MENKEN, ALAN

MENKEN, ALAN (1949– ), U.S. composer. Born and raised in New Rochelle, New York, Menken was extremely musical as a child, learning to play the piano, violin, guitar, and accordion. However, it was not until he had graduated from New York University with a liberal arts degree that he decided to pursue a career in music. While attending the Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, Menken first discovered and nurtured his passion for musical theater. As he unsuccessfully attempted to get his first musicals produced, Menken supported himself by writing and singing commercial jingles. His career changed forever when he met lyricist Howard Ashman, with whom he first collaborated on the WPA production of God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1979) and with whom he went on to create the score for the Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. Since his first Oscar nomination for best song for "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space" from the film version of Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Menken has won a series of awards almost too long to count, including Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar Awards. In fact, Menken is tied with legendary costume designer edith head for most Oscar Awards   won – they both have eight. Menken has produced some of his best-known work since the late 1980s, composing the scores for such Disney films as The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and Pocahontas (1995). (Casey Schwartz (2nd ed.)