Marvin Hamlisch, 1944–2012

Marvin Hamlisch, the Best New Artist GRAMMY winner in 1974, has died after a brief illness. He was 68. During his career, the composer won four GRAMMY Awards, three Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and a Pulitzer Prize for drama. In addition to Best New Artist, his other GRAMMYs came for work on the films The Way We Were and The Entertainer. His many film scores include The Sting, A Chorus Line, Sophie's Choice, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Ordinary People, among others.

"Four-time GRAMMY winner Marvin Hamlisch was a masterful composer whose work transcended Broadway stages and the silver screen," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "His compositions for Broadway hits such as “A Chorus Line” and “The Goodbye Girl,” and scores for films Sophie’s Choice, Ordinary People, and The Way We Were earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious honor of having received Academy Awards, Emmys, Golden Globes, Tonys and a Pulitzer Prize — in addition to his GRAMMY Awards. His work had a significant influence on our culture, and continues to reach across generations. The music industry has lost a truly gifted artist, and our condolences are with his family, friends and all those who were inspired by his singular talent."