John Van Tongeren
Encyclopedia
John Van Tongeren is a music composer
, mainly for films
and television series.
, True Romance
and Drop Zone
with Hans Zimmer
. He also collaborated with Mark Mancina
on Speed, Moll Flanders
, Fair Game, Assassins
and Twister.
Van Tongeren then began to compose music for television series, including Poltergeist: The Legacy
and the nineties revival of The Outer Limits
, which he won awards for. Van Tongeren again collaborated with Mancina the Speed sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control
, and then he worked with Trevor Rabin
on the 1998 film Armageddon.
Outside of film and television Van Tongeren was asked to work on three orchestrated interludes and production for the late Jazz drummer Tony Williams' 1996 album Wilderness. Van Tongeren has also worked with Chicago
, Robbie Nevil
, John Parr
, Starship, Jeff Beck
, Quincy Jones
and Al Jarreau
. Van Tongeren also owns The Blue Room, a recording studio in Los Angeles
.
In the 2000s Van Tongeren continued working on film scores, such as xXx
and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
with Randy Edelman
, The Passion of the Christ
with John Debney
, Miss Congeniality 2' 'and the Disney films The Cheetah Girls
and "Princess Protection Program
". He also scored more sci-fi television series including The 4400
, for which he won the BMI award.
His songwriting has led to platinum CDs for The Rhythm of The Pridelands - Disney and The Cheetah Girls (soundtrack), as well as the hit single for Starship, It's Not over, till It's Over and 3 songs on the Wall-E Inspired by CD.
2010 saw projects including Iron Man 2
and "Predators" with John Debney and movies for Nickelodeon and Disney. John also wrote and produced songs on Disney's "Tinkerbell and The Lost Treasure" and "Bayou Boogie:Inspired by Princess & The Frog".
and two Gemini Award
s.
In 2005 Van Tongeren won a BMI Cable Award
for the television series The 4400
; which he shared with Tim P., Stephen Phillips, George S. Clinton
and Claude Foisy. In 2000 and 2001 Van Tongeren won the Gemini Award
for Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series, for The Outer Limits
; these were for the episodes "Tribunal" and "Simon Says
" respectively.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, mainly for films
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
and television series.
Biography
Van Tongeren began his career as one of the original members of Media Ventures (now Remote Control Productions). During his time at Media Ventures Van Tongeren worked on films such as Thelma and LouiseThelma and Louise
Thelma & Louise is a 1991 film co-produced and directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri, the film's plot revolves around Thelma and Louise's escape from their troubled and caged lives. It stars Geena Davis as Thelma and Susan Sarandon as Louise, and co-stars Harvey Keitel as a...
, True Romance
True Romance
True Romance is a 1993 American romance crime film written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette with an ensemble cast consisting of Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin...
and Drop Zone
Drop Zone (film)
Drop Zone is a 1994 action movie directed by John Badham. It stars Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey and Yancy Butler.-Plot:Aboard a commercial airliner, U.S...
with Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
. He also collaborated with Mark Mancina
Mark Mancina
Mark Alan Mancina is a U.S. composer, primarily for Hollywood soundtracks, such as his collaboration with Trevor Rabin on the soundtrack for Con Air. He arranged many of the songs behind Disney's The Lion King including the Broadway musical...
on Speed, Moll Flanders
Moll Flanders (1996 film)
Moll Flanders is a 1996 film starring Robin Wright and Morgan Freeman. The film was directed by Pen Densham. The original music score was composed by Mark Mancina...
, Fair Game, Assassins
Assassins (film)
Assassins is a 1995 American action film written by the Wachowskis and Brian Helgeland, directed by Richard Donner, and starring Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas and Julianne Moore.-Plot:...
and Twister.
