Gustavo Santaolalla | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla |
Also known as | Moviola |
Born | Ciudad Jardín Lomas del Palomar, Argentina | 19 August 1951
Origin | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instruments | |
Years active | 1967–present |
Member of | Bajofondo |
Formerly of | Arco Iris |
Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla (Spanish: [ɡusˈtaβo alˈfɾeðo santaoˈlaʝa]; born 19 August 1951) is an Argentine composer and musician. Known for his minimalist approach to composing, he rose to fame for creating the scores for Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Babel (2006), for which he received two Academy Awards for Best Original Score in consecutive years.[1] Santaolalla also gained recognition for his work on The Last of Us game series, composing the 2013 title and its 2020 sequel. He returned to reprise his themes and co-compose the score for the 2023 television adaptation.
Santaolalla initially rose to prominence in Argentina as the guitarist and original frontman of the rock band Arco Iris, which he cofounded in 1967. With a sound that fused the styles of Argentine folk, psychedelia and jazz rock, the group became influential in the development of Argentine rock (known locally as rock nacional or “national rock”). Arco Iris are now considered to be pioneers of rock en español (Spanish-language rock), alongside bands such as Almendra, Los Gatos, Manal, and Vox Dei. Since his departure from the band in 1975, Santaolalla has continued to produce and promote Spanish-language rock acts outside his native Argentina, helping to bring popularity to Argentine rock throughout Latin America in the 1980s and 1990s. He is also a member of the neotango group Bajofondo, a project he helped form in 2002.
Santaolalla has been a collaborator with acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu, composing the first four psychological drama films Iñárritu directed.[2] His other notable work includes writing the themes for television series such as the American satirical romantic dramedy series Jane the Virgin (2014–2019), its MBC 4 Arabic adaptation, and the crime documentary series Making a Murderer (2015–2018).