Born in New York City. After a notable career as a professional trumpet player, performing with symphonies and jazz and rock ensembles from the age of 12, and recording and touring with top pop performers such as the Beach Boys, Isham turned to film scoring, composing his first score for NEVER CRY WOLF in 1983. Since writing the music for TROUBLE IN MIND (1985), he has become a favorite Alan Rudolph composer, winning a Los Angeles Film Critics award for his score for Rudolph's THE MODERNS (1988), and collaborating with the director on MADE IN HEAVEN (1987), LOVE AT LARGE (1990), MORTAL THOUGHTS (1991), and MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE (1994). A prolific composer of over 100 scores for film and television, Isham also wrote the scores for, among others, MRS. SOFFEL (1984), REVERSAL OF FORTUNE (1990), LITTLE MAN TATE and BILLY BATHGATE (both 1991), COOL WORLD (1992), ROMEO IS BLEEDING and SHORT CUTS (both 1993), THE GETAWAY, QUIZ SHOW, TIMECOP and NELL (all 1994), THE NET and HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (both 1995), FLY AWAY HOME (1996), AFTERGLOW, KISS THE GIRLS and THE EDUCATION OF LITTLE TREE (all 1997), BLADE (1998), AT FIRST SIGHT, VARSITY BLUES and OCTOBER SKY (all 1999), RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, MEN OF HONOR and WHAT WOMEN WANT (all 2000), LIFE AS A HOUSE and THE MAJESTIC (both 2001), IMPOSTOR and MOONLIGHT MILE (both 2002), THE COOLER and HIGHWAYMEN (both 2003), SPARTAN, MIRACLE, TWISTED and CRASH (all 2004), RACING STRIPES, KICKING & SCREAMING and IN HER SHOES (all 2005), EIGHT BELOW, THE BLACK DAHLIA, INVINCIBLE and BOBBY (all 2006), FREEDOM WRITERS, GRACIE, NEXT, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH, RESERVATION ROAD, LIONS FOR LAMBS and THE MIST (all 2007), and PRIDE AND GLORY (scheduled for 2008).  Nominated for Achievement in Music - Original Score 1992: A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT 1 nomination