Alan Menken Biography (1949-)

Born July 22, 1949, in New Rochelle, NY; son of Norman (a dentist) and JudithMenken; married; wife's name, Janice; children: Anna, Nora. Addresses: Contact: The Shukat Company, Ltd., 340 West 55th St., Suite 1A, New York, NY 10019-3744.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Composer, lyricist, song producer
Birth Details
July 22, 1949
New Rochelle, New York, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Work
  • Music producer, The Little Mermaid (animated), Buena Vista, 1989
  • Song producer, Pocahontas (animated), Buena Vista, 1995
  • Score producer, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (animated), Buena Vista, 1996
  • Song and score producer, Hercules (animated), Buena Vista, 1997
  • Television Appearances
  • Specials
  • The Making of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (also known as Be Our Guest: The Making of Disney's Beauty and the Beast), The Disney Channel, 1991
  • Himself, The Magic of Aladdin, 1993
  • The Hollywood Soundtrack Story, AMC, 1995
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical Comes to L.A. (also known as Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical Comes to L.A.), 1995
  • Pocahontas: The Musical Tradition Continues (also known as Disney's Pocahontas: The Musical Tradition Continues), 1995
  • Himself, The Making of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, ABC,1996
  • Movie Surfers: Go Inside Disney's Hercules, The Disney Channel, 1997
  • Episodic
  • Popular Song: Soundtrack of the Century, Bravo, 2001
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • Little Shop of Horrors (original cast recording), Geffen Records,1982
  • Little Shop of Horrors (film soundtrack), Geffen Records, 1986
  • The Little Mermaid (film soundtrack), Wonderland Music, 1989
  • Walt Disney Presents Beauty and the Beast (film soundtrack), WaltDisney Records, 1991
  • Newsies (film soundtrack; also known as Newsboys), Walt Disney Records, 1992
  • Walt Disney Pictures Presents Aladdin (film soundtrack), Walt Disney Records, 1992
  • Lincoln (television miniseries soundtrack), Angel/EMI Records, 1992
  • Weird Romance (original cast recording), Sony Music, 1993
  • The Music behind the Magic: The Musical Artistry of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice, 1994
  • Selections from Pocahontas: From Walt Disney's Pocahontas (film soundtrack), Hal Leonard, 1995
  • Walt Disney Pictures Presents The Hunchback of Notre Dame (film soundtrack), Hal Leonard, 1996
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A Medley Including "The Bells of Notre Dame," "Someday," "Out There," "Topsy Turvy," "God Help the Outcasts," "Heaven's Light," and "Hellfire," Hal Leonard, 1996
  • Music from Hercules: From Walt Disney Pictures' Hercules (film soundtrack), Hal Leonard, 1997
  • Singles include "Theme from Walt Disney Pictures' Beauty and the Beast,"Woods Music & Books, 1993; "Colors of the Wind: From Walt Disney's Pocahontas," Hal Leonard 1995; "Out There: From Walt Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Hal Leonard, 1996; "Someday: From Walt Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Hal Leonard, 1996; "God Help the Outcasts: From Walt Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Hal Leonard, 1996; "Topsy Turvy: From Walt Disney'sThe Hunchback of Notre Dame," Hal Leonard, 1996; "Hellfire: From Walt Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Hal Leonard, 1996; "Go the Distance: From Walt Disney Pictures' Hercules," Hal Leonard, 1997; "Under the Sea: From Walt Disney's The Little Mermaid," Hal Leonard, 1997; "Zero to Hero: From Walt Disney Pictures' Hercules," Hal Leonard, 1997; "The Gospel Truth I: From Walt Disney Pictures' Hercules," Hal Leonard, 1997.
  • WRITINGS
  • Film Scores
  • The Line, Enterprise, 1982
  • (And lyricist) The Little Mermaid (animated), Buena Vista, 1989
  • (And lyricist) Beauty and the Beast (animated), Buena Vista, 1991
  • Newsies (also known as Newsboys), Buena Vista, 1992
  • Aladdin (animated), Buena Vista, 1992
  • Pocahontas (animated), Buena Vista, 1995
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (animated), Buena Vista, 1996
  • Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Walt Disney Home Video, 1996
  • Hercules (animated), Buena Vista, 1997
  • Film Songs
  • Little Shop of Horrors, Warner Bros., 1986
  • "The Measure of a Man," Rocky V, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1990
  • "My Christmas Tree," Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1992
  • Title theme and "Cold Enough to Snow," Life with Mikey (also knownas Give Me a Break), Buena Vista, 1993
  • "Part of Your World," The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (animated), Buena Vista Home Video, 2000
  • Film Music
  • "Arabian Nights," The Return of Jafar (also known as Aladdin 2), 1994
  • Stage Scores
  • (And lyrics) The Present Tense, produced at Park Royal Cabaret Theatre, New York City, 1977
  • (And lyrics) Patch, Patch, Patch, produced at West Bank Cafe, NewYork City, 1979
  • God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (adapted from the Kurt Vonnegut novelof the same name), produced at WPA Theatre, New York City, 1979, published by Samuel French (New York City), 1980
  • (And lyrics) House Music, produced at American Jewish Theatre, NewYork City, 1981
  • (And lyrics) Real Life Funnies, produced at Manhattan Theatre Club(New York City), 1981
  • The Dream on Royal Street, published by Dramatic Publishing (Chicago, IL), 1981
  • Little Shop of Horrors, produced at Orpheum Theatre, New York City, 1982, published by Doubleday (Garden City, NY), 1982, vocal score publishedby Menken Music and Trunksong Music, 1985
  • (With others) Not So New Faces of '84, produced at Upstairs at Greene Street, New York City, 1984
  • (With others) Diamonds, produced at Circle in the Square Theatre,New York City, 1984
  • (With others) Personals, produced at Theatre Three, Dallas, TX, 1987
  • Weird Romance, produced at WPA Theatre, 1992, published by SamuelFrench, 1993, vocal score published by Warner Bros. Publications (Secaucus, NJ), 1994
  • Beauty and the Beast, produced at Palace Theatre, New York City, 1994-1995 then Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1995
  • A Christmas Carol, produced at Paramount Theatre, New York City, 1994-1995 later Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1997
  • Hundreds of Hats, produced at WPA Theatre, 1995
  • King David, produced at New Amsterdam Theatre, New York City, 1997
  • Also composed Kicks, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, and Let Freedom Sing.
