Alan Menken (b. 1949) is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, most notably, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas, all of which won him at least one Academy Award. Menken has collaborated on several occasions with lyricists including Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz. He has won a total of eight Oscars, more than any other living individual. He has been Oscar-nominated a total of eighteen times.