Conti 's big break into celebrity came in 1976 , when he was hired to compose the music for a small United Artists film called '' Rocky '' . The film became a phenomenon and won three Oscars at the 49th Academy Awards , including Best Picture . The same ceremony was also the first time Conti was musical director for the Academy Awards , a role he reprised 18 times subsequently , more than anybody else . His training montage tune , " Gon na Fly Now " , topped the Billboard singles chart in 1977 , and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song
49th Academy Awards
49th Academy Awards
Bill Conti