Trivia

Bruce Lee personally chose him to score Enter the Dragon (1973). Upon their lunch meeting, Lee told him that he worked out to the soundtrack from Mission: Impossible (1966).

His song "Tar Sequence", from the music score for Cool Hand Luke (1967), was used for many years as the theme song for local "Eyewitness News" broadcasts on ABC-owned television stations (i.e. WABC-TV in New York City, USA and WLS-TV in Chicago, Illinois, USA). In Australia, it has also been used by the Nine Network for many years as the theme for National Nine News, now known as Nine News, and has more recently been used by regional networks affiliated with Nine, such as WIN Television, as the theme for their local news broadcasts.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on June 21, 1988.

Has composed a large number of concert works for chamber ensembles and orchestras which are published by MMB Music, Inc. (of St. Louis, Missouri).

Composed the 1970 Paramount TV jingle. This was used from the fall of 1970 to the fall of 1976, and from the fall of 1978 until the fall of 1987.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994.

Received the Film Music Society's career achievement award. (2000)

At age 20, he successfully applied for a scholarship to the Conservatoire de Paris. At night, he played jazz in the Paris clubs.

Has three children, William, Ryan and Frances.

In 1956, he met Dizzy Gillespie and offered to write an extended work for Gillespie's big band. He completed the work, Gillespiana, in 1958, which was recorded in 1960.

In 1955 he represented Argentina at the International Jazz Festival in Paris.

In 1955 he played piano with Argentine bandoneon giant Ástor Piazzolla.

Became a U.S. resident in 1963 and then a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1969.

On 26 May 1963 he recorded an album, Buenos Aires Blues, with Duke Ellington's alto saxophonist, Johnny Hodges. He wrote two compositions for the album; Dreary Blues and the title track B. A. Blues.

In 1958 he began working as an arranger for Xavier Cugat's popular Latin dance orchestra.

Father Luis was concertmaster of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires, mother Clara was a homemaker.

In 1960 he joined Dizzy Gillespie's quintet.

Began taking piano lessons when he was 6 years old.

Received an honorary Oscar in November 2018 in recognition of his successful career.

Studied sociology and law at the University of Buenos Aires.

From 1960 until 1963, when he moved to Hollywood, he lived at The Imperial, 103-11 68th Drive in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.