Monica Petrucci from Tinsel Town www.livetradingnews.com

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Oscar-winning composer “Stared” on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Academy-award winner composer and pianist Alan Menken was honored with the dedication of his “Star” on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame at a ceremony held Wednesday, 2 weeks before the release of his latest production.

The famous musical theater and film composer received the 2,422nd Star, honoring a career which has seen him win 8 Oscars and 10 Grammys for his work on such films as “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,’” “Aladdin” and “Pocahontas.”

Born in New York City on July 22, 1949, Menken developed an interest in music when he was young, studying piano and violin. After graduation from New York University, he attended the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop and performed frequently in local clubs and worked as a composer of jingles and songs and as an accompanist.

Although he has composed a number of successful Off-Broadway productions, he was better known for his work over the past 20 yrs with Walt Disney Pictures scoring numerous films including “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “Pocahontas,” and four Oscars for best song, “Under the Sea” from “The Little Mermaid,”"A Whole New World” from “Aladdin,” “Colors of the Wind” from “Pocahontas” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Walt Disney Pictures’ animated take on the story of Rapunzel, “Tangled,” which Menken wrote the original music for, is scheduled to release on November 24.

Menken is 2nd only to composer and conductor Alfred Newman and Walt Disney for the most Oscars won by an individual, tied with late costume designer Edith Head.

He currently holds the record for the most wins for a living person, and was named a Disney Legend in Y 2001.

Monica Petrucci from Tinsel Town www.livetradingnews.com

Monica Petrucci from Tinsel Town www.livetradingnews.com