Alan Anthony Silvestri (born March 26, 1950) is an American film score composer and conductor.
Silvestri is best known for his collaborations with director Robert Zemeckis, having scored Romancing the Stone (1984), the Back to the Future trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Death Becomes Her (1992), Forrest Gump (1994), Contact (1997), Cast Away (2000), The Polar Express (2004) , Beowulf (2007) and A Christmas Carol (2009).
Silvestri is also known for his work on Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (1990), both of which are considered preeminent examples of action/sci-fi film scores. He has also begun a collaboration with director Stephen Sommers, scoring the films The Mummy Returns in 2001, Van Helsing in 2004 and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in 2009.
Silvestri has also composed music for television shows, including Starsky & Hutch, CHiPs , Manimal and HBO's Tales from the Crypt.
Silvestri was 21 years old when he started his film/televsion composing career. His early style is marked by a strong use of the octatonic scale, as well as an eclectic use of different notes and instruments.
Silvestri was born in New York City. He studied guitar at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out after two years to tour with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders.
Silvestri grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey[1] and attended Teaneck High School there.
Silvestri also owns a vineyard, Silvestri Vineyards, located in Carmel Valley, California.