Shirley Walker was born in California where her musical education was assisted by a piano scolarship, and followed by further study in both Piano and Composition. She performed at various gigs around the San Francisco area as a soloist or with jazz bands. She played piano with orchestras in the area, before gravitating towards film work. Her apprenticeship in film music included working as orchestrator and conductor, working with a substantial list of established film composers such as Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, Brad Fiedel, Mark Snow and Carter Burwell. This led to occasional billing as co-composer before achieving full billing as composer on a number of films through the 90s until beyond. Throughout this period, Walker was also providing music for a large number of television productions including episodes of "Cagney and Lacey", "Falcon Crest" and "Knott's Landing". It is within television that some of her most memorable music is associated, particular on genre shows such as "Flash" and "The Others" and particularly the animated superhero series for Batman and Superman. Again there is an association with Danny Elfman on the Batman animated series, where she incorporated the theme from his original movie.
Sadly Shirley Walker died of a brain aneurism on November 29th 2006.
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