Randy Newman

A singular figure in the singer/songwriter community, Randy Newman possesses an idiosyncratic style that alternates between sweeping, cinematic pop and rolling R&B, tied together by his intelligently biting sense of humor. Penning character studies that existed in a world filled with misfits, outcasts, charlatans, and con men, he became well known for his acidic sense of satire, highlighted by his fluke hits "Short People" and "I Love L.A." Newman's records consistently received strongly positive reviews, especially 1972's Sail Away and 1974's Good Old Boys, and he enjoyed a commercial breakthrough with 1977's Little Criminals, but he became a wealthy man by scoring a number of animated blockbusters for Pixar and Disney (including the Toy Story and Monsters Inc. franchises). Newman's solo efforts became infrequent, but 2008's Harps and Angels and 2017's Dark Matter showed his unique melodic sense of lyrical poison pen were still in fighting shape.