Two Theme-Song Composers' Deaths End an Era - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-04-2008, 06:10 PM

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Earle Hagen, Alexander Courage plied a dying craft

Earle Hagen and Alexander Courage, who died days apart last month, were maestros of a musical genre that faded some years before they did. Hagen and Courage composed TV theme music, those signature snippets that sent Pavlovian signals to viewers.

It's fair to say they don't make TV theme composers like them anymore. In fact, it's fair to say they don't make many TV theme composers of any kind anymore. The TV theme song, while not gone, is ailing. Indeed, if TV theme songs had a theme song these days, it would be a single descending pennywhistle note.

Hagen, 88 at the time of his death, wrote some of the most memorable and beloved tunes of no more than a minute in length. He is perhaps best known for his themes to The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show (that's Hagen on the soundtrack, whistling). He also wrote a bunch of the better themes from the 1960s and early '70s — arguably the Golden Years of the form — including those for I Spy, That Girl, Mod Squad and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Courage, also 88, was less prolific, but his name will endure as the author of the Star Trek theme.

TV themes, great and not so, used to abound. At their best (think Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, Fresh Prince of Bel Air), they did more than just worm into your ear and settle there for a lifetime. They introduced characters, established plots, set mood and tone.

"Come listen to a story 'bout a man named Jed ... "

"You're gonna make it after all."

"Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out ... "

" ... where everybody knows your name."

Often, no lyrics were needed. Quincy Jones' musical theme for Sanford and Son magically conjured both a junkyard and the shambling Fred Sanford. Paul Anka's Tonight Show theme was inseparable from late night and Johnny Carson (can you even hum the tune Jay Leno uses?). The Miami Vice theme, set over a pastel-perfect credit sequence, efficiently evoked the '80s decadence to follow. Same with Danny Elfman's nearly 20-year-old theme song for The Simpsons.

TV shows don't do that anymore, or at least they don't do it the way Hagen and Courage and theme-writing legends like Mike Post (Rockford Files, Hill Street Blues, Law & Order, etc.) did it in a quainter, slower era of television.

The last great TV theme, argues Jon Burlingame, the author of TV's Greatest Hits, a history of theme music, was I'll Be There for You, a song written for Friends by Michael Skloff and Allee Willis and performed by the Rembrandts. The theme for the '90s show proved so popular that a full-length version of it made Billboard's charts as a stand-alone single.

Ireneparalegal · 06-04-2008, 06:25 PM

Growing up in the 70's, Lalo Schifrin is the name that always seem to be the one who was behind the music on tv shows/dramas. Is he still alive?

Zoneboy · 06-04-2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Growing up in the 70's, Lalo Schifrin is the name that always seem to be the one who was behind the music on tv shows/dramas. Is he still alive?

He's still alive according to IMDb but that's no guarantee.

Ireneparalegal · 06-04-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

He's still alive according to IMDb but that's no guarantee.

Yeah, I hear ya.

06-04-2008, 06:10 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,381	Two Theme-Song Composers' Deaths End an Era Link Earle Hagen, Alexander Courage plied a dying craft Earle Hagen and Alexander Courage, who died days apart last month, were maestros of a musical genre that faded some years before they did. Hagen and Courage composed TV theme music, those signature snippets that sent Pavlovian signals to viewers. It's fair to say they don't make TV theme composers like them anymore. In fact, it's fair to say they don't make many TV theme composers of any kind anymore. The TV theme song, while not gone, is ailing. Indeed, if TV theme songs had a theme song these days, it would be a single descending pennywhistle note. Hagen, 88 at the time of his death, wrote some of the most memorable and beloved tunes of no more than a minute in length. He is perhaps best known for his themes to The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show (that's Hagen on the soundtrack, whistling). He also wrote a bunch of the better themes from the 1960s and early '70s — arguably the Golden Years of the form — including those for I Spy, That Girl, Mod Squad and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Courage, also 88, was less prolific, but his name will endure as the author of the Star Trek theme. TV themes, great and not so, used to abound. At their best (think Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, Fresh Prince of Bel Air), they did more than just worm into your ear and settle there for a lifetime. They introduced characters, established plots, set mood and tone. "Come listen to a story 'bout a man named Jed ... " "You're gonna make it after all." "Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out ... " " ... where everybody knows your name." Often, no lyrics were needed. Quincy Jones' musical theme for Sanford and Son magically conjured both a junkyard and the shambling Fred Sanford. Paul Anka's Tonight Show theme was inseparable from late night and Johnny Carson (can you even hum the tune Jay Leno uses?). The Miami Vice theme, set over a pastel-perfect credit sequence, efficiently evoked the '80s decadence to follow. Same with Danny Elfman's nearly 20-year-old theme song for The Simpsons. TV shows don't do that anymore, or at least they don't do it the way Hagen and Courage and theme-writing legends like Mike Post (Rockford Files, Hill Street Blues, Law & Order, etc.) did it in a quainter, slower era of television. The last great TV theme, argues Jon Burlingame, the author of TV's Greatest Hits, a history of theme music, was I'll Be There for You, a song written for Friends by Michael Skloff and Allee Willis and performed by the Rembrandts. The theme for the '90s show proved so popular that a full-length version of it made Billboard's charts as a stand-alone single.
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06-04-2008, 06:25 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Growing up in the 70's, Lalo Schifrin is the name that always seem to be the one who was behind the music on tv shows/dramas. Is he still alive?
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