Born November 28, 1943, Randy Newman has become well-known for his Americana-influenced songs and his distinctive Southern singing style. Newman would begin his career at the young age of 17 writing for artists like the Fleetwoods and Gene Pitney. In 1968, with the release of his album Randy Newman, he would make his debut as a solo artist and, in the 1980s, would make the shift to working as a film composer.