Award-winning Composer Kurt Farquhar Discusses Disney +’s The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Reported by: Nikoleta Morales
A television and film composer, songwriter, producer and founder/CEO of True Music, a prominent music licensing company, Kurt Farquhar has scored more primetime television series than any other African American composer throughout his 32-year career. In early 2018, Farquhar entered the superhero genre with the launch of network television’s first African-American starring superhero series…Black Lightning.
Farquhar is a seven-time BMI award winner, four for his work on The King of Queens, two for Being Mary Jane; and one for The Game. Farquhar was called ‘the musical voice of BET’ for his work on genre-defining series for the network for shows like American Soul; Games People Play; The Quad; Being Mary Jane; Real Husbands of Hollywood; and In Contempt.
We caught up with Farquhar to discuss his process for modernizing the music for The Proud Family, what it was like working on the reboot, his favorite experience working on the project and changes he can seen in the music industry over the years.
The Early Years
A native of Chicago, Farquhar is the youngest of five children. He began playing drums at 8 and wrote his first symphony at 12, writing over 5000 pieces by his mid-20s. His musical education took him from the streets of Chicago to the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston, The National Conservatory of Music in Versailles, France, and Eastern Illinois University, where he studied with noted percussion teacher Johnny Lane. After a song that he wrote became the end-title for the pilot episode of Livin' Large, produced by Stephen J. Cannell, Farquhar made the jump to writing music for film/TV. Farquhar went on to create theme songs and scores for a multitude of feature films and television shows including The King of Queens; The Neighborhood; Girlfriends;Sister/Sister; Moesha; Soul Food; In The House; Not Easily Broken; Stitchers; and Ned and Stacey – often writing on multiple series simultaneously.
Farquhar credits his incredible productivity to the fact that ever since he was a child he says, “I hear music all the time.”
Farquhar is also the founder and CEO of True Music, a prominent music licensing catalog operating out of Pasadena, California, which has licensed music throughout broadcast and cable television as well as feature films.
For more information, follow the mega talented composer via his website and platforms below.
Comentarios