Grant Kirkhope (born 10 July 1962) is a Scottish composer and voice actor for video games and film. Some of his notable works include GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and Perfect Dark, among many others. He has won an Ivor Novello Award for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and a World Soundtrack Award for The King's Daughter, as well as being nominated for BAFTA, ASCAP, and IFMCA awards. He has also provided the voice for the character Donkey Kong in many of his game appearances.
Early life and education Kirkhope was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, where his mother, Margaret Kirkhope, worked as a music hall dancer. Kirkhope's father, Alexander Kirkhope, was works manager of Redpath Brown steel works and was an avid music fan and exposed him to early influences such as Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller. Kirkhope taught himself to play guitar at age 11 and is classically trained in the trumpet. Kirkhope was brought up in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire from the age of five, and attended King James's School. Kirkhope played in various bands after leaving the Royal Northern College of Music, including Zoot and the Roots along with the saxophonist Snake Davis. Kirkhope also spent many years as part of "the Big Bad Horns" which were part of UK rock band Little Angels. Kirkhope joined Rare in October 1995, he played for two bands called Syar and Maineeaxe where he played the guitar and already knew Robin Beanland, another Rare composer.
Career
Kirkhope is an Ivor Novello Awards and World Soundtrack Awards winning, BAFTA, ASCAP and IFMCA-nominated composer who has created the soundtrack for various video games. Kirkhope's score for Viva Piñata was nominated by BAFTA in the Original Score category in its 2007 awards.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was nominated for Best Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media by the International Film Music Critics Association and in the Cue Awards 2012 for Best Overall Score, Best Video Game Score and Grant was also nominated for Best Break Out Composer.
Kirkhope was nominated in the 2015 ASCAP Composer’s Choice Awards for his work on “Civilization: Beyond Earth” and also won the Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media 2015 from the International Film Music Critics Association for the same score. Civilization: Beyond Earth also won Best Score: Video Game at the Cue Awards 2015. He was nominated in the 2016 ASCAP Composer’s Choice Awards for his work on Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide and was also nominated for Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media 2016 from the International Film Music Critics Association for the same score. Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide was also nominated for Best Score: Video Game at the Cue Awards 2016.
He won the award for Best Score at the Silicon Beach Film Festival for the score to the feature film Shadows directed by Michael Matteo Rossi in 2020. The score to the animated short The Wrong Rock was nominated for Original Score - Short Film (animation) at the Hollywood Media in Music Awards in 2021. The score to the feature film The King's Daughter won the People's Vote Award at the World Soundtrack Awards in 2022. The score for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope was nominated for Score - Video Game and the score for 'The King's Daughter was nominated for Score - Fantasy Film at the Hollywood Music and Media Awards in 2022.
Kirkhope won an Ivor Novello Award for his score for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope in 2023 and was nominated for Best Video Game Score at the World Soundtrack Awards for the same score in 2023.
Kirkhope was also involved in casting the voice actors for the Viva Piñata cartoon.
Personal life Kirkhope moved to the United States in 2008 to work on Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and became a naturalized United States citizen in March 2017. As of 2012, he and his family reside in southern California.
Work Video games Year Title Notes1996 Killer Instinct 2/Gold Performed live guitar and trumpet Donkey Kong Land 2 Conversion of David Wise's Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest soundtrack1997 GoldenEye 007 With Graeme Norgate and Robin BeanlandBlast CorpsPerformed live guitar1998 Banjo-Kazooie 1999 Donkey Kong 64 2000 Banjo-Tooie Perfect Dark With Graeme Norgate and David Clynick2002 Star Fox Adventures Performed live guitar2003 Grabbed by the Ghoulies 2005Conker: Live and ReloadedPerformed live guitar2006 Viva Piñata With Steve Burke2008 Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise With Steve Burke Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts With Robin Beanland and David Clynick2012 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning With Mark Cromer Fart Cat! CityVille 22013 Desktop Dungeons With Danny Baranowsky Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse Remake of the original game's soundtrack by Shigenori Kamiya, along with original compositions2014 Puzzle Charms Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z The Enchanted Cave 2 Civilization: Beyond Earth With Geoff Knorr, Michael Curran and Griffin Cohen2015 Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide With Geoff Knorr and Griffin CohenCrypt of the NecroDancerSpecial thanksRare ReplaySpecial thanks2016 Ghostbusters 2017 Dropzone Also scored Donkey Kong Adventure DLC Yooka-Laylee With David Wise and Steve Burke A Hat in Time Guest composer Tangledeep2019 Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair With David Wise, Dan Murdoch and Matt Griffin Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Guest composer, "Spiral Mountain" arrangement Interstellar Space: Genesis With Ryan McQuinnCadence of HyruleSpecial thanks2020World of Warcraft: ShadowlandsWith Neal Acree, David Arkenstone, Jason Hayes, Glenn Stafford and Jake LefkowitzKingdoms of Amalur: Re-ReckoningWith Mark Cromer2021Minecraft Dungeons: Hidden DepthsWith Peter Hont and Rostislav Trifonov2022Mario + Rabbids Sparks of HopeWith Gareth Coker and Yoko Shimomura2024 HorrorValeGuest composer, "HorrorVale Theme"Street Fighter 6Guest composer, "Annihilation"2025 Star RacerYooka-ReplayleeWith Dan Murdoch and Matt Griffin2026Rayman Legends RetoldWith Christophe Héral TBA Bradley the Badger Lobodestroyo Guest composer Poglings Guest composerCancelled Project Dream With David Wise
Film
Year Title Notes2015We Sit. We Drink. No Guns.Short film2017Mulva Lends a HandHow to Apply for a Sexual PositionHeavy FlowKiller Charm2018Roadmap JerusalemHammer Jackson The Wrong Rock2021The HandlerBringing Back Goldeneye2022ShadowsThe King's DaughterWith John Coda and Joseph Metcalfe 2023 The Super Mario Bros. Movie Composer of the DK Rap from Donkey Kong 64 (uncredited)TBA
Web Pilots YearTitle Notes 2026 Gameoverse Composer; with Jake Kaufman
Voice acting Year Title Role(s)Notes1998Banjo-KazooieMumbo Jumbo, Jinjo, The Jinjonator, Gravestone, Flower Pot, Gruntling1999Donkey Kong 64Donkey Kong2000Banjo-TooieMumbo Jumbo, Jamjars, King Jingaling, Jinjo2003Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's RevengeMumbo Jumbo, JinjoArchive soundGrabbed by the GhouliesCursed Mummy, Zombie PiratesDonkey Kong Country GBADonkey KongArchive soundDonkey KongaMario Golf: Toadstool TourMario Kart: Double Dash2004Mario vs. Donkey KongDonkey Kong Country 2 GBA2005Banjo-PilotMumbo Jumbo, Jinjo, King JingalingDonkey Kong Jungle FeverDonkey KongMario Kart Arcade GPDonkey Kong Country 3 GBA2006Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the MinisDonkey Kong Banana KingdomViva PiñataBarkbark, Cocoadile, Elephanilla, Rashberry2007Mario Kart Arcade GP 2Donkey KongArchive sound2008Viva Piñata: Trouble in ParadiseBarkbark, Cocoadile, Elephanilla, RashberryBanjo-Kazooie: Nuts & BoltsJamjarsArchive sound2009Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!Donkey KongArchive sound2010Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!2013Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the MoveMario Kart Arcade GP DX2017Macbat 64 MonkeyYooka-LayleeCrazy Kirkhope2019Super Smash Bros. UltimateMumbo Jumbo, JinjoArchive sound2021Terrain of Magical ExpertiseCaptain Gast
References
External links