Van Tongeren then began to compose music for television series, including Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist: The Legacy is a Canadian horror television series which ran from 1996 to 1999. The series tells the story of the members of a secret society known as the Legacy, and their efforts to protect humankind from occult dangers...
and the nineties revival of The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
, which he won awards for. Van Tongeren again collaborated with Mancina the Speed sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control
Speed 2: Cruise Control
Speed 2: Cruise Control is a 1997 action–thriller film, and a sequel to Speed . The film was produced and directed by Jan de Bont, and written by Randall McCormick and Jeff Nathanson, based on a story by de Bont and McCormick. Sandra Bullock stars in the film, reprising her role from Speed,...
, and then he worked with Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
on the 1998 film Armageddon.
Outside of film and television Van Tongeren was asked to work on three orchestrated interludes and production for the late Jazz drummer Tony Williams' 1996 album Wilderness. Van Tongeren has also worked with Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
, Robbie Nevil
Robbie Nevil
Robert S. "Robbie" Nevil is an American pop singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist. He is best known for his 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit, "C'est La Vie".-Life and career:...
, John Parr
John Parr
John Parr is an English musician, best known for his 1985 US #1 hit single "St. Elmo's Fire". Parr has sold 10 million albums worldwide.-Biography:...
, Starship, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
and Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
. Van Tongeren also owns The Blue Room, a recording studio in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
In the 2000s Van Tongeren continued working on film scores, such as xXx
XXX
XXX may refer to:* The number 30 in Roman numerals* The year 30 AD* Games of the XXX Olympiad, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England* Super Bowl XXX, held on January 28, 1996* A mark indicating "extra strong"* Alcoholic beverages...
and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is a 2008 American action adventure film and sequel to The Mummy and The Mummy Returns . The film stars Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Luke Ford, and Jet Li, and was released on August 1, 2008 in the United States...
with Randy Edelman
Randy Edelman
Randy Edelman is an American film and TV score composer.-Life and career:Edelman was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, the son of a first-grade teacher and an accountant. He attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music before heading to New York where he played...
, The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American drama film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...
with John Debney
John Debney
John C. Debney is an American film composer. He received an Academy Award nomination for his score for Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ...
, Miss Congeniality 2' 'and the Disney films The Cheetah Girls
The Cheetah Girls (film)
The Cheetah Girls is a 2003 musical Disney Channel Original Movie, the first for Disney Channel, based on a bestselling series of young adult books of the same name by Deborah Gregory...
and "Princess Protection Program
Princess Protection Program
Princess Protection Program is a 2009 Disney Channel Original Movie that premiered on June 26, 2009 in the United States and winner of the Teen Choice Awards 2009 for Choice Summer TV Show...
". He also scored more sci-fi television series including The 4400
The 4400
The 4400 is a science fiction TV series produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sky Television, Renegade 83, and American Zoetrope for USA Network. The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, and it stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
, for which he won the BMI award.
His songwriting has led to platinum CDs for The Rhythm of The Pridelands - Disney and The Cheetah Girls (soundtrack), as well as the hit single for Starship, It's Not over, till It's Over and 3 songs on the Wall-E Inspired by CD.
2010 saw projects including Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 is a 2010 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008's Iron Man, the second film in a planned trilogy and is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Jon...
and "Predators" with John Debney and movies for Nickelodeon and Disney. John also wrote and produced songs on Disney's "Tinkerbell and The Lost Treasure" and "Bayou Boogie:Inspired by Princess & The Frog".
Awards
Van Tongeren has won numerous awards, the most prestigious of which have been a BMI AwardBroadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
and two Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
s.
In 2005 Van Tongeren won a BMI Cable Award
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
for the television series The 4400
The 4400
The 4400 is a science fiction TV series produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sky Television, Renegade 83, and American Zoetrope for USA Network. The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, and it stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
; which he shared with Tim P., Stephen Phillips, George S. Clinton
George S. Clinton
George S. Clinton is an American composer, songwriter, arranger, and session musician.Clinton was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His musical career began in Nashville while earning degrees in music and drama at Middle Tennessee State University...
and Claude Foisy. In 2000 and 2001 Van Tongeren won the Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series, for The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
; these were for the episodes "Tribunal" and "Simon Says
Simon Says (The Outer Limits)
"Simon Says" is an episode from the sixth season of The Outer Limits. It originally aired on 10 March 2000.-Synopsis:A man who lost his wife and his son in a car accident several years ago has built a robot which has his son's memories....
