Joel Sill obit

Joel Sill Dies: Veteran Music Supervisor For ‘Easy Rider’, ‘Flashdance’ & ‘Forrest Gump’ Was 78

 He was not on the list.

Joel Sill, a music supervisor for more than 150 movies, including such cinema classics as Easy Rider, Flashdance, Forrest Gump and An Officer and a Gentleman, passed away Aug. 23 at his home in Thousand Oaks after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was 78.

Born in Santa Monica in 1946 to a musical family, Sill spent time as a teenager observing a young Phil Spector, who had been signed as a songwriter by Sill’s father, Lester Sill, as he was beginning to build his career. In 1967, after graduating from UCLA, Sill started work at Big-Three Music Publishing and eventually migrated to Dunhill Records where he produced the soundtrack for the 1969 film Easy Rider.

In his first professional milestone, Sill, then 24, was tasked with selecting the music for Dennis Hopper’s movie starring Peter Fonda at a time when the role of the music supervisor was not well established.

He packed Easy Rider with songs such as “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf, “The Weight” by The Band, and “Wasn’t Born To Follow” by The Byrds in what was described as a musical commentary to the film’s adventure that became a key part of the movie’s cultural identity.

Sill had a massive hit with Adrian Lyne’s 1983 dance film Flashdance, complimenting the narrative with a series of musical sequences for what became a hugely successful soundtrack. The film’s tune “Flashdance… What a Feeling” went on to win the 1984 Oscar for Best Original Song. He also helped pioneer the use of a hit single to launch a film.

In Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 film Forrest Gump, Sill used music to punctuate the different time periods, with the double album soundtrack selling over 12 million copies.  

Also at Paramount Pictures, Sill worked on Taylor Hackford’s An Officer and a Gentleman, which won a Best Original Song Oscar for “Up Where We Belong” –- helping to propel the career of Joe Cocker (with Jennifer Warnes) — and on Warren Beatty’s Reds and Walter Hill’s 48 Hrs. with Eddie Murphy.

Over at Warner Brothers, he shepherded Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, The Killing Fields, Blade Runner, Purple Rain and The Color Purple.

Sill re-teamed with Hackford on the 5-time platinum soundtrack to 1987’s La Bamba and the Chuck Berry documentary Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll, among others. 

He also reunited with Zemeckis and helped develop a film and music sequence to create a reverse time stamp in the opening of his movie Contact starring Jody Foster, where time goes backwards over the first three minutes.  From his earliest age, Sill, who studied marine biology at UCLA, had a fascination with the ocean. He loved deep-sea diving and pursued underwater photography, which has been published and repped by Jacques Cousteau’s Living Sea Corporation. He also worked as an ambassador for AltaSea, a marine preservation nonprofit based in California.

Sill and his wife of 24 years, Kimberly Sill, shared a commitment to animal rights and animal activism and found homes for thousands of lost animals through Kimberly’s venture Shelter Hope, a non-profit volunteer-based pet shop that showcases shelter animals available for in-store adoption. He co-produced Kimberly’s documentary film Saved in America, exploring the world of animal rescue, and their family included many rescue dogs to whom Sill was utterly devoted.

A celebration of Sill’s life will take place later this fall in Malibu, in recognition of his lifelong love of the ocean. He is survived by his wife Kimberly. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Joel’s name to Shelter Hope at the following link.

