Angelo Badalamenti, the Brooklyn-born composer whose creative partnership with David Lynch continues twin peaks led to one of the most memorable scores in television history, died at the age of 85, corresponding The Hollywood Reporter. Badalamenti’s niece confirmed to THR that the Grammy winner died of natural causes at his home in New Jersey on Sunday, December 11, 2022.
Badalamenti’s introduction to Lynch began during the making of blue velvet 1986 when Badalamenti was brought in to help Isabella Rossellini in her vocal performance as damaged nightclub singer Dorothy Vallens. Badalamenti and Lynch hit it off immediately and quickly developed a relationship that saw the two work closely together from that point on — often using the late Julee Cruise.
Badalamenti’s most stirring and memorable score was the one he composed for twin peaks, including the compositions “Twin Peaks Theme”, “Laura Palmer’s Theme” and “Falling”, the latter of which featured Cruise’s ethereal, haunting vocals. The stirring, majestic, and often downright jazzy score helped set the mood and tone for the entire series, and Badalamenti was recognized for his efforts at the 1990 Grammy Awards, where he won Best Pop Instrumental Performance for “Twin Peaks Theme won.
Badalamenti also appeared on camera for Lynch, his most memorable role being a shadowy character terrorizing Justin Theroux Mulholland Drive. Badalamenti also briefly became a pop star when he teamed up with British singer Tim Booth and guitar wizard Bernard Butler for a 1996 project called The Sun Booth and the Evil Angel.
