“A single-engine plane owned by Academy Award-winning composer James Horner crashed Monday in Ventura County, killing the sole occupant, whose name has not been released,” reports the Los Angeles Times.
The story continues, “The crash was reported shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Quatal Canyon Road, a remote stretch in Los Padres National Forest, said Ventura County sheriff’s Capt. John Reilly.”
The Times adds, “Jay Cooper, the longtime attorney for Horner, confirmed that the plane involved in the crash was one of five aircraft owned by the composer. No one has heard from Horner, Cooper said.”
Other media accounts note that police officials said that the body of the pilot involved in the fiery crash could not be immediately identified.
Horner’s best-known score was for the movie “Titanic,” for which he won the Oscar.
Other well-known scores by the 61-year-old composer include “Braveheart,” “Field of Dreams” and “Glory.”
He also wrote the theme for the “CBS Evening News” that was used when Katie Couric anchored that broadcast.
Some media outlets are reporting that Horner died in the crash. Variety says it has confirmed that Horner was killed, but does not say how it confirmed the information. Other outlets are claiming that the fact Horner died in the crash is confirmed by a Facebook entry by Sylvia Patrycja, whom these outlets say is identified in another Facebook entry as Horner’s assistant. Patrycja wrote: “A great tragedy has struck my family today, and I will not be around for a while. I would like some privacy and time to heal. We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent. He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road. Love Sylvia.” That’s her entire post, never saying who “he” is.
USA Today, in a video report, says that Horner was killed in the plane crash and adds: “The news was confirmed on the 61-year-old composer’s official Facebook page.” However, a closer examination of the page in the video, called “James Horner Film Music,” reveals that it is a Horner fan page maintained by fans in France. A statement on this fan page says: “It is with profound grief that we concede the tragic reality that the unparalleled voice of James Horner has concluded its final coda and achieved its last silence.” Nowhere on the site does it say where its information comes from, and it is unclear why USA Today uses the fan statement as the basis for its video report saying that Horner’s death has been confirmed.
Here’s the official music video of “My Heart Will Go On,” from “Titanic,” with music by James Horner:
This is most tragic.
The movie score industry has lost one of their best.