Norman’s most famous work was created as part of the score for the first Bond film, Dr No, released in 1962, and starring Sean Connery in the title role. Norman said he based the signature catchphrase, which first appeared as part of a medley during the film’s opening, on an earlier track called Good Sign, Bad Sign, which he created for a musical adaptation of A House for Mr VS Naipul’s Biswas. A jazz arrangement by John Barry for the film led to Barry often being misidentified by the composer. Norman went to court, winning a libel suit against the Sunday Times in 2001, to defend his faith. Norman, born Monty Noserovitch in 1928, grew up the son of Jewish immigrants in London’s East End and became the lead singer for many popular big bands in the 1950s and early 60s. He dabbled in songwriting for musicals in the late 50s, contributing lyrics to Make Me an Offer (a West End musical version of Irma la Douce) and both music and lyrics to Wolf Mankowitz’s Expresso Bongo. He also worked on the musical Belle in 1961, about the infamous Crippen murders, which led to him being asked by Bond producer “Cubby” Broccoli to provide the score for Dr No. 1976 Dickens of London TV series. Norman also returned to musicals, most notably Songbook in 1979, about a fictional Liverpool songwriter called Mooney Shapiro who makes it on Broadway before returning to Britain in time for the 60s. Norman was the first husband of actress Diana Copeland, known for the 70s sitcom Bless This House, who died in 2006.