  • Television Title Theme
  • Series
  • Aladdin (animated; also known as Disney's Aladdin), CBS andsyndicated, 1994
  • "Zero to Hero Main Title Theme," Hercules (animated; also known asDisney's Hercules), ABC and syndicated, 1998
  • Television Scores
  • Miniseries
  • Lincoln, ABC, 1992
  • Television Songs
  • Movies
  • "By Your Side," Polly, NBC, 1989
  • Television Scores
  • Specials
  • Aladdin on Ice (also known as Disney's Aladdin on Ice), 1995
  • Disney's Beauty and the Beast: A Concert on Ice (also known as Beauty and the Beast on Ice), CBS, 1996
  • Michelle Kwan Skates to Disney's Greatest Hits, ABC, 1999
  • Television Songs
  • Specials
  • "Wonderful Ways to Say No," Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (animated), syndicated, 1988
  • "A Whole New World," The 65th Annual Academy Awards Presentation,ABC, 1993
  • American Express Presents Backstage Pass ... Disney's Beauty and the Beast Goes Broadway, The Disney Channel, 1994
  • Disney's Pocahontas ... the Musical Tradition Continues, The Disney Channel, 1995
  • 53rd Annual Presidential Inaugural Gala, 1997
  • "A Whole New World" and "Beauty and the Beast," Cincinnati Pops Holiday: Love Is in the Air, PBS, 1999
  • Television Music
  • Specials
  • The 60th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1988
  • "Kiss the Girl" and "Under the Sea," The 62nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation, 1990
  • Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue, 1990
  • The Making of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (documentary), The Disney Channel, 1991
  • Lincoln, 1992
  • Be Our Guest: The Making of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, 1991
  • "Friends Like Me," The 65th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1993
  • "Colors of the Wind," The 68th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1996
  • "Go the Distance," The 70th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1998
  • Other Writings
  • (Author of foreword) Don Frantz, Disney's Beauty and the Beast: A Celebration of the Broadway Musical, Hyperion (New York City), 1995
  • Contributor to books, including The Little Shop of Horrors Book, by John McCarty and Mark Thomas McGee, St. Martin's (New York City), 1988; Walt Disney Presents Aladdin: Piano Solos, Hal Leonard Publishing (Milwaukee, WI), 1993; Walt Disney Pictures Presents Aladdin: Flute, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1993; Walt Disney Pictures Presents Aladdin: Alto Saxophone, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1993; Medley from Walt Disney's Aladdin, arranged by John Moss, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1993; Disney Movie Favorites: Easy Violin, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1993; Disney Movie Favorites: Viola, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1993; Disney Movie Favorites: F Horn, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1993; Disney Movie Favorites: Cello, HalLeonard Publishing, 1993; Disney's Pocahontas Illustrated Songbook, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1995; Colors of the Wind, by Stephen Schwartz, Hyperion, 1995; Colors of the Wind: Easy Piano, Hal Leonard Publishing,1995; Colors of the Wind: From Walt Disney's Pocahontas: Clarinet Ensemble with Optional Rhythm Section, arranged by Elliot Del Borgo, Hal LeonardPublishing, 1996; Pocahontas: From Walt Disney's Pocahontas: Unison, 2-Part: Song Kit #36, arranged by Janet Klevberg, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1996; and Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Piano-Fun!: E-Z Play Songbook, Hal Leonard Publishing, 1996.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Contemporary Musicians, Volume 10, Gale Research, 1993
    • Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Volume 20, Gale Group,2000
    • International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 4: Writers and Production Artists, St. James Press, 1996
    Periodicals
    • Back Stage, May 14, 1993, pp. 19-20; May 30, 1997, p. 52
    • Entertainment Weekly, November 25, 1994, pp. 74-75
    • Los Angeles Magazine, May, 1994, p. 163
    • People Weekly, July 24, 1995, p. 16