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{{Short description|Canadian composer}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Paul Zaza
| name = Paul Zaza
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|9|1}}
| birth_place = [[Vancouver, British Columbia]], [[Canada]]
| nationality = Canadian
| nationality = Canadian
| occupation = Songwriter
| occupation = Songwriter
}}
}}


'''Paul Zaza''' is a [[Genie Award]]-winning [[film score]] and [[songwriter]] who worked frequently with director [[Bob Clark]] and with fellow composer Carl Zittrer. He has composed scores for more than 100 films.<ref>{{cite book|title=Canadian Composer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gMk4AQAAIAAJ|volume=4|year=1993|publisher=Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada|page=16}}</ref>
'''Paul Zaza''' (born 1952) is a Canadian [[Genie Award]]-winning [[film score]] and [[songwriter]] who worked frequently with director [[Bob Clark]] and with fellow composer Carl Zittrer. He has composed scores for more than 100 films.<ref>{{cite book|title=Canadian Composer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gMk4AQAAIAAJ|volume=4|year=1993|publisher=Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada|page=16}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Zaza trained as a classical pianist, graduating from the Toronto Conservatory of Music.<ref>[http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/paulzaza/ "Chords of Fear: An interview with composer Paul Zaza"]. ''Terror Trap'', February 2010 </ref>
Originally from [[Toronto]], Zaza trained as a classical pianist, graduating from the [[Royal Conservatory of Music]].<ref>[http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/paulzaza/ "Chords of Fear: An interview with composer Paul Zaza"]. ''Terror Trap'', February 2010</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
In 1980 Zaza won the Genie Award for Best Music Score alongside Carl Zittrer for their work on ''[[Murder by Decree]]''.<ref name="ottawacitizen.com"/> That year the pair teamed up again to write the score for the film ''Prom Night''.<ref>[https://1428elm.com/2018/09/10/comparison-prom-night-1980-vs-prom-night-2008/ In Comparison: Prom Night 1980 vs Prom Night 2008"]. ''Fansided'', by Avery McReynolds, September 2028</ref>
In 1980 Zaza won the Genie Award for Best Music Score alongside Carl Zittrer for their work on ''[[Murder by Decree]]''.<ref name="ottawacitizen.com"/> That year the pair teamed up again to write the score for the film ''Prom Night''.<ref>[https://1428elm.com/2018/09/10/comparison-prom-night-1980-vs-prom-night-2008/ In Comparison: Prom Night 1980 vs Prom Night 2008"]. ''Fansided'', by Avery McReynolds, September 2028</ref>


In 1981 Zaza composed the score for the slasher film ''My Bloody Valentine'';<ref>[https://noisey.vice.com/en_au/article/rkqdqm/the-soundtrack-to-quentin-tarantinos-favourite-slasher-film-is-finally-getting-released "The Soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s Favourite Slasher Film Is Finally Getting Released"]. ''Noisey'', Jun 1 2016</ref> in 1983 he once more collaborated with Zittrer to write the score for the well-known film ''A Christmas Story'', which was released as an album much later in 2009.<ref>[https://newsok.com/article/3420357/oklahoma-celebs-spice-up-christmas-cds "Oklahoma celebs spice up Christmas CDs"]. ''NewsOK'', by BRANDY McDONNELL, November 27, 2009 </ref>
In 1981 Zaza composed the score for the slasher film ''My Bloody Valentine'';<ref>[https://noisey.vice.com/en_au/article/rkqdqm/the-soundtrack-to-quentin-tarantinos-favourite-slasher-film-is-finally-getting-released "The Soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s Favourite Slasher Film Is Finally Getting Released"]. ''Noisey'', 1 Jun 2016</ref> in 1983 he once more collaborated with Zittrer to write the score for the well-known film ''A Christmas Story'', which was released as an album much later in 2009.<ref>[https://newsok.com/article/3420357/oklahoma-celebs-spice-up-christmas-cds "Oklahoma celebs spice up Christmas CDs"]. ''NewsOK'', by BRANDY McDONNELL, 27 November 2009</ref>


