Hans Hugo Harold Faltermeyer born 5 October [ 1 ] is a German musician, composer and record producer. Faltermeyer is best known for composing the " Axel F " [ 2 ] theme for the feature film Beverly Hills Cop , an influential synth-pop hit in the s. At 11, a Nuremberg music professor discovered that Faltermeyer had absolute pitch.
His boyhood years combined training in classical music with a developing interest in rock 'n' roll. He played organ in a rock combo and studied trumpet and piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.
While still studying he found work at a recording studio. Within three years he was engineering major classical sessions for the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label. Then in , Giorgio Moroder recognized his talent and brought him to Los Angeles to play keyboards and arrange the soundtrack for the film Midnight Express.
Moroder and Faltermeyer continued their collaboration in the next decade, [ 4 ] producing Donna Summer albums and several hits for various artists. Soon Faltermeyer was earning an international reputation for both precise workmanship and trendsetting creativity in his use of synthesizer technology.
Alongside a busy schedule as a record producer, he became increasingly involved in soundtrack work on Moroder's scores Midnight Express , American Gigolo and Foxes and was soon hired as composer in his own rightβusually composing, performing and producing the complete score as well as a number of pop songs penned for various artists.