Producer

Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time (2018)

Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time

8.9

co-producer

2018

 

Saved in America (2015)

Saved in America

Short

producer

2015

 

Cinematographer

Saved in America (2015)

Saved in America

Short

Cinematographer (cinematography)

2015

 

Music Department

Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in Here (2024)

Here

6.3

music supervisor

2024

 

Uncharitable (2023)

Uncharitable

8.5

executive music producer

2023

 

Grandes Horizontales (2022)

Grandes Horizontales

2.4

Executive Music Supervisor

2022

 

Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Trainer (2018)

Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Trainer

4.7

executive music producer

2018

 

Noah Wyle in Shot (2017)

Shot

5.5

music supervisor

2017

 

Live Another Day (2016)

Live Another Day

7.2

executive music producer

2016

 

Saved in America (2015)

Saved in America

Short

music supervisor

2015

 

Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo in Begin Again (2013)

Begin Again

7.4

music consultant

2013

 

Jeremy Piven, Kelly Osbourne, Miley Cyrus, Josh Bowman, and Eloise Mumford in So Undercover (2012)

So Undercover

5.0

music consultant

2012

 

Bound by Flesh (2012)

Bound by Flesh

6.5

executive music producer

2012

 

Smitty (2012)

Smitty

5.4

executive music producer

2012

 

Daniel Radcliffe in The Woman in Black (2012)

The Woman in Black

6.4

music consultant (uncredited)

2012

 

Chloë Grace Moretz in Let Me In (2010)

Let Me In

7.1

music consultant

2010

 

Gina Gershon, Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci, and Sergio Peris-Mencheta in Love Ranch (2010)

Love Ranch

5.6

executive music producer

2010

 

Behind the Burly Q (2010)

Behind the Burly Q

6.7

executive music producer

2010

 

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Possession (2009)

Possession

5.4

music consultant

2009

 

Jeff Daniels, Cheryl Hines, Patrick Warburton, Zack Shada, and Andy Samberg in Space Chimps (2008)

Space Chimps

4.5

music supervisor

2008

 

Bobby (2006)

Bobby

7.0

music supervisor

2006

 

Eric Bana in Munich (2005)

Munich

7.5

music consultant

2005

 

Christopher Lloyd, Peter Facinelli, and Terry Nemeroff in Enfants terribles (2005)

Enfants terribles

6.3

music supervisor

2005

 

Suspect Zero (2004)

Suspect Zero

5.8

executive music producer

2004

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kristanna Loken in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

6.3

executive music producer

2003

 

Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in Basic (2003)

Basic

6.4

executive music producer

2003

 

Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Penélope Cruz, and Luke Wilson in Masked and Anonymous (2003)

Masked and Anonymous

5.3

executive music producer

2003

 

Ving Rhames and Kurt Russell in Dark Blue (2002)

Dark Blue

6.6

executive music producer

2002

 

Harrison Ford in K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)

K-19: The Widowmaker

6.7

executive music producer

2002

 

Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy in Showtime (2002)

Showtime

5.6

music supervisor

2002

 

Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett in Bandits (2001)

Bandits

6.5

executive music producer

2001

 

Tom Hanks in Cast Away (2000)

Cast Away

7.8

music consultant

2000

 

What Lies Beneath (2000)

What Lies Beneath

6.6

music consultant

2000

 

Robert De Niro, Rene Russo, Jason Alexander, June Foray, and Keith Scott in The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000)

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle

4.3

executive music producer

2000

 

David Duchovny and Minnie Driver in Return to Me (2000)

Return to Me

7.0

executive music producer

2000

 

Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Flawless (1999)

Flawless

6.4

executive music producer

1999

 

Promo Poster

Liberty Heights

7.0

music supervisor

1999

 

Robert Zemeckis on Smoking, Drinking and Drugging in the 20th Century: In Pursuit of Happiness (1999)

Robert Zemeckis on Smoking, Drinking and Drugging in the 20th Century: In Pursuit of Happiness

7.0

TV Movie

music supervisor

1999

 

Vanessa Williams and Chayanne in Dance with Me (1998)

Dance with Me

5.9

executive music producer

1998

 

Wag the Dog (1997)

Wag the Dog

7.1

music consultant: Tribeca

1997

 

Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)

Contact

7.5

song wrangler

1997

 

Sandra Bullock and Jason Patric in Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

Speed 2: Cruise Control

4.0

music consultant

1997

 

Demi Moore in Striptease (1996)

Striptease

4.6

executive music producer

1996

 

Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton in Twister (1996)