" respectively.
Filmography
- Den BrotherDen BrotherDen Brother is a 2010 Disney Channel Original Movie starring Hutch Dano and G. Hannelius. The film premiered on August 13, 2010 on Disney Channel...
- The Boy Who Cried WerewolfThe Boy Who Cried Werewolf (2010 film)The Boy Who Cried Werewolf, is a 2010 Nickelodeon Telemovie starring Victoria Justice and Brooke Shields. The screenplay was written by Art Edler Brown and Josh Nick...
- Princess Protection ProgramPrincess Protection ProgramPrincess Protection Program is a 2009 Disney Channel Original Movie that premiered on June 26, 2009 in the United States and winner of the Teen Choice Awards 2009 for Choice Summer TV Show...
- Twitches TooTwitches TooTwitches Too is a 2007 Disney Channel Original Movie. It is the sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie Twitches, released in 2005. The film began production in late April 2007 and was released on October 12. It aired during Disney Channel's Halloween Month. The Disney Channel Original Series,...
- Wargames: The Dead CodeWarGames: The Dead CodeWarGames: The Dead Code is a 2008 sequel to the 1983 thriller film WarGames. It was written by Randall M. Badat and Rob Kerchner and was directed by Stuart Gillard. Production began on November 20, 2006 in Montreal, and the film was released on DVD on July 29, 2008...
- Christmas Is Here AgainChristmas Is Here AgainChristmas Is Here Again is a 2007 animated Christmas film released on DVD by Screen Media Films. The first feature production from the Renegade Animation studio, it was co-written, co-produced and directed by Robert Zappia...
- The 4400The 4400The 4400 is a science fiction TV series produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sky Television, Renegade 83, and American Zoetrope for USA Network. The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, and it stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
(21 episodes, 2004–2007) - The Initiation of SarahThe Initiation of SarahThe Initiation of Sarah is a "re-imagined" remake of a 1978 horror film, The Initiation of Sarah. It premiered on ABC Family on October 22, 2006 as part of their "13 Nights of Halloween" special.-Plot:...
- ThiefThief (TV series)Thief is an FX television mini-series which debuted on March 28, 2006 .Andre Braugher stars as Nick Atwater, the leader of a robbery crew balancing his personal life with the planning of a major heist...
(6 episodes) - Masters of Science FictionMasters of Science FictionMasters of Science Fiction is an American television anthology series by the same creators as Masters of Horror. The show debuted on ABC on August 4, 2007 at 10PM for a run of four episodes...
(1 episode) - WantedWanted (TV series)Wanted is a 2005 American primetime police drama television series broadcast on the TNT network. The series was created by Louis St. Clair and Jorge Zamacona, and executive produced by Aaron Spelling, E...
(5 episodes) - Twitches
- Empire
- Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous
- Son of the MaskSon of the MaskSon of the Mask is a 2005 American fantasy family-comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman, starring Jamie Kennedy as Tim Avery, an aspiring cartoonist from Fringe City who has just had his first child born with the powers of the Mask. It is the stand-alone sequel to the successful 1994 film The...
(additional music) - Jesus the Driver
- Van Helsing: The London AssignmentVan Helsing: The London AssignmentVan Helsing: The London Assignment is a 2004 animated film by Universal Studios Home Entertainment. It features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Robbie Coltrane and David Wenham.-Plot:...
- The Five People You Meet in HeavenThe Five People You Meet in HeavenThe Five People You Meet in Heaven is a novel by Mitch Albom. It recounts the life and death of an old maintenance man named Eddie. After dying in an accident, Eddie finds himself in heaven where he encounters five people who have significantly affected his life, whether he realized at the time or...
