Daniel Licht
Daniel Licht was born on the 13th of March 1957 in suburban Detroit. He began playing music at the age of eight with his first instrument being the clarinet. Four years later he took up the guitar and started performing in small jazz ensembles at local clubs while still in high school. His early education included attendance at the Roeper School and summer sessions at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating from Hampshire College in Massachusetts with a degree in composition, jazz and world music, he moved to New York City. There he established himself within the Lower East Side music scene before traveling to Germany and Northern Europe to compose for theatre and dance companies.
A former classmate named Christopher Young suggested that Licht move to Los Angeles to pursue film scoring. This advice led him away from European theatre work toward American cinema production. His first major project arrived in 1991 as the feature film Children of the Night. That specific score earned him his first soundtrack CD release and marked his entry into professional horror soundtracks. The following year brought additional films including Final Embrace and Amityville: It's About Time. By 1992 he had completed scores for Severed Ties and Inside Out III alongside other genre projects like Hellraiser: Bloodline and Thinner.
Licht scored all seasons of the Showtime TV drama series Dexter between 2006 and 2013. He considered this television show one of his more visible projects yet remained reluctant to call it his big break. His nephew Jon assisted him with the work on Dexter throughout its seven-season run. The score became a defining element of the series identity over its long broadcast history. Licht continued composing for the show until its conclusion while maintaining his reputation within the industry. The music created an atmosphere that matched the dark tone of the crime drama perfectly.
In 2012 Licht took over from Akira Yamaoka as the main composer of the Silent Hill video game series. He retained this position until 2015 when Konami decided to shift away from the home console video game industry. During this period he also composed the soundtrack for all three games in the Dishonored series starting in 2012. His work included titles such as Silent Hill: Downpour and Dishonored which released in the same year. The third Dishonored game titled Death of the Outsider came out in 2017 shortly after his death.
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Common questions
When was Daniel Licht born and where did he grow up?
Daniel Licht was born on the 13th of March 1957 in suburban Detroit. He began playing music at the age of eight with his first instrument being the clarinet.
What education did Daniel Licht receive before moving to New York City?
Daniel Licht attended the Roeper School and summer sessions at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He graduated from Hampshire College in Massachusetts with a degree in composition, jazz and world music.
Which film gave Daniel Licht his first professional horror soundtrack release?
The feature film Children of the Night released in 1991 earned Daniel Licht his first major project and first soundtrack CD release. This score marked his entry into professional horror soundtracks.
How long did Daniel Licht compose for the TV series Dexter?
Daniel Licht scored all seasons of the Showtime TV drama series Dexter between 2006 and 2013. His nephew Jon assisted him with the work on Dexter throughout its seven-season run.
When did Daniel Licht take over as composer for the Silent Hill video game series?
In 2012 Daniel Licht took over from Akira Yamaoka as the main composer of the Silent Hill video game series. He retained this position until 2015 when Konami decided to shift away from the home console video game industry.