American composer Marc Shaiman (1959-) began his professional career by dropping out of high school, heading into New York City, and trying to get a job with Bette Midler. After this worked, he spent years working with her, as well as Carl Reiner, Billy Crystal, and others. Shaiman is most known as a film composer, with credits ranging from City Slickers to South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut, from Ghosts of Mississippi to George of the Jungle.