Twister

6.6

music supervisor

1996

 

Julia Roberts, Robert Duvall, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, Kyra Sedgwick, and Haley Aull in Something to Talk About (1995)

Something to Talk About

5.8

music consultant

1995

 

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995)

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

5.1

music consultant

1995

 

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump

8.8

executive music producer

1994

 

The Endless Summer 2 (1994)

The Endless Summer 2

7.6

executive music producer

1994

 

Beverly D'Angelo, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Paul Hogan in Lightning Jack (1994)

Lightning Jack

5.5

music consultant

1994

 

Flesh and Bone (1993)

Flesh and Bone

6.3

music consultant

1993

 

Jason James Richter and Keiko in Free Willy (1993)

Free Willy

6.1

Music Consultant

1993

 

Tom Cruise in The Firm (1993)

The Firm

6.9

music consultant

1993

 

Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, and Fred Gwynne in My Cousin Vinny (1992)

My Cousin Vinny

7.6

music consultant

1992

 

Bette Midler and James Caan in For the Boys (1991)

For the Boys

6.4

executive music producer

1991

 

Susan Sarandon and James Spader in White Palace (1990)

White Palace

6.5

executive music producer

1990

 

Coupe de Ville (1990)

Coupe de Ville

6.7

executive music producer

1990

 

Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Bridges, and Beau Bridges in The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

The Fabulous Baker Boys

6.9

executive music producer

1989

 

Carey Lowell, Talisa Soto, Timothy Dalton, and Robert Davi in Licence to Kill (1989)

Licence to Kill

6.7

music consultant

1989

 

Rooftops (1989)

Rooftops

4.7

executive music producer

1989

 

Tap (1989)

Tap

6.6

executive music producer

1989

 

Dennis Quaid and Jessica Lange in Everybody's All-American (1988)

Everybody's All-American

6.2

music supervisor

1988

 

Michael J. Fox in Bright Lights, Big City (1988)

Bright Lights, Big City

5.7

executive music producer

1988

 

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in Overboard (1987)

Overboard

6.9

music consultant

1987

 

Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)

La Bamba

7.0

executive music producer

1987

 

Testament (1983)

Testament

6.9

music supervisor

1983

 

Deadly Games (1982)

Deadly Games

4.0

music coordinator

1982

 

Animalympics (1980)

Animalympics

6.8

music supervisor

1980

 

Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

6.7

TV Series

music consultant

1979

1 episode

 

Peter Bergman and Phil Proctor in The Day the Earth Got Stoned (1979)

The Day the Earth Got Stoned

7.0

recorded score producer

1979

 

Susan Dey and William Katt in First Love (1977)

First Love

5.9

music supervisor: soundtrackmusical director (uncredited)

1977

 

Raquel Welch, Harvey Keitel, and Bill Cosby in Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976)

Mother, Jugs & Speed

5.9

music score producer

1976

 

Katherine (1975)

Katherine

6.1

TV Movie

music score producer: Almo Music

1975

 

Andy Griffith and Jamie Smith-Jackson in Go Ask Alice (1973)

Go Ask Alice

6.0

TV Movie

music producer: Almo Productions

1973

 

Additional Crew

Richard Dreyfuss in The Big Fix (1978)

The Big Fix

6.4

bebop consultant: Mr. Kagan

1978

 

Thanks

Robert De Niro in The Comedian (2016)

The Comedian

5.8

special thanks

2016

 

Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004)

Ray

7.7

producers wish to thank

2004

 

Soundtrack

Smitty (2012)

Smitty

5.4

performer: "Maple Leaf Rag"

2012

 

Self

The Guild of Music Supervisors Awards

TV Special

Award Winner

2019

 

The Music of 'an Officer and a Gentleman'

Video

Self - VP Music, Paramount Studios 1980-1981

2007

 

VH1 Goes Inside (2003)

VH1 Goes Inside

5.2

TV Series

Self

2004

1 episode