After serving an apprenticeship conducting and orchestrating live shows, Lionel Newman joined 20th Century Fox as a rehearsal pianist under the guidance of his brother, Alfred Newman, and by 1959, he had been promoted to Musical Director for Television there. This opened the doors to feature films. He was soon made vice president in charge of music for both television and features. This soon resulted in a promotion to senior vice president of all music for Twentieth Century Fox Films. He wrote several classic TV themes for Fox, including The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Adventures in Paradise, and Daniel Boone. Lionel Newman’s tenure with Twentieth Century Fox spanned 46 years with over 200 films to his credit, including How to Marry a Millionaire, North To Alaska, The Proud Ones, Road House, and Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley’s first picture). He was musical director for all of Marilyn Monroe’s films at Fox, in accordance with her request, including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, There’s No Business Like Show Business, River of No Return, and Let’s Make Love, with the exception of Bus Stop which was directed and conducted by his brother, Alfred Newman and There’s No Business Like Show Business which was co-directed and co-conducted by Alfred Newman. In November 2013, the Twentieth Century Fox Music Department was dedicated as “The Lionel Newman Music Building” and a bronze plaque of Lionel, listing his composing and conducting credits was unveiled. Speaking to the guests about Lionel’s impact on Film & TV music, as well as who he was as a friend, mentor, boss, and family man, were Steven Spielberg, John Williams (one of Lionel’s closest friends), nephew/composer, Randy Newman, and grandson/composer, Joey Newman. The dedication was attended by several 100 people, who in some way were influenced by Newman. Also in attendance were Lionel’s daughters, and grandchildren, as well as many nieces, and nephews…..most of which are in the Entertainment Industry, not only as composers, but many other facets of film and television.

Lionel Newman received eleven Academy Award nominations, and won an Oscar for Hello Dolly! with Lennie Hayton in 1969. He conducted the scores for Cleopatra, The Sand Pebbles, The Agony and the Ecstasy, The Long Hot Summer, The Young Lions, Alien, and The Omen. He was the musical supervisor for Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Monsignor, and The Fury. Although he did not consider himself a songwriter, he received a certificate of merit from Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) for over one million network performances of his 1948 hit, “Again”, a pop standard that lived on long after its introduction in the film Road House. Lionel Newman was married to Beverly Carroll, who died October 21, 2010, and with whom he had three daughters. Carroll Newman, Producer, is married to Emmy Award Winning Actor and Writer Gary Frank and they have one daughter Jessica Marli Frank, who is a Producer at Tumblr; Deborah Newman Sharpe, VP, Sharpe and Associates, is married to Robert Sharpe, Owner, Sharpe and Associates located in Tucson, AZ They have three children; Sarah Newman (Independent Casting Director), Jennifer Newman Sharpe, Esq. (Law Offices of Jennifer Newman Sharpe NYC), Jeremy Sharpe, Community Liaison Rancho Sahuarita, AZ; and Jenifer Newman, a former professional ballet dancer and current Core Fusion teacher/National Trainer with Exhale Spa. She has one son, Joey Newman, a film and television composer/conductor married to Jerelyn Newman, Founder and Artistic Director of Westside Children’s Theatre. They have three daughters, Ella, Ava and Leah. During the last few years of his tenure at Fox, Newman conducted major symphony orchestras in the United States, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. Newman retired in 1985 and died on February 3, 1989 from cardiac arrest.