He was nominated for the same award in 1985 for Isaac Littlefeathers. In 1987 he received a Genie nomination for Best Original Song alongside Peter Simpson for the film ''[[Bullies]]''.<ref name="academy.ca"/> In contrast, in 1986 he was nominated for the [[Razzie Award]] for Worst Musical Score for the film ''[[Turk 182]]''. He also composed the theme music for ''[[Mr. Wizard's World]]''.
He was nominated for the same award in 1985 for Isaac Littlefeathers. In 1987 he received a Genie nomination for Best Original Song alongside Peter Simpson for the film ''[[Bullies (film)|Bullies]]''.<ref name="academy.ca"/> In contrast, in 1986 he was nominated for the [[Razzie Award]] for Worst Musical Score for the film ''[[Turk 182]]''. He also composed the theme music for ''[[Mr. Wizard's World]]''.


Zaza wrote the new television theme song and composed an all-new soundtrack for the 1993 Canadian English dub of [[Osamu Tezuka]]'s anime, ''[[Kimba the White Lion]]'' in [[Toronto]], originally released in 1965 in Japan.
Zaza wrote the new television theme song and composed an all-new soundtrack for the 1993 Canadian English dub of [[Osamu Tezuka]]'s anime, ''[[Kimba the White Lion]]'' in [[Toronto]], originally released in 1965 in Japan.

===Work with The Longo Brothers===
In 1978, the Longo Brothers had a single " Sun Side Up" bw "Looking For Love" released on People City Music PCM 123. Zaza produced the single. He was also the arranger on their single, "Manhattan" bw "Nightwalk".<ref>45Cat - [https://www.45cat.com/artist/the-longo-brothers The Longo Brothers - Discography]</ref><ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 30 No. 5 October 28, 1978 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/70s/1978/RPM-Canada-1978-10-28.pdf Page 32 People City Music Presents THE LONGO BROTHERS]</ref>

With Frank Longo and Larry Longo, he played on the Parry Music Library releases '' Orchestral Drama 2'' PML 141, ''Country Moods'' PML 144 and ''High Style'' PML 147 albums.<ref>Library Music Themes - [https://librarymusicthemes.com/index.php?topic=389.0 Topic: Parry Music Library]</ref>

The Longo Brothers had a single "City Motions" (Featuring [[Moe Koffman]]) in the CanCon Top 10 Adult Contemporary chart for a number of weeks in 1984.<ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 41 No. 5 October 6, 1984 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1984/RPM-1984-10-06.pdf Page 14 Longo Brothers release City Motions single]</ref><ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 41 No. 5 October 6, 1984 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1984/RPM-1984-10-06.pdf Page 5 TOP CANCON, ADULT CONTEMPORARY]</ref><ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 41 No. 8 October 27, 1984 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1984/RPM-1984-10-27.pdf Page 7 TOP CANCON, ADULT CONTEMPORARY]</ref>

