Daniel Robert Elfman known as Danny Elfman was born on May 29, 1953 in Amarillo, Texas. He grew up in Los Angeles until he moved to France with his brother at the age of 18. His mother Blossom Elfman was a teacher and writer and his father Milton was a teacher and was also in the Air Force. His brother Robert is a director. He married Bridget Fonda on November 29, 2003 and made the soundtrack to one of her films in 1997. He has three children: Lola born in 1979, Mali born in 1984 and Oliver born in 2005. When he went with his brother to France He performed with an avant-garde musical theater group known as Le Grand Magic Circus. He then decided to travel through Ghana, Mali and Upper Volta in Africa experimenting with new musical styles that would influence his style. While in Africa he contracted malaria. When he finally returned to the United States, he began studying at CalArts even though he wasn't actually a student there. In 1972 Richard Elfman started a band known as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo which was a new wave band when he left the band. become a director. In 1976 Danny took the reins of the band until their retirement in 1995. They were then simply called Oingo Boingo in 1979, they were a new wave band with ska influences until they changed style again in the 1980s and became more guitar rock. They were known for their Halloween themes and sold out every Halloween concert they performed. One of their most popular songs that is played on several radio stations every year for Halloween is "Dead Man's Party". In 1985 Tim Burton and Paul Reubens asked Danny Elfman to write the score for their film Pee-wee's Big Adventure. He had no formal training at the time but sought help from Steve Bartek, guitarist and arranger of Oin...... middle of paper ...... on all 24. Nominated for 2 British Academy Film Awards and has no won the same goes for the Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards. Nominated for 4 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards and won none. Nominated for 2 Emmy Awards, won one. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes, he won neither of them. Nominated for 11 Grammy Awards won once. Nominated for 1 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards but did not win. Nominated for 6 Satellite Awards won once. Nominated for 12 Saturn Awards, won 5. Nominated for 2 Sierra Awards, one once. Nominated for 2 World Soundtrack Awards and did not win either time. He has been nominated for a total of 75 awards and has won 33.Works CitedBarnes & Noble Biography: http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/biography.asp?CTR=68216Encylopedia.com:http://www.encyclopedia .com/topic/Danny_Elfman.aspxMusic for a Darkened Theater