David Richard Campbell (born 7 February 1948) is a Canadian-American arranger, composer, musician, and conductor. He has composed and arranged music for many films, including North Country (2005), Brokeback Mountain (2005), August: Osage County (2013), Annie (2014), Foxcatcher (2014), Rock of Ages (2012), Dreamgirls (2006), and Joy (2015). He has also worked on over 450 gold and platinum albums by artists of a wide range of genres, including The Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, Metallica, Kiss, Radiohead, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Evanescence, Rush, Beyoncé, Muse, Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, Aerosmith, Juanes, Garth Brooks, Green Day, and various albums by his son Beck.
Early life and education Campbell was born in Toronto, Ontario. His father, D. Warren Campbell, was from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was attending seminary in Toronto in order to become a Presbyterian minister. Campbell subsequently was assigned to a church in Pittsburgh, taking his family with him, before settling in Seattle. Campbell took up the violin at age 9. At age 12, he began venturing into orchestration, studying the works of Bartók, Schoenberg and Stravinsky.
In the late 1960s, after studying at Manhattan School of Music, Campbell moved from New York to Los Angeles and began studying pop music. He studied the music of The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, and The Rolling Stones, and he played bluegrass music for crowds in line for movies in Westwood Village.
Career At age 23, Campbell played on his first major album, Tapestry, by Carole King. This led to his first arranger role, for King's Rhymes and Reasons album. Campbell also played viola on recording sessions such as Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" and Bill Withers' "Lean on Me". Since then, he has gone on to arrange songs for such artists as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Dream Theater, Metallica, Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Jessie J, Juanes, Tim McGraw, Adele, Ricky Martin, Barbra Streisand, and Miley Cyrus.
As a composer, David has written music for many films including Joy, Paper Tigers and Colombia: magia salvaje. He has also arranged and orchestrated music for over 80 films including Annie (2014), Foxcatcher (2014), August: Osage County (2013), Rock of Ages (2012), Dreamgirls (2007), North Country (2005), and Brokeback Mountain (2005). In 2010 he worked with Nigel Godrich on the score for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. In 2016, he co-composed the 40-minute ballet Rules of the Game with Pharrell Williams.
David has guest-conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl for Faith Hill, Death Cab for Cutie, Ray LaMontagne, Beck, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, and The xx. He collaborated with Muse for the performance of "Survival", the official song of the London Olympics. He also collaborated with Beck for the Lincoln Motor Company ad campaign, "Hello, Again", which featured a live performance of Beck's "Sound and Vision" cover and included 167 live musicians playing simultaneously. In February 2009 Campbell arranged Radiohead's "15 Step" for the band's collaboration with the USC Marching Band at the 2009 Grammy Awards. He conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as arranged and orchestrated the music for Beck's Song Reader concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, which featured many performers, including Childish Gambino, Juanes, Anne Hathaway, John C. Reilly, Jack Black, and Jarvis Cocker. He arranged and orchestrated for the Seattle Symphony and Pickwick's Sonic Evolution show on 6 June 2014.
In 2003, he served as conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra during their one-night performance with Kiss, which was released on the album Kiss Symphony: Alive IV. During the concert, Campbell and the members of the orchestra wore the iconic Kiss makeup along with the members of the band.
In 2018, for the LA Phil's 100th anniversary celebrations, David wrote arrangements for Chris Martin's and Corinne Bailey Rae's performances at Disney Hall, as well as Katy Perry's and Kali Uchis' performances at the Hollywood Bowl, all of which were conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
In 2019, he wrote arrangements for and conducted the LA Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Orchestra for Iron & Wine's 15th anniversary of Our Endless Numbered Days.
