Harry Joseph Manfredini (born August 25, 1943) is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, and jazz soloist. He has scored more than one hundred films, including most of the Friday the 13th series. He has had years of classical training, as well as twenty years in the popular music scene.
Early life and education Manfredini was born and raised in Chicago, the son of Italian American parents. As a child, Manfredini took accordion lessons and studied clarinet and saxophone before performing in a local rock band as a teenager.
He received a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University, a Master of Arts degree from Western Illinois University, and a doctorate from Columbia University.
Career Manfredini composed the scores for several films in the late 1970s, including Through the Looking Glass (1976), Here Come the Tigers (1978), and Manny's Orphans (also 1978).
Manfredini is known for composing the scores for Friday the 13th (1980) and most of its sequels: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), Friday the 13th Part III (1982), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985), Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), and Jason X (2001).
Manfredini also scored numerous other horror films, including The Children (1980), Swamp Thing (1982), House (1986), House II: The Second Story (1987), The Horror Show (1989), and House IV (1992).
In addition to film scores, Manfredini composed the music for the children's television adaptations Corduroy (1984) and A Pocket for Corduroy (1986).
In 2017, Manfredini provided the score to Friday the 13th: The Game, a video game based on the Friday the 13th franchise.
In February 2026, it was announced that Manfredini was involved in the scoring of the forthcoming Crystal Lake television series, a prequel to the original Friday the 13th (1980) produced by A24.
Influences In conversation with Russian journalist and composer Tony Vilgotsky, Manfredini said that his musical tastes and style were influenced by such composers as Giacomo Puccini, Igor Stravinsky, Maurice Ravel and others.
Selected credits Film Year Title Notes 1976 Through the Looking Glass 1977 Three Dangerous Ladies 1978 Here Come the Tigers 1978 Manny's Orphans 1979 Night Flowers 1979 Danny 1980 Friday the 13th 1980 1981 Friday the 13th Part 2 1982 Swamp Thing 1982 Friday the 13th Part III 1983 Spring Break 1984 Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter 1985 1985 Friday the 13th: A New Beginning 1985 House 1986 Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives 1986 Slaughter High 1986 A Pocket for Corduroy Television film 1987 House II: The Second Story 1988 Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood Co-composed with Fred Mollin 1988 Cameron's Closet 1989 DeepStar Six 1989 1990 Angel of Death Television film 1992 House IV 1992 Aces: Iron Eagle III 1993 My Boyfriend's Back 1993 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday 1993 Amore! 1997 Wishmaster 1999 1999 Follow Your Heart 2001 Jason X 2002 Terminal Invasion Television film 2002 Wolves of Wall Street 2003 Freddy vs. Jason "Friday the 13th Jason Vocal Effects" ;Main score composed by Graeme Revell 2007 2008 House of Usher 2009 Friday the 13th "Jason Vocal EFX"; Main score composed by Steve Jablonsky 2009 Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith Television film 2012 Snow White: A Deadly Summer 2013 2013 Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th Documentary film 2016 Lake Eerie 2018 2019 Hanukkah 2022 Doubting Tom 2022 Headless Horseman 2023 Midnight Bloodshed 2024 Monster Mash 2024 Solitude 2025 Morgan: Killer Doll
Television Year Title Notes 1984 Corduroy Television short 2026 Crystal Lake
Video games Year Title Notes 2017 Friday the 13th: The Game
Screen appearances Year Title Notes 2009 His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th Documentary film 2013 Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th
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