Randy Newman

Began his career writing pop songs.

Attended and graduated from University High School in Los Angeles, California.

Attended the University of California, Los Angeles, but dropped out.

Nephew of composers Alfred Newman , Emil Newman and Lionel Newman.

Cousins of Thomas Newman , Joey Newman , Maria Newman , David Newman and Tim Newman.

Suffered from Epstein-Barr Syndrome 1987-1989.

Was born in Los Angeles, California. A week after his birth, Randys family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana (his mothers hometown). At age 11, he moved with his family back to Los Angeles.

On February 12, 2002, he broke the all-time record for most Oscar nominations without any wins (the previous record was 15; Newman got two nominations for Monsters, Inc. and succeeded to 16). (This record has been surpassed. As of March 2011, sound re-recording mixer Kevin OConnell has 20 nominations but not a single Oscar.).

In March 2002, Newman finally won his first Academy Award for writing the Best Song in Monsters, Inc. . In his acceptance speech, he thanked the music branch of the academy for giving him all those chances "to be humiliated".

Beside being a composer of film music and pop/rock songs, Newman is also is a singer and piano player. Many popular musicians made his songs more famous by doing their own versions: Joe Cocker sang "Guilty", Tom Jones sang "You Can Leave Your Hat On", Three Dog Night covered "Mama Told Me Not to Come", etc.

As a teenager, he was invited by a girl to a country club cotillion, but was subsequently asked not to come by the girls father, who told him that no Jews were allowed. After hanging up the phone, Newman had to go and ask his father what a Jew was.

Mentioned in the song "Life Is a Rock But the Radio Rolled Me" by Reunion.

His song "I Love L.A." is played by the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium after every home game victory. It was also played after the Dodgers lost in the final 2004 Playoff game against the Saint Louis Cardinals, prompting many of the Dodger fans who remained in the park to sing along while a years worth of highlights were shown.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on June 2, 2010.

ABC-TVs promo jingle "Youll Love It!" used during the 1985-1986 season, was derived from his song "I Love L.A.".

Inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

He endorsed Democratic President Barack Obama for re-election in 2012, and wrote a satirical song about voting for white candidates.

Thank God for the potholes on memory lane.

I like science - geography, meteorology, cosmology. .