Santaolalla Scales New Heights with ‘Mountain’ Score

Posted in News on December 20, 2005

BMI, along with the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), co-sponsored a screening of the Focus Features film Brokeback Mountain in honor of Gustavo Santaolalla's riveting original score. After the film, the Grammy Award-winning Latin rock producer, songwriter, performer, film composer and Surco Records president participated in a Q&A session moderated by SCL board member Benoit Grey and answered questions regarding the art of film scoring.

Shown after the screening are (l-r) SCL President Dan Foliart, BMI composer Gustavo Santaolalla, BMI's Doreen Ringer Ross, producer Anibal Kerpel, agent Rob Messinger, Q moderator Benoit Grey and SCL Executive Director Laura Dunn.

Set against the sweeping vistas of Wyoming and Texas, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two young men -- a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy -- who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys, and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and living in Los Angeles, Santaolalla worked his way through the business as a performer before turning to producing with business partner Anibal Kerpel. Together, the two formed Surco Records and have been responsible for some of the most influential rock en español music to date, including Juanes, Molotov, Café Tacuba, Caifanes, Maldita Vecindad, Divididos, Bersuit, La Vela Puerca, Puya, Arbol, El Otro Yo, Fiebre and Dracma.

Santaolalla was also hailed for his hauntingly stirring score to the hit 2004 independent film, The Motorcycle Diaries, about Cuban revolutionist Che Guevera.

SOURCENews TAGS Artists Juanes Molotov Gustavo Santaolalla