Acclaimed British songwriter, composer and playwright Leslie Bricusse, known for his work on several James Bond films and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has sadly passed away aged 90.
Bricusse’s passing was confirmed yesterday by actress and close friend Joan Collins, who shared a heartfelt tribute via Instagram, stating; “One of the giant songwriters of our time, writer of #candyman #goldfinger amongst so many other hits, and my great friend Leslie Bricusse has sadly died today.” Other celebrities and musicians have also paid homage to Bricusse, such as Nancy Sinatra and David Walliams.
My heart is aching today because one of the loves of my life is gone. Leslie Bricusse was my friend for more than fifty years – years filled with warm embraces, a strong shoulder & a guiding hand.
Sending love to Evie, Adam & all of their friends tonight. May God treat him well.— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) October 19, 2021
‘A fond farewell to the my friend the legendary songwriter Leslie Bricusse. He wrote some of the most famous songs of the 20th Century – Goldfinger, Feeling Good, You Only Live Twice, Pure Imagination, The Candy Man, Talk to the Animals, My Kind of Girl, What Kind of Fool Am I?’ pic.twitter.com/JqDSjK5M45
— David Walliams HQ (@davidwalliams) October 19, 2021
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Bricusse worked with actor and songwriter Anthony Newley, which led to a series of successful collaborative efforts, including a myriad of West End shows and some films; most famously the 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Score. Bricusse would go on to collaborate with giants of the composing world such as John Williams, with the first film they worked on together being “A Guide for the Married Man” (1967). Later on, he would he contribute songs to the soundtracks for Home Alone (1990), Hook (1991), and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001).
Bricusse’s best-known works are the songs he composed for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) and the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964) and You Only Live Twice (1967). Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory famously features the songs “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination”, the former of these attaining a gold certification. The iconic theme to You Only Live Twice has been covered over and over since its release in 1967, by the likes of artists such as Björk, Coldplay, Shirley Bassey and Robbie Williams.
Bricusse has attained a slew of academy awards since the beginning of his career, the first being Best Original Song for his work on 1968’s Doctor Dolittle. In 1982, he would secure another win for Best Adaptation and Original Song Score for Victor/Victoria. Bricusse’s services to the film and theatre industry also led to him to receive an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II, on the 29th October 2001.
In 2013, a show honouring the work of Bricusse and Newley entitled Pure Imagination: The World of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse was opened at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, California, and would later go overseas to the St. James Theatre in London.
