John Barry aged 77
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12321610
What an extraordinary body of work that man has left behind. I'd have no problem choosing his music alone for a Desert Island Discs selection, in fact I might put together some favourites elsewhere in the VP.
The only time I ever saw him in the flesh he was on the bill at some theatre in Manchester along with Adam Faith, the Karl Denver Trio and of course his JB7. Heady stuff as I was only a 10 year old
In some way he's provided much of the soundtrack for the years I've lived starting with the late 50's band music, the early 60's JB7,
all most of the James Bond theme tunes, a few Michael Caine movies and many, many more besides.
If you haven't heard "The Beyondness of Things", try it.