===Work with Yvonne Murray===
Zaza produced [[Yvonne Murray (singer)|her]] single, "[[Don't Send Me Roses (Dear Abby)]]" and album.<ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 39 No. 4 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1983/RPM-1983-09-24.pdf Page 15]</ref> The single did quite well. For the week ending October 8, the single had entered the RPM Country 50 Singles chart at No. 50 and was at No. 24 on the RPM Contemporary Adult chart.<ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 39 No. 6 October 8, 1983 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1983/RPM-1983-10-08.pdf Page 11 RPM Country 50 Singles]</ref><ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 39 No. 6 October 8, 1983 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1983/RPM-1983-10-08.pdf Page 14 RPM Contemporary Adult]</ref> The song peaked at No. 13 on the tenth week in the RPM Contemporary Adult chart on November 26.<ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 39 No. 13 November 26, 1983 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1983/RPM-1983-11-26.pdf Page 14 Contemporary Adult]</ref><ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 39 No. 14 December 3, 1983 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1983/RPM-1983-12-03.pdf Page 15 RPM Contemporary Adult]</ref> It also peaked on that date at No. 22 on its 8th week in the RPM Country Singles chart.<ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 39 No. 13 November 26, 1983 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1983/RPM-1983-11-26.pdf Page 12 RPM Country 50 Singles]</ref><ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 39 No. 14 December 3, 1983 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1983/RPM-1983-12-03.pdf Page 11 RPM Country 50 Singles]</ref> He produced her next single, "[[Let's Not Waste Another Heartbeat]]" at his Toronto studio.<ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 40 No. 1 March 10, 1984 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1984/RPM-1984-03-10.pdf Page 15 New MCG release by Yvonne Murray]</ref> The song spent a total of eleven weeks in the chart, it peaked at No. 12 on June 2.<ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 40 No. 12 May 26, 1984 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1984/RPM-1984-05-26.pdf Page 14 RPM Contemporary Adult]</ref><ref>''RPM Weekly'', Volume 40 No. 14 June 9, 1984 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1984/RPM-1984-06-09.pdf Page 14 RPM Contemporary Adult]</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
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*''[[Murder by Decree]]'' (1979)
*''[[Murder by Decree]]'' (1979)
*''[[Stone Cold Dead]]'' (1979)
*''[[Stone Cold Dead]]'' (1979)
*''[[Title Shot]]'' (1979)
*''[[Prom Night (1980 film)|Prom Night]]'' (1980)<ref>[https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2018/10/17/the-savage-stack-prom-night-1980 "The Savage Stack - PROM NIGHT (1980)"]. ''Birth-Movies-Death'', Jacob Knight Oct. 17, 2018 </ref>
*''[[Prom Night (1980 film)|Prom Night]]'' (1980)<ref>[https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2018/10/17/the-savage-stack-prom-night-1980 "The Savage Stack - PROM NIGHT (1980)"]. ''Birth-Movies-Death'', Jacob Knight 17 Oct. 2018</ref>
*''[[The Kidnapping of the President]]'' (1980)
*''[[The Kidnapping of the President]]'' (1980)
*''[[Ghostkeeper]]'' (1981)
*''[[Ghostkeeper]]'' (1981)
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*''[[Curtains (1983 film)|Curtains]]'' (1983)
*''[[Curtains (1983 film)|Curtains]]'' (1983)
*''[[American Nightmare (film)|American Nightmare]]'' (1983)
*''[[American Nightmare (film)|American Nightmare]]'' (1983)
*''[[A Christmas Story]]'' (1983)<ref>[https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/12/15/our-history-more-christmas-songs-have-cincinnati-connections/941186001/ "Our history: More Christmas songs have Cincinnati connections"]. ''The Inquirer'', via Cincinnati.com, Dec. 15, 2017</ref>
*''[[A Christmas Story]]'' (1983)<ref>[https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/12/15/our-history-more-christmas-songs-have-cincinnati-connections/941186001/ "Our history: More Christmas songs have Cincinnati connections"]. ''The Inquirer'', via Cincinnati.com, 15 Dec. 2017</ref>
*''[[Turk 182]]'' (1985)
*''[[Turk 182]]'' (1985)
*''[[The Vindicator (film)|The Vindicator]]'' (1986)
*''[[The Vindicator (film)|The Vindicator]]'' (1986)
*''[[Bullies]]'' (1986)
*''[[Bullies (film)|Bullies]]'' (1986)
*''[[Meatballs III: Summer Job]]'' (1986)
*''[[Meatballs III: Summer Job]]'' (1986)
*''[[The Pink Chiquitas]]'' (1987)
*''[[The Pink Chiquitas]]'' (1987)
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*''[[Prom Night III: The Last Kiss]]'' (1990)
*''[[Prom Night III: The Last Kiss]]'' (1990)
*''[[Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders]]'' (1990)
*''[[Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders]]'' (1990)
*''[[To Catch a Killer]]'' (1992)
*''[[Popcorn (1991 film)|Popcorn]]'' (1991)
*''[[To Catch a Killer (1992 film)|To Catch a Killer]]'' (1992)
*''[[Prom Night IV: Deliver Us from Evil]]'' (1992)
*''[[Prom Night IV: Deliver Us from Evil]]'' (1992)
*''[[Blown Away (1992 film)|Blown Away]]'' (1992)
*''[[Blown Away (1992 film)|Blown Away]]'' (1992)
*''[[Liar's Edge]]'' (1992)
*''[[Cold Sweat (1993 film)|Cold Sweat]]'' (1993)
*''[[Cold Sweat (1993 film)|Cold Sweat]]'' (1993)
*''[[It Runs in the Family (1994 film)|It Runs in the Family]]'' (1994)
*''[[It Runs in the Family (1994 film)|It Runs in the Family]]'' (1994)
*''[[Iron Eagle on the Attack|Iron Eagle IV]]'' (1995)
*''[[Iron Eagle on the Attack|Iron Eagle IV]]'' (1995)
*''[[Baby Geniuses]]'' (1999)
*''[[Baby Geniuses]]'' (1999)
*''[[In Her Defense]]'' (1999)
*''In Her Defense'' (1999)
*''[[Grizzly Falls]]'' (1999)
*''[[Grizzly Falls]]'' (1999)
*''[[The Fourth Angel]]'' (2001)
*''[[Now & Forever (2002 film)|Now & Forever]]'' (2002)
*''[[Now & Forever (2002 film)|Now & Forever]]'' (2002)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
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== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[List of Canadian composers]]
*[[List of Canadian composers]]
{{Portal|Music of Canada}}
{{Portal|Music|Canada}}


