “Believe” (music by Alan Silvestri/ lyrics by Glen Ballard) from THE POLAR EXPRESS
BEST SONG COMPILATION: RAY – songs by Ray Charles
BEST OVERLOOKED SCORE: THE TERMINAL– John Williams
WORST SONG:
“Learn to be Lonely” from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Alex North , 1910-1991
16th Sammys For 2003
BEST SCORE: SEABISCUIT - music by Randy Newman
BEST SONG: “The Scarlet Tide” (music: Elvis Costello/ lyrics: Henry Burnett) from
COLD MOUNTAIN
BEST SONG COMPILATION: A MIGHTY WIND – all original songs
BEST OVERLOOKED SCORE: GOD AND GENERALS -
music by John Frizzell and Randy Edelman
WORST FILM SCORE (A Tie!):
THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE – music by Alex and Jake Parker
MYSTIC RIVER – music by Clint Eastwood
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Bronislau Kaper , 1902-1983
15th Sammys For 2002
BEST SCORE: FAR FROM HEAVEN - music by Elmer Bernstein
BEST SONG: “I Move On” (music by John Kander/ lyrics by Fred Ebb) from CHICAGO
BEST SONG/SCORE COMPILATION: FRIDA – score by Eliot Goldenthal & various songs
BEST OVERLOOKED SCORE: SIGNS – James Newton Howard
WORST SONG & SCORE: “Die Another Day” from DIE ANOTHER DAY
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Johnny Green , 1908-1989
14th Sammys For 2001
BEST SCORE: A.I. : ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – music by John Williams
BEST SONG: “Until” (music & lyrics by Sting) from KATE & LEOPOLD
BEST SONG COMPILATION: DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN – American roots songs
WORST FILM SCORE: HANNIBAL – music by Hans Zimmer
WORST FILM SONG: “Come What May” from MOULIN ROUGE
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Hugo Friedhofer , 1902-1981
13th Sammys For 2000
BEST SCORE: CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON – music by Tan Dun
BEST SONG: “A Fool in Love” (music & lyrics by Randy Newman) -
MEET THE PARENTS
BEST SONG COMPILATION: OH, BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? – American roots songs
BEST OVERLOOKED SCORE:
ON THE BEACH – music by Christopher Gordon
WORST FILM SCORE (Golden Ear-Muff):
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 – music by Hans Zimmer
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Victor Young , 1900-1956
12th Sammys For 1999
BEST SCORE: THE RED VIOLIN - music by John Corigliano
BEST SONG: “When She Loved Me” (music & lyrics by Randy Newman)- TOY STORY 2
BEST SONG COMPILATION: THE IRON GIANT - vintage songs
WORST FILM SONG (Golden Ear-Muff):
“Blame Canada” from SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER AND UNCUT
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Franz Waxman , 1906-1967
11th Sammys For 1998
BEST SCORE: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN – music by John Williams
BEST SONG: “When You Believe”
(music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz)from THE PRINCE OF EGYPT
BEST SONG COMPILATION: PLEASANTVILLE - vintage songs
WORST SONG (Golden Ear-Muff):
“I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” from ARMAGEDDON
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Dimitri Tiomkin , 1894-1979
10th Sammys For 1997
BEST SCORE: SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET – music by John Williams
BEST SONG: “Journey to the Past”
(music: Stephen Flaherty/lyrics: Lynn Ahrens) from ANASTASIA
BEST SONG COMPILATION: L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:
Erich Wolfgang Korngold , 1897-1957
9th Sammys For 1996
BEST SCORE: FLY AWAY HOME – music by Mark Isham
BEST SONG: “10,000 Miles”
(arr. by Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Jennings, Mark Isham) from
FLY AWAY HOME
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Miklos Rozsa (1907-1995)
8th Sammys For 1995
BEST SCORE: RESTORATION – music by James Newton Howard
BEST SONG: “Moonlight”
(music: John Williams/lyrics: Alan & Marilyn Bergman) from SABRINA
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Harry Warren (1893-1981)
7th Sammys For 1994
BEST SCORE: THE LION KING - music by Hans Zimmer
BEST SONG: “Circle of Life” (music: Elton John/ lyrics: Tim Rice) from THE LION KING
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: James Van Heusen, 1913-1990
6th Sammys For 1993
BEST SCORE: SCHINDLER'S LIST – music by John Williams
BEST SONG: “When I Fall in Love” (music: Victor Young / lyrics: Edward Heyman)
(arranged by Jeremy Lubbock) from SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Max Steiner, 1888-1971
5th Sammys For 1992
BEST SCORE: HOWARD'S END – music by Richard Robbins
BEST SONG: “A Whole New World” (music: Alan Menken/ lyrics: Tim Rice)- ALADDIN
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Alfred Newman (1901-1970)
4th Sammys For 1991
BEST SCORE: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – music by Alan Menken
BEST SONG: “Beauty and the Beast” (music: Alan Menken/ lyrics: Howard Ashman)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Johnny Mercer (1909-1976)
3rd Sammys For 1990
BEST SCORE: DANCES WITH WOLVES – music by John Barry
BEST SONG: “Somewhere in My Memory”
(music: John Williams/ lyrics: Leslie Bricusse) from HOME ALONE
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Henry Mancini (1924-1994)
2nd Sammys For 1989
BEST SCORE: BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY – music by John Williams
BEST SONG: “Under the Sea” (music: Alan Menken/ lyrics: Howard Ashman)
from THE LITTLE MERMAID
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975)
1st Sammy Awards For 1988
BEST SCORE: THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST – music by John Williams
BEST SONG: “Let the River Run” (music & lyrics by Carly Simon) from WORKING GIRL
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Sammy Cahn (1913-1993)
Why the Sammy Awards?
