Bond lyricist Don Black talks about the demise of song writing for film

Oscar-winning song writer Don Black, who penned five James Bond songs, talked to AZ Central this week about his career and the state of the industry,

As the writer of such great film songs as "To Sir, With Love," "Born Free" and "Ben," Don Black knows something about music in the movies. That's why he's sad to see that only two songs are nominated for Oscars at this year's Academy Awards.

"The song category has been diminished, there's no question," Black says from his home in London. "You probably have to go to back to 'My Heart Will Go On' from 'Titanic' to find the last winner that most of the public could hum."

Black, who will appear at the Sedona Film Festival, says it's partially due to the way producers now approach using songs in movies.

"The song used to have to be integral," he says. "I think nowadays, that criteria is not there. We used to ask: 'Is the song pertinent to the movie?' I don't think they do that anymore."

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