The musical fruits of award-winning composer and Point Loma native Aaron Zigman’s past few laborious years will soon dance out of theatres, starting with film, Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?”
A film adaptation of Perry’s stage production, which includes cast members Janet Jackson, Jill Scott and Tyler Perry, the movie opened No. 1 at the box office last weekend, according to www.thenumbers.com.
In the last five years, Zigman has worked to score music for 25 movies, 10 of which are scheduled for release this year, according to a press statement. Among the films are “Good Luck Chuck” and “The Jane Austin Book Club,” both currently playing in theatres.
A member of Point Loma High School’s class of 1980, Zigman said he thinks fondly when looking back at his formative years in San Diego.
“Point Loma was a very, kind of relaxed place,” he said. “I just liked being near the water.”
According to a short biography on Zigman’s website, www.aaronzigman.com, “A native of San Diego, Aaron Zigman began training as a classical pianist at age 6 with his mother, a pianist and harpist. While in his third year at UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles], Zigman signed a 4-year songwriting contract with publishing giant Almo Irving and began writing, producing, arranging and orchestrating for many of the top major artists in the record industry.”
In addition, Zigman said his upbringing in Point Loma connected him with others who shared his passion for music.
“I always had a good introduction to the music business,” he said.
One friend in particular who Zigman met was fellow Point Loma High alum Jason Scheff, who became a singer and bassist for the highly successful band Chicago as the band’s membership continued to change over the years.
“We both kind of went on to do different things, but related in the music business,” Zigman said.
During his years working as a studio musician, Zigman produced, wrote or arranged music for many stars, including Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles.
Although he encountered much success working in the studio, and later on movie soundtracks, Zigman said his first passion has always been to score music for an orchestra.
“Scoring movies is something I wanted to do [since] early on in my 20s,” he said.
After compiling a resume of highly acclaimed and successful projects, Zigman said he’s steadily worked up to where he wants to be.
“I, primarily in the last 15 years, have focused on writing classic music and developing my orchestration abilities,” he said. “The best part, for me, is when I’m conducting my score.”
As for how the opportunity arose for him to score music for feature full-length motion pictures, Zigman said he credits director Nick Cassavetes. Noted for directing successful films like “The Notebook” and “Alpha Dog,” Zigman said Cassavetes offered him the chance to score the music for “John Q,” a movie Cassavetes directed in 2001, starring Denzel Washington.
“It was hard to get over to this side but somehow I made it over,” Zigman said. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
His work and attention to detail garnered him a Daytime Emmy Award in 2005 for the most original song, “Sim Shalom,” which Zigman co-wrote with Alex Brown for the Showtime movie “Crown Heights.”
Currently living in Los Angeles, Zigman said Point Loma is never far from his mental view.
“I’ll always be a San Diegan. I’ll probably wind up living there in the latter part of my life.”
For more information on Zigman, visit www.aaronzigman.com.