Born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1949, Jones developed an interest in film music at the age of five. He attended the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town, and at the age of seventeen he moved to London to attend the Royal Academy of Music. He later became a British citizen and continued his studies at the University of York and the National Film and Television School, where he would eventually serve as Chair of Music.
Jones became known for his sweeping orchestral scores, always setting the mood from the very first note. With dark fantasy films like Excalibur (1981), his breakthrough score, and The Dark Crystal (1982) and psychological horror films like Angel Heart (1987) he gained international recognition in the 1980s. Later he went on to score classics like Mississippi Burning (1988), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), and Brassed Off (1996), earning him multiple nominations, including three BAFTA nominations and two Golden Globe nominations.
In addition to film scoring, Jones has collaborated widely in the music industry. He worked with David Bowie on the soundtrack for Labyrinth (1986) and has produced or collaborated with artists including U2, Elvis Costello, Sting and Sinéad O’Connor. He has also written music for theatre and concert music, and he has been a regular jury member and guest lecturer at major film and music institutions.
Language: English