John Carpenter

Over the course of his career, director John Carpenter has earned as much acclaim for his music as for his filmmaking. At first, he composed the scores for his films out of necessity, crafting a distinctive sound dominated by pulsing, arpeggiated synthesizers and atmospheric washes that echoed his stark visual style. The minimalist approach he took on 1976's Assault on Precinct 13 influenced generations of electronic and hip-hop artists to come, while the score for 1978's Halloween -- and its main theme in particular -- became iconic for its icy piano and synths. Later, Carpen...