Educated at University of California.Started career writing pop songs.Cousin of composers Thomas Newman , Joey Newman , Maria Newman and David NewmanNephew of composers Alfred Newman , Emil Newman and Lionel NewmanSon of 'Irving Newman', a Hollywood physician and occasional songwriter.Suffered from Epstein-Barr Syndrome 1987-89.Born in New Orleans in Louisiana, but grew up in Los Angeles from an early age.On February 12, 2002, he broke the all-time record for most Oscar nominations without any wins (the previous record was 15; Newman got two nominations for Monsters, Inc. (2001) and made it to 16). (This record has been surpassed. As of March 2011, sound re-recording mixer Kevin O'Connell has 20 nominations but not a single Oscar.).In March of 2002, Newman finally won his first Academy Award for writing the Best Song in Monsters, Inc. (2001). In his acceptance speech, he thanked the music branch of the academy for giving him all those chances "to be humiliated."Beside being a composer of film music and pop/rock songs, Newman is also is a singer and piano player. Many popular musicians made his songs more famous by doing their own versions: Joe Cocker sang "Guilty", Tom Jones sang "You Can Leave Your Hat On", Three Dog Night covered "Mama Told me Not to Come", etc.As a teenager, he was invited by a girl to a country club cotillion, but was subsequently asked not to come by the girl's father, who told him that no Jews were allowed. After hanging up the phone, Newman had to go and ask his father what a Jew was.Mentioned in the song "Life Is a Rock But the Radio Rolled Me" by Reunion.His song "I Love L.A." is played by the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium after every home game victory. It was also played after the Dodgers lost in the final 2004 Playoff game against the Saint Louis Cardinals, prompting many of the Dodger fans who remained in the park to sing along while a year's worth of highlights were shown.Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.ABC-TV's promo jingle "You'll Love It!" used during the 1985-1986 season, was derived from his song "I Love L.A.".His 1958 junior-high graduation photo (from Paul Revere Junior High School in Brentwood, California) may be viewed at http://www.unihiw61.com/html/revere58.html.