Back in the ‘70s, Randy Newman was a smart-ass singer-songwriter who skewered rednecks, politicians, and short people. But during the past couple of decades, he’s become one of Hollywood’s most reliable soundtrack composers. (The movie business comes naturally to Newman — his uncles Alfred and Lionel are Oscar-winning composers.) Newman has been nominated for an astounding 17 Academy Awards; at next week’s ceremony, he’ll try to snag his second win, for Cars’ “Our Town.” Newman is in Akron today, performing a Silver Screen Sunday program with the University of Akron School of Music’s Symphonic Band and Orchestra. Expect to hear such movie faves as “I Love to See You Smile” (from Parenthood), Toy Story 2’s weeper “When She Loved Me,” and “If I Didn’t Have You” from Monsters, Inc., which netted Newman an Oscar in 2002.
Thu., April 26, 7:30 p.m.

This article appears in Feb 14-20, 2007.