Randall Stuart Newman (born 28th November 1943) is an American songwriter, arranger, singer and pianist who is notable for his mordant pop songs and for his many film scores.
Newman is noted as a lyricist of considerable sophistication. He often writes songs from unusual perspectives, often utilizing an unreliable narrator. His many place-name songs, which are often archetypal examples of ambivalent Americana, include “I Love L.A.”, “Baltimore”, “Louisiana 1927”, and “Dayton, Ohio – 1903”.
His first major hit was the song entitled “Short People”, wherein he was thought to have complained about midgets, but is actually complaining metaphorically about racists and bigots. “Short People” was also Newman’s highest-rated hit ever. Newman’s deceptively simple songs mask complex craftsmanship, and he is a skilled arranger.
His film scores include “Ragtime” and “The Natural”, and he scored the first four Disney-Pixar films.