I knew him, but actually first from The Mission (amazing score). I'm not surprised though that most do not. How many people actually pay attention to the composer of the score? John Williams is the only one that I think most people would know; maybe Howard Shore now too.
I remember Bernstein and I even remember Cole Porter. If we older quiz takers are expected to know 50 Cent and Eminem to be considered "well rounded" maybe it would only be fair if younger generations also needed to know some of the more "classic" composer, authors, and performers. Just sayin'.
I'm not completely sure about the US but Ennio Morricone is probably closer to being a household name in Europe, where some of his melodies are as prevelant in culture as the most famous classical music pieces. It also helps that Westerns are first and foremost identified with Sergio Leone while it appears that in America, "spaghetti westerns" are still just the less important bastard children of John Wayne/John Ford.
The so called spaghetti westerns ( Leone) are far superior to any John Wayne western ( apart from the Searchers) and Morricones soundtrack's are brilliant.
Remember: There were 100's of Spaghetti Westerns that weren't by Sergio Leone and the vast majority of them are terrible. Leone's films are classics largely BECAUSE they broke the mold and wound up being so much better than the average Spaghetti Western.
Also, with all respect to The Searchers and its lauded reputation, I would personally rank The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Stagecoach above it.
Quite disappointed to realise I had no idea who composed the LotR soundtrack considering how amazing it is and how much I love everything Tolkien-related.
Was running out of time and thought surely Michael Jackson might be on this list. Well Jackson got me one more answer - Get Rich or Die Trying? Never heard of it :-)
Also, with all respect to The Searchers and its lauded reputation, I would personally rank The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Stagecoach above it.