Jon Burlingame The Academy music branch made Oscar history yesterday by nominating two films with Black composers for best original score: “Soul” and “Da 5 Bloods.”Prior to this, in the 86-year history of the category, only six films featuring Black composers were even nominated: “In Cold Blood,” “Shaft,” “The Color Purple,” “Round Midnight,” “Cry Freedom” and “BlacKkKlansman.”Herbie Hancock remains the only African-American composer to win in this category, for his jazz-filled “Round Midnight” score in 1986.
Terence Blanchard, composer of “Da 5 Bloods,” becomes only the second Black composer to be nominated twice (his “BlacKkKlansman” was nominated in 2018, duplicating Quincy Jones’ feat from 1967’s “In Cold Blood” and 1985’s “The Color.
Read more on variety.com