==References==
==References==
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| url = http://www.academy.ca/hist/history.cfm?nname=Paul+Zaza&winonly=0&awards=0&rtype=1&curstep=4&submit.x=50&submit.y=7
| url = http://www.academy.ca/hist/history.cfm?nname=Paul+Zaza&winonly=0&awards=0&rtype=1&curstep=4&submit.x=50&submit.y=7
| title = Canada's Awards Database Paul Zaza
| title = Canada's Awards Database Paul Zaza
| author =
| work = Awards
| date =
| month =
| year =
| work = {{URL|www.academy.ca/awards/}}
| publisher = [[Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]
| publisher = [[Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]
| format =
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 4 May 2011
| accessdate = 4 May 2011
| quote =
| postscript = .
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>
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}}
}}

⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=nm0006344}}
* {{IMDb name|id=nm0006344}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130821150659/http://www.paulzaza.com/ Official website] archived at the [[Wayback Machine]]
* [http://www.paulzaza.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/paulzaza/ Chords of Fear: An Interview with Paul Zaza]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaza, Paul}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaza, Paul}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Canadian film score composers]]
[[Category:Canadian film score composers]]
[[Category:Male film score composers]]
[[Category:Canadian male film score composers]]
[[Category:Best Original Score Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Original Score Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]


{{Canada-composer-stub}}

Latest revision as of 04:30, 3 April 2024

Paul Zaza
Born (1952-09-01) September 1, 1952 (age 71)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
NationalityCanadian
OccupationSongwriter

Paul Zaza (born 1952) is a Canadian Genie Award-winning film score and songwriter who worked frequently with director Bob Clark and with fellow composer Carl Zittrer. He has composed scores for more than 100 films.[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Originally from Toronto, Zaza trained as a classical pianist, graduating from the Royal Conservatory of Music.[2]

Career

[edit]

In 1980 Zaza won the Genie Award for Best Music Score alongside Carl Zittrer for their work on Murder by Decree.[3] That year the pair teamed up again to write the score for the film Prom Night.[4]

In 1981 Zaza composed the score for the slasher film My Bloody Valentine;[5] in 1983 he once more collaborated with Zittrer to write the score for the well-known film A Christmas Story, which was released as an album much later in 2009.[6]

He was nominated for the same award in 1985 for Isaac Littlefeathers. In 1987 he received a Genie nomination for Best Original Song alongside Peter Simpson for the film Bullies.[7] In contrast, in 1986 he was nominated for the Razzie Award for Worst Musical Score for the film Turk 182. He also composed the theme music for Mr. Wizard's World.