(additional music) - Lilo & Stitch: The SeriesLilo & Stitch: The SeriesLilo & Stitch: The Series is the animated television spinoff of the feature film, Lilo & Stitch and the follow-up to Stitch! The Movie.-Plot:...
(1 episode) - Don: Plain & Tall
- The Cheetah GirlsThe Cheetah Girls (film)The Cheetah Girls is a 2003 musical Disney Channel Original Movie, the first for Disney Channel, based on a bestselling series of young adult books of the same name by Deborah Gregory...
- Malibu's Most WantedMalibu's Most WantedMalibu's Most Wanted is a 2003 comedic feature film written by and starring Jamie Kennedy and co-starring Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, and Regina Hall....
- Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
(various episodes) - xXxXXXXXX may refer to:* The number 30 in Roman numerals* The year 30 AD* Games of the XXX Olympiad, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England* Super Bowl XXX, held on January 28, 1996* A mark indicating "extra strong"* Alcoholic beverages...
(additional music) - The Scorpion KingThe Scorpion KingThe Scorpion King is a 2002 American action film directed by Chuck Russell, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kelly Hu, Grant Heslov, and Michael Clarke Duncan...
(additional music) - Disney's The Legend of Tarzan
- The Outer LimitsThe Outer Limits (1995 TV series)The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
(54 episodes, '95-'00) - Red Letters
- Poltergeist: The LegacyPoltergeist: The LegacyPoltergeist: The Legacy is a Canadian horror television series which ran from 1996 to 1999. The series tells the story of the members of a secret society known as the Legacy, and their efforts to protect humankind from occult dangers...
(36 episodes, '96-'99) - The Magnificent SevenThe Magnificent SevenThe Magnificent Seven is an American Western film directed by John Sturges, and released in 1960. It is a fictional tale of a group of seven American gunmen who are hired to protect a small agricultural village in Mexico from a group of marauding Mexican bandits...
(3 episodes, '98-'99) - Creature
- Armageddon (additional music)
- Speed 2: Cruise ControlSpeed 2: Cruise ControlSpeed 2: Cruise Control is a 1997 action–thriller film, and a sequel to Speed . The film was produced and directed by Jan de Bont, and written by Randall McCormick and Jeff Nathanson, based on a story by de Bont and McCormick. Sandra Bullock stars in the film, reprising her role from Speed,...
(additional music) - Dante's PeakDante's PeakDante's Peak is a 1997 disaster film directed by Roger Donaldson, written by Leslie Bohem, and starring Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton and Charles Hallahan. The film portrays the effect of a volcano erupting near a small town in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The film is loosely...
(additional music) - Metro (additional music)
- Twister (additional music)
- AssassinsAssassins (film)Assassins is a 1995 American action film written by the Wachowskis and Brian Helgeland, directed by Richard Donner, and starring Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas and Julianne Moore.-Plot:...
(additional music) - Speed (additional music)
- Drop ZoneDrop Zone (film)Drop Zone is a 1994 action movie directed by John Badham. It stars Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey and Yancy Butler.-Plot:Aboard a commercial airliner, U.S...
(additional music) - Monkey TroubleMonkey TroubleMonkey Trouble is a 1994 family film directed by Franco Amurri starring Thora Birch.-Plot:Nine-year-old Eva Gregory longs for a pet to call her own, but her mother does not think she is responsible enough, and her stepfather is allergic to fur...
(additional music) - Renaissance Man (additional music)
- True RomanceTrue RomanceTrue Romance is a 1993 American romance crime film written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette with an ensemble cast consisting of Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin...
(additional music) - Thelma & Louise (additional music)
- The Adventures of the Galaxy RangersThe Adventures of the Galaxy RangersThe Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers was an American animated Space Western television series created by Robert Mandell and Gaylord Entertainment Company....