Versatile composer Colombier dies

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Michel Colombier, composer of scores for more than 100 movies and TV productions and of 20 ballets, has died at the age of 65 at his home in California.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Colombier suffered from cancer.

Colombier began his career in his native France, where he trained at the Paris Conservatory. He came to the United States to be Petula Clark's music director and started a collaboration with Herb Alpert that resulted in a Grammy-nominated album.

With his classical training, Colombier was known as a composer who could come up with whatever score a movie needed, from a classical theme for Mikhail Baryshnikov in White Nights to soul and rap music for New Jack City to background music for Tales From The Crypt.

His ballet scores included work for Twyla Tharp as well as more classical companies in New York and Paris.

Colombier received many awards included France's Cesar, the Edison Prize and the Tokyo Music Award.