Zaza wrote the new television theme song and composed an all-new soundtrack for the 1993 Canadian English dub of Osamu Tezuka's anime, Kimba the White Lion in Toronto, originally released in 1965 in Japan.

Work with The Longo Brothers

[edit]

In 1978, the Longo Brothers had a single " Sun Side Up" bw "Looking For Love" released on People City Music PCM 123. Zaza produced the single. He was also the arranger on their single, "Manhattan" bw "Nightwalk".[8][9]

With Frank Longo and Larry Longo, he played on the Parry Music Library releases Orchestral Drama 2 PML 141, Country Moods PML 144 and High Style PML 147 albums.[10]

The Longo Brothers had a single "City Motions" (Featuring Moe Koffman) in the CanCon Top 10 Adult Contemporary chart for a number of weeks in 1984.[11][12][13]

Work with Yvonne Murray

[edit]

Zaza produced her single, "Don't Send Me Roses (Dear Abby)" and album.[14] The single did quite well. For the week ending October 8, the single had entered the RPM Country 50 Singles chart at No. 50 and was at No. 24 on the RPM Contemporary Adult chart.[15][16] The song peaked at No. 13 on the tenth week in the RPM Contemporary Adult chart on November 26.[17][18] It also peaked on that date at No. 22 on its 8th week in the RPM Country Singles chart.[19][20] He produced her next single, "Let's Not Waste Another Heartbeat" at his Toronto studio.[21] The song spent a total of eleven weeks in the chart, it peaked at No. 12 on June 2.[22][23]

Selected filmography

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Canadian Composer. Vol. 4. Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. 1993. p. 16.
  2. ^ "Chords of Fear: An interview with composer Paul Zaza". Terror Trap, February 2010
  3. ^ "Genie sweep scored by 'Changling'". Ottawa Citizen. Postmedia Network Inc. CP. 21 March 1980. p. 81. ISSN 0839-3222. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  4. ^ In Comparison: Prom Night 1980 vs Prom Night 2008". Fansided, by Avery McReynolds, September 2028
  5. ^ "The Soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s Favourite Slasher Film Is Finally Getting Released". Noisey, 1 Jun 2016
  6. ^ "Oklahoma celebs spice up Christmas CDs". NewsOK, by BRANDY McDONNELL, 27 November 2009
  7. ^ "Canada's Awards Database Paul Zaza". Awards. Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  8. ^ 45Cat - The Longo Brothers - Discography
  9. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 30 No. 5 October 28, 1978 - Page 32 People City Music Presents THE LONGO BROTHERS
  10. ^ Library Music Themes - Topic: Parry Music Library
  11. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 41 No. 5 October 6, 1984 - Page 14 Longo Brothers release City Motions single
  12. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 41 No. 5 October 6, 1984 - Page 5 TOP CANCON, ADULT CONTEMPORARY
  13. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 41 No. 8 October 27, 1984 - Page 7 TOP CANCON, ADULT CONTEMPORARY
  14. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 4 - Page 15
  15. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 6 October 8, 1983 - Page 11 RPM Country 50 Singles
  16. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 6 October 8, 1983 - Page 14 RPM Contemporary Adult
  17. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 13 November 26, 1983 - Page 14 Contemporary Adult
  18. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 14 December 3, 1983 - Page 15 RPM Contemporary Adult
  19. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 13 November 26, 1983 - Page 12 RPM Country 50 Singles
  20. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 14 December 3, 1983 - Page 11 RPM Country 50 Singles
  21. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 40 No. 1 March 10, 1984 - Page 15 New MCG release by Yvonne Murray
  22. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 40 No. 12 May 26, 1984 - Page 14 RPM Contemporary Adult
  23. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 40 No. 14 June 9, 1984 - Page 14 RPM Contemporary Adult
  24. ^ "The Savage Stack - PROM NIGHT (1980)". Birth-Movies-Death, Jacob Knight 17 Oct. 2018
  25. ^ "Our history: More Christmas songs have Cincinnati connections". The Inquirer, via Cincinnati.com, 15 Dec. 2017
[edit]
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