Bond theme composer Monty Norman dies aged 94

Composer whose work is indelibly associated with 007 also worked on a string of successful West End musicals

Monty Norman, composer of the instantly recognisable James Bond theme music, has died aged 94. The BBC first reported the news, saying his family had confirmed his death.

Norman's most famous work was created as part of the score for the first Bond film, Dr No, which was released in 1962, and starred Sean Connery in the lead role. Norman said he based the distinctive rolling phrase, which first appeared as part of a medley during the film's opening, on an earlier piece called Good Sign, Bad Sign, which he created for a musical adaptation of VS Naipul's A House for Mr Biswas. A jazz arrangement by John Barry for the film led to Barry often being mistakenly identified at the composer; Norman went to court, winning an action for libel against the Sunday Times in 2001, to defend his credit.