After completing studies at NYU and with Lehman Engel, Menken was chosen by experienced playwright Ashman (The Confirmation, Dreamstuff) to collaborate with him on the stage musical of Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1978). It was not, however, until their off-Broadway success, a revamping of the 1960 Roger Corman cult film, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, opened in 1982 that the duo received the popular and critical plaudits that their light, playful, witty compositions deserved.
Menken (the primary composer of the team) and Ashman (chief lyricist) later adapted their song score for the 1986 film version of HORRORS before beginning their successful association with Disney. Highlights include the Oscar®-winning, calypso-flavored "Under the Sea," sung by a Jamaican crab in MERMAID, and "Be Our Guest," performed by a troop of animated household items in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. After Ashman's death from AIDS complications in 1991, Menken continued working on Disney features with other lyricists.
His has also written songs and music for THE LINE (1980), ROCKY V (1990), NEWSIES (1992), ALADDIN and HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (both 1992), LIFE WITH MIKEY (1993), POCAHONTAS (1995), THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1996), HERCULES (1997), THE MAGIC LAMP 3D (2001), HOME ON THE RANGE, NOEL and "A Christmas Carol" (all 2004), THE SHAGGY DOG (2006), ENCHANTED (2007), and several Disney direct-to-video releases.
As of this writing (2003), Menken has won 8 Academy Awards, more than any other living person.
Nominated for Music Best Song 1986: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space" - Music
Best Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1989: THE LITTLE MERMAID "Under the Sea" - Music
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1989: THE LITTLE MERMAID "Kiss the Girl" - Music
Best Achievement in Music (Original Score) 1989: THE LITTLE MERMAID
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1991: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST "Belle" - Music
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1991: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST "Be Our Guest" - Music
Best Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1991: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST "Beauty and the Beast" - Music
Best Achievement in Music (Original Score) 1991: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1992: ALADDIN "Friend Like Me" - Music
Best Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1992: ALADDIN "Whole New World" - Music
Best Achievement in Music (Original Score) 1992: ALADDIN
Best Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1995: POCAHONTAS "Colors of the Wind" - Music
Best Achievement in Music (Original Score) 1995: POCAHONTAS
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Musical or Comedy Score) 1996: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1997: HERCULES "Go the Distance" - Music
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 2007: ENCHANTED "Happy Work Song" - Music
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 2007: ENCHANTED "So Close" - Music
Nominated for Achievement in Music (Original Song) 2007: ENCHANTED "That's How You Know Him" - Music
18 nominations, 8 Awards