Betty Ford: The Real Deal

Ok, I admit it - as a film composer, I look for projects where the music can take “center stage” and be a real driving force in the film. But sometimes, a composer is hired to create exactly the opposite – that is, compose music that is subtle and indirect, supporting the film in an understated way.

I was recently hired by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions to compose exactly this kind of score. Their new documentary “Betty Ford: The Real Deal”, details the life of this woman who refused to follow any conventional path. From her early days as a professional dancer with Martha Graham, through her time as First Lady battling depression and drug dependence, to her founding of the Betty Ford Center, she has continued to be an inspiration to millions.

“Betty Ford: The Real Deal”, premieres nationally this Monday, March 16, on PBS (check your local listings for specific times near you). To hear a few shortened samples from this score, click on the links below. Thanks, and enjoy the “understated” samples!

“Growing Loneliness”
“Isolation in a Crowd”
“Watergate Tension”
“She Just Won’t Quit”