Russ Landau
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Television
- film score
- new‑age
- world music
- Composer
- musician
- Bass guitar
- guitar
Russ Landau | |
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 Landau in 2005 | |
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| Formerly of | Paul Winter Consort |
| Awards | Primetime Emmy Award (2008) |
Russ Landau is an American composer and musician best known for his work in television, including the theme music for the reality series Survivor. His career includes a Primetime Emmy Award,[1] multiple Emmy nominations, over 40 ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards, and a Grammy nomination from his time with the Paul Winter Consort.
Landau earned a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Bridgeport and was awarded an honorary doctorate[2] by the university in 2010.
Career
Landau began his musical career as bassist and contributing composer with the Paul Winter Consort, working on world-fusion and environmental music that led to a Grammy nomination.[3] In television, he received his first Primetime Emmy nomination[4] in 1996 for the title theme of seaQuest DSV and another in 2001 for the Survivor series theme "Ancient Voices".[5][6]
Landau's work on Survivor became iconic; he composed for over 580 episodes from 2000–2022, and his theme and underscore music became integral to the show's atmosphere.[7][8][9]
In 2008, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music[10] for Pirate Master.[11] His notable credits also include composing music for Fear Factor, Average Joe, Combat Missions, Eco‑Challenge Borneo, The Net, and other reality and competition shows.[12]
He explored field recording and indigenous sound on assignments like Survivor: China, traveling in Mainland China to source traditional music for use in the score.[13]
Select discography
Television soundtracks
- Survivor theme titled "Ancient Voices" and season underscore across more than 25 seasons (Vanuatu, Palau, Guatemala, China, Micronesia, Gabon, Tocantins, Samoa, Heroes vs. Villains, Redemption Island, Philippines, Caramoan, etc.)[14][15]
- Landau also produced an alternative theme for Survivor, titled “Awakenings”. This theme is used by many international editions of the series.
- Pirate Master
- Fear Factor
- Average Joe (Vol. 1 & 2)
- The Net (TV series)
- Eco‑Challenge Borneo
- Combat Missions
- Three Wishes
- ...plus various solo music compilations
Selected collaborations
- With Paul Winter Consort: Solstice Live!, Earthbeat, Concert for the Earth, The Man Who Planted Trees (Grammy‑nominated), Wintersong, Angel on a Stone Wall, Pianosong[16]
Awards and recognition
Landau's career is marked by multiple top industry honors:[17]
- Primetime Emmy Award[18] – *Outstanding Main Title Theme Music*, Pirate Master (2008)
- Primetime Emmy nominations[19] – seaQuest DSV (1996), Survivor theme (2001)
- Grammy nomination – as part of Paul Winter Consort
- Over 40 ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards[20]
- Honorary Doctorate,[21] University of Bridgeport (2010)