TRIBUTES to John Barry poured in from around the world, as musicians, friends and peers remembered a “life to be celebrated”.

Mr Barry, who died of a heart attack, was renowned for creating some of the most memorable film soundtracks of the past five decades, including several classic James Bond themes.

A statement released by his family said: “It is with great sadness that the family of composer John Barry announce his passing on the 30th of January, 2011, in New York.”

He is survived by Laurie, his wife of 33 years, and his four children and five grandchildren.

Sir Tim Rice, who co-wrote All Time High, the theme to Octopussy, with Mr Barry, called him a “magnificent figure” and said: “He was a very pleasant man and very well-spoken with a slight Yorkshire tinge to his voice which he never lost.

“He was able to catch the mood of a scene or a whole film by the genius of orchestration with fairly conventional instruments.”

Composer David Arnold, who took over Bond duties from Mr Barry, said on Twitter: “I am profoundly saddened by the news, but profoundly thankful for everything he did for music and for me personally.”

York singer Steve Cassidy, a friend of the Oscar-winning composer since they recorded together in London in the 1960s, said: “Even when he was a young guy leading an orchestra of 200 people – many of them older than him – they all had respect for him because he was a young man going places,” he said.