Biography
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Born
16 May 1945 (age 79)
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Born In
Subotica, Severnobački okrug, Vojvodina, Serbia
Sylvester Levay began his musical studies at the age of eight. Upon his arrival in Munich in 1972, he met his writing partner, Michael Kunze, with whom he has created many successful theatrical works. From 1980 to 2000 he lived in Hollywood and concentrated on composing film music. He currently divides his time between homes in Munich, Vienna and Los Angeles. Married for 25 years, he and his wife Monika have a daughter, Alice, and a son, Sylvester Jr.
At the age of 15, Sylvester won his first composition competition. In Munich he worked with Udo Jürgens and Katja Ebstein. Between 1977 and 1980 he composed and produced for Elton John, Silver Convention, and others. From 1980 on, he worked with various Hollywood greats, including Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, George Lucas and others. A member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), he has lectured on film composition at UCLA and USC. He conducts and orchestrates all his own work, and plays the piano, saxophone, clarinet, flute, and organ. Among his motion picture soundtracks, there's his brilliant work for Ivan Passer's Creator (film) (1985).
But his most famous and best-loved work is for the high-flying, mid 1980s US TV action series Airwolf (1984-1986), the official 2CD soundtrack 'AIRWOLF THEMES' (produced by Mark J.Cairns) of which holds the record as the 'World's Most Expensive Television Soundtrack' selling for up to $981 on eBay. Since the 1990s, Levay has dedicated himself to the musical. His Musicals Marie Antoinette and Rebecca are played in front of sold-out houses.
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