HAROLD FALTERMEYER is an award-winning composer who is perhaps still best known for his score for Martin Brest's "Beverly Hills Cop," containing one of the most memorable movie themes in film history, "Axel F," named for the movie's central character, played by Eddie Murphy. Faltermeyer won a Grammy Award for the "Beverly Hills Cop" soundtrack album, and also received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Pop Instrumental Composition. He also garnered a BAFTA Award nomination for the film's score. Faltermeyer went on to score Tony Scott's hit sequel "Beverly Hills Cop II," earning Oscar® and Golden Globe nominations for Best Song for "Shakedown" from the film. He had also received a Golden Globe nomination for his score for Scott's 1986 blockbuster "Top Gun," and received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the main theme "Top Gun Anthem."
Born in Germany, Faltermeyer studied at Munich's prestigious Hochschule fuer Musik. After honing his skills, including in the emerging field of electronic music, he got his first big break, working alongside composer and disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder, who was Donna Summer's producer. Faltermeyer worked with Moroder for nearly two years before getting the chance to write songs for Summer's album Bad Girls. His song "Hot Stuff" was considered a disco classic.
It was while working with Moroder on the film "American Gigolo" that Faltermeyer met producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson. In 1983, they offered him the opportunity to compose the music for their film "Thief of Hearts," which was immediately followed by "Beverly Hills Cop."
Faltermeyer's film credits include "Fletch," "Fire and Ice," "Fatal Beauty," "The Running Man," "Fletch Lives," "Tango & Cash," "Kuffs" and "White Magic." Many movies have also featured his songs and music, including the enduring "Axel F." In 2005, more than 20 years after the tune's debut, the Crazy Frog cover of "Axel F" become the top-selling ring tone and the CD release of that version went to #1 on the English charts. He also scored the independent feature "High School," which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Apart from his film work, Faltermeyer has written songs and produced numerous albums for various artists, both in the U.S. and Europe. He has also composed several musicals, including "Wake Up," which premiered in September 2002 at Vienna's Raimund Theatre and played through January 2004.
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