Chris Neal (screen composer)

For other people with similar names, see Chris Neal (disambiguation).
Chris Neal
Neal in 2011.
Born
Christopher Hugh Neal

1946 (age 77–78)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
EducationNorth Sydney Boys High School Sydney University
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • screen composer
Years active1963-present
SpouseMary Neal
Children2

Christopher Hugh Neal (born 1946) is an Australian musician, songwriter, record producer and television and film music composer.[1] His scores include Buddies, Bodyline, The Shiralee, Turtle Beach and Farscape.

Neal's screen composer credits date from the late 1970s and include The Shiralee, Bodyline, Buddies, Rebel, Archer, Shadow of The Cobra and Emerald City.[2]

During the 1980s, Neal scored several films from the "Winners" series of telemovies, produced by Patricia Edgar of the Australian Children's Television Foundation. Five Times Dizzy, produced by Tom Jeffrey followed soon after. These projects kickstarted what would be a recurring part of his career; scoring and writing songs for children's television dramas including Johnson and Friends,[3] Lift-Off,[4] Kaboodle, Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers[5] and more.[2] Neal's songs and music were also featured in stage shows based on "Johnson and Friends", and in 1995-1996, Neal wrote the music for "Lift Off Live"; a stage musical based on the "Lift-Off" television series.[6]

Feature film and television projects continued through the 1990s and 2000s, including Pacific Drive, Foreign Exchange and many more.

  1. ^ Sounds Australian: Australian Music Centre Journal 1990 INTERVIEW From Midi to 80-Piece Orchestras: Chris Neal, Film Composer Michael Atherton "Chris Neal is a leading feature film composer. He studied classical piano and theory, jazz and orchestration"
  2. ^ a b "Chris Neal | Composer, Music Department, Sound Department". IMDb. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  3. ^ "JOHNSON & FRIENDS". www.tvmem.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  4. ^ "LIFT-OFF". www.tvmem.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Li'L ELVIS JONES AND THE TRUCKSTOPPERS". www.tvmem.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Trove". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 14 December 2023.