The composer who brought the world the tunes of A Chorus Line has died at the age of 68.

Marvin Hamlisch, who was 68, wrote the scores for a string of musical hits including The Sting and The Goodbye Girl.

He also wrote the title song for the Barbra Streisand film The Way We Were and worked with Woody Allen on two of his films. Born to Viennese Jewish parents in New York, his musical talent was apparent early on and he entered the prestigious Julliard School while still only a young child.

His work earned him three Golden Globes and as many Academy Awards, as well as a Tony award and the Pulitzer Prize. He remains one of just 13 people to have received all four of the major entertainment awards in the US - Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and Tonys.

Before his death he was working on the musical Gotta Dance and preparing to start composing the score for a film about Liberace, which is due to star Matt Damon.

Aretha Franklin, the soul singer for whom he wrote the hit “Break it to me gently”, described him today as “classic and one of a kind”.