He created the song arrangements, dance arrangements, underscoring and orchestrations for the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
List of album arrangements and singles sources:[ AllMusic]
2024
Joker: Folie à Deux (soundtrack) (big band, orchestra) Lady Gaga – Harlequin (big band, strings and production) Bon Jovi – Forever (Bon Jovi album) (strings) Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft (strings) Green Day – Saviors (strings and horns) Joe Bonamassa – Live at the Hollywood Bowl with Orchestra (orchestra) Andrea Bocelli – Duets (strings)
2023
The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds (strings) Post Malone – Austin (strings) Dave Matthews Band – Walk Around the Moon (strings) Micah McLaurin – Diamonds (Micah McLaurin album) (orchestra)
2022
Burna Boy – Love, Damini (orchestra) Beth Hart – A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (orchestra) Attacca Quartet – Classical Carols Covered Apple Music Neil Diamond – A Neil Diamond Christmas (orchestra and choir) Capital Theatre – "Fait Accompli" (strings) Beach House – Once Twice Melody (strings) Michael Bublé – Higher (strings) Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number 9 (strings) Elton John – The Lockdown Sessions (strings) Pentatonix – Holidays Around the World (strings) Eddie Vedder – Earthling (orchestra) Edgar Winter – Brother Johnny (strings) Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas (strings) Maria Bethânia & Pantanal" (strings) Billy Talent - Crisis of Faith (strings)
2021
Adele – 30 (strings) Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles (orchestra) Diane Warren – The Cave Sessions Vol. 1 (strings) Julia Michaels – Not in Chronological Order (strings) Jessie J – Women to the Front (strings) Kalen Anzai – Kimi to Boku no Uta (strings) Evanescence – The Bitter Truth (strings) Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood – "Shallow" (strings) Mau y Ricky – "Doleria" (strings) Allie Colleen Brooks – Stones (strings) Diane Warren & Laura Pausini – "Io Sì" (strings) Ben Platt – Born This Way 10th Anniversary (strings) Lake Street Dive – "Nobody's Stopping You Now" (strings) Cinderella – Soundtrack (orchestra) Billy Currington – "Words" (strings) Kaleo – Surface Sounds (strings)
2020
Cam – The Otherside (orchestra) Ariana Grande – Positions (strings) Charlie Puth – Free (strings) Laura Pausini – Seen (strings) Kane Brown – John Legend - Last Time I Say Sorry (strings) Tommy Torres – Aprenderemos (strings) Carrie Underwood – My Gift (orchestra) Tim McGraw – Here On Earth (strings) Garth Brooks – Fun (strings) Bon Jovi – 2020 (strings)
2019
Harry Styles – Fine Line (orchestra) Taylor Swift – Beautiful Ghosts (orchestra) Leonard Cohen – Thanks for the Dance (strings) Mark Ronson – Late Night Feelings (strings) Melissa Etheridge – I Know You (strings) Freya Ridings – Freya Ridings (album) (strings) Cage the Elephant – Social Cues (strings) Luis Fonsi – Vida (strings) Tommy Torres – Tres Minutos (strings) Various Artists, Beck – Music Inspired by the Film Roma (strings) Ximena Sariñana – Cobarde (strings) Roger Daltrey – The Who's Tommy Orchestral (orchestra)
2018
Hanson – String Theory (orchestra) Dave Matthews Band – Come Tomorrow Muse – Simulation Theory (brass, strings) Carlos Rivera – Guerra (strings) Lily Allen – No Shame (strings) Barbra Streisand – Walls (strings) Paul McCartney – Egypt Station (choir) Steve Perry – Traces (strings) The Beach Boys – The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (full orchestra) Roy Orbison – Unchained Melodies The 1975 – A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (strings) Sebastián Yatra, Tommy Torres – Atado Entre Tus Manos (single) Tommy Torres – Todo Me Requerda A Ti Tim McGraw – Gravity (strings)
2017
Billy Raffoul – 1975 Evanescence – Synthesis (orchestra) Beck – Colors Pauline Frechette – Follow My Heart Cheng Lin – King of Peace (strings) Café Tacuba – Jei Beibi (strings) Roger Waters – Is This the Life We Really Want? (strings) Tim McGraw – Faith Hill − The Rest of Our Life Antonio José – Tu Boca (strings)
