Ennio Morricone is an Italian composer and conductor known for his iconic soundtrack work in hundreds of films. Starting with his career as the musical director of a radio drama in the 1950s, he has become one of the best-known and most respected composers in the world. He is known for composing commercially successful soundtracks ranging from the sixties Spaghetti Westerns, to the Mission Impossible film series in the 2000s. His work has earned him two Academy Awards, three Grammy Awards, and seven Golden Globe Awards admissions. He has been working in the fields of classical, jazz, folk and electronic music, and also wrote popular songs for films and artists. His music is widely respected and cherished by film fans from all over the world, and he is often considered a pioneer of modern film music.