John Kavanaugh
John Kavanaugh is an American composer, lyricist and musical director who is currently serving as songwriter for Disney Television Animation. He is the recipient of 6 Emmy nominations and was awarded the 2014 Daytime Emmy Award for Sofia The First Main Title theme song with co-lyricist Craig Gerber. In addition to Sofia The First, John is currently working as songwriter and music director on Elena of Avalor.
His songs can also be heard in several hit movies, including Disney's Descendants 3, Winnie The Pooh film Springtime with Roo and Nickelodeon’s Globehunters. He co-wrote the scores to Curious George Live for NBC Universal, Dreams are Universal for Universal Studios Japan, Flintstones: The Musical for Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as numerous songs for Sesame Street Live and Tokyo DisneySea.. With lyricist Marcy Heisler, John wrote the song Joseph's Lullaby for Michael Crawford which appears on his album On Eagle's Wings.
Personal life
John, is the son of Edward Houston Kavanaugh and Eileen Kirby Gunn and is the youngest of six children. He grew up in Norfolk, Virginia and developed his passion for music by watching his mother play the piano and create/direct many variety shows in Norfolk. He graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and began working at Disney World in 1983. He then moved to Los Angeles in 1986 to work for Disneyland where he soon began his composing career writing for theatre and theme parks worldwide.He is currently married to Efren Gonzalez and resides in Los Angeles, California.
Awards
| Year | Award | Song | Category/Award | Shared with | Result |
| 2020 | Daytime Emmy Awards | "Never Leave", "Elena of Avalor: Movin' on Up" | Outstanding Original Song in a Children's, Young Adult or Animated Program | Jeffrey M. Howard and Craig Gerber | Nominated |
| 2019 | Daytime Emmy Awards | "For One And All", "Sofia the First: Forever Royal" | Outstanding Original Song in a Children's or Animated Program | Craig Gerber | Nominated |
| 2019 | Daytime Emmy Awards | "Fallin' Like a Rock", "Elena of Avalor: A Lava Story" | Outstanding Original Song in a Children's or Animated Program | Craig Gerber, Silvia Olivas and Kerri Grant | Nominated |
| 2019 | Annie Awards | Elena of Avalor | Outstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production | Tony Morales, Craig Gerber, Rachel Ruderman and Silvia Olivas | Nominated |
| 2014 | Primetime Emmy Awards | "Merroway Cove", "Sofia the First: The Floating Palace" | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | Craig Gerber | Nominated |
| 2014 | Daytime Emmy Awards | "Sofia the First: Main Title Theme" | Outstanding Original Song - Main Title and Promo | Craig Gerber | Winner |
| 2014 | Daytime Emmy Awards | "I Belong", "Sofia the First: The Princess Test" | Outstanding Original Song | Craig Gerber | Nominated |
| 2014 | Annie Awards | Sofia the First | Outstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production | Kevin Kliesch and Craig Gerber | Nominated |