2016
M83 – Junk (orchestra, choir) Dream Theater – The Astonishing (orchestra, choir) Garth Brooks – Gunslinger (strings) Jacqui Hylton – Beautiful KT Tunstall – Kin Lady Antebellum – Heart Break (strings) Luis Fonsi – Ahi Estas Tu Tim McGraw – Faith Hill – Keep Your Eyes on Me Pharrell Williams – Rules of the Game (orchestra)
2015
Alejandro Sanz – Sirope (strings) Of Monsters and Men – Beneath the Skin (brass, strings) Tim McGraw – Damn Country Music (strings) Tommy Torres – Ven (strings) Colombia Magia Salvaje – Soundtrack (orchestra) Joy – Soundtrack (orchestra)
2014
Beck – Morning Phase (strings, brass) Christina Perri – Head or Heart (strings) D.A. Wallach – Glowing (strings, woodwinds, brass) David Bisbal – Tú y Yo (strings) Garth Brooks — Man Against Machine (strings) Jennifer Nettles – That Girl (strings, woodwinds, brass) OK Go – Hungry Ghosts (strings) Rascal Flatts – Rewind (strings) The Griswolds — Be Impressive (strings) Tim McGraw — Sundown Heaven Town (strings) Trisha Yearwood — PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit (strings) U2 — Songs of Innocence (Deluxe Edition)
2013
Avenged Sevenfold – Hail to the King (strings, horns) Biffy Clyro – Opposites (strings, choir, brass, bagpipes) Bon Jovi – What About Now (strings) Christina Perri – A Thousand Years (strings, horns) David Bisbal − Tú y Yo (David Bisbal album) (strings) Dido – Girl Who Got Away (strings) Ghost – Infestissumam (choir, score editor) Jake Bugg – Jake Bugg (strings, choir) Jessie J – Alive (strings) Josh Groban – All That Echoes (strings, brass) Miley Cyrus – Bangerz (strings) Pink – The Truth About Love (strings) Tim McGraw – Two Lanes of Freedom (strings) Tommy Torres – 12 Historias (strings)
2012
Alanis Morissette – Havoc and Bright Lights (woodwinds) Dwight Yoakam – 3 Pears (strings, brass) Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – The Lion the Beast the Beat (strings) Jason Mraz – Love Is a Four Letter Word (strings) King Charles – Loveblood (horns, strings) Marina and the Diamonds – Electra Heart (strings) Muse – The 2nd Law (strings, brass, choir) Rush – Clockwork Angels (strings) Shinedown – Amaryllis (strings) Taylor Swift – Red (strings) The Fray – Scars & Stories (strings)
2011
Adele – 21 (strings) Antonio Carmona – De Noche (strings, woodwinds, horns) Avril Lavigne – Goodbye Lullaby (strings) Christina Perri – Lovestrong (strings, percussion) Demi Lovato – Unbroken (strings) Evanescence – Evanescence (strings) Journey – Greatest Hits 2 Martina McBride – Eleven (strings) Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (orchestra, vocals) Trading Yesterday – More than This (strings) Unicorn – Z (brass, strings) Various artists – Listen to Me: Buddy Holly (strings, percussion) X Japan – "Jade" (orchestration with Yoshiki)
2010
Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment (strings and horns) Adam Lambert – Time for Miracles (strings and horns) Alejandro Sanz – Paraiso Express (strings) Debi Nova – Luna Nueva (strings) Due Voci – Due Voci (strings and horns) Jimmy Eat World – Invented (strings) Meat Loaf – Hang Cool Teddy Bear (strings and percussion) Michael Jackson – Michael (strings) Miranda Cosgrove – Sparks Fly (strings) No Machine – Toast the Toaster (strings) The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St. (strings) Takako Matsu – Time for Music (strings, horns, woodwinds) We Are the Fallen – Tear the World Down (strings)
2009
Ashley Monroe – Satisfied (strings) Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions (strings, brass, woodwinds) Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM (strings) Crash Kings – Crash Kings (strings) Daniel Merriweather – Love & War (strings) Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King (strings) David Cook – David Cook (strings)