Monty Norman - The first man of James Bond music

Rumours, myths, innuendoes and Chinese whispers. Monty has had to endure them all. But then, as the old showbiz saying goes: Nobody argues over a flop.

The James Bond Theme was anything but a flop.

Monty has had to go to Court three times to defend his composition. Once because a monthly magazine wrote that he had bought the James Bond Theme from a Jamaican for $100! And twice because a weekly musical paper and a Sunday newspaper respectively said that John Barry wrote the James Bond Theme.

Monty won all three actions. The last libel case ended in the High Court on March 19 2001. The jury returned a unanimous verdict in Monty's favour. Monty was completely vindicated. The world knew once and for all, despite previous myths, innuendoes and Chinese whispers: what Monty and most of the profession had always known: Monty Norman composed the James Bond Theme.

The Sunday Times paid damages and costs.