Who Is Harold Faltermeyer?

If you are familiar with such classic films as Charade or the Pink Panther series, you will come across the well known composer, conductor, and musician - Henry Mancini.  I truly believe that he was ahead of his time which helped create Hollywood masterpieces.  

Johnny Mercer is also a name to remember for his collaborations with Henry Mancini.  Mercer was a lyricist, songwriter, and singer.

The films both Mancini and Mercer worked on are American classics and cemented in historic pop culture.

...and then the 1980s came, ushering in a layer of sound that would change music for film and in general on a dime.

The once unheard of synth-pop added interest and intrigue to standard instruments and songs.  The driving force behind the introduction is by far Harold Faltermeyer.

If you know Beverly Hills Cop, you will have heard Faltermeyer's work.  His style can also be heard in the Chevy Chase films, Fletch and Fletch Lives as well as the Top Gun "Anthem."  "Beverly Hills Cop" and the Fletch series are strikingly similar to perhaps a frustrating extent.

So who is the innovative Harold Faltermeyer?

Harold is a German musician, composer, and record producer.  He is best known for "Axel F" as well as "The Heat Is On" with Glenn Frey and "Stir It Up" with Patti LaBelle.  There are so many more that would be exhausting in length to list here.  Follow the link to his name above.

For his work with Beverly Hills Cop and Top Gun, Harold Faltermeyer earned two Grammy awards (1986 and 1987).

The 1980s was the decade to be when experimenting with sound.  Electronic and synth-pop added something to consider. 

Like Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer in their time, Harold Faltermeyer's style launched American classics cemented in Hollywood pop culture.