# Who are the Great TV Theme composers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242 "2011-04-21T15:31:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/1 "2011-04-21T15:31:27Z")
Now that [Great TV theme songs](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=605281) is headed into a second page of replies, I’m wondering who these days has any rightful claim to the status of “Great TV Theme Composer” to join the ranks of > **[Henry Mancini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Mancini)** > > Henry Mancini (/mænˈsiːni/ man-SEE-nee; born Enrico Nicola Mancini, Italian: \[enˈriːko niˈkɔːla manˈtʃiːni\]; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and twenty Grammy Awards, plus a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. > His works include the theme and soundtrack for the Peter Gunn television series as well ... > **[Mike Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Post)** > > Mike Post (born Leland Michael Postil, September 29, 1944) is an American composer, best known for his television theme music for various shows, including Law & Order; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; The A-Team; The Byrds of Paradise; NYPD Blue; Renegade; The Rockford Files; L.A. Law; Quantum Leap; Magnum, P.I.; and Hill Street Blues. > Post's first credited work in music was cutting demos using two singing sisters, Terry and Carol Fischer. With Sally Gordon, they went on to become The Murmaids... > **[Lalo Schifrin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalo_Schifrin)** > > Boris Claudio "Lalo" Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine pianist, composer, arranger, and conductor. He is best known for his large body of film and TV scores since the 1950s, incorporating jazz and Latin American musical elements alongside traditional orchestrations. He is a five-time Grammy Award winner; he has been nominated for six Academy Awards and four Emmy Awards. > Schifrin's best known compositions include the "Theme from Mission: Impossible", as well as the scores to Cool Han... Let’s not include those composers for movies UNLESS they have a significant footprint in TV shows as well. Adding to the list of great TV music composers of the past is also what this thread is about. People like: > **[Nelson Riddle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_riddle)** > > Nelson Smock Riddle Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. He worked with many vocalists at Capitol Records, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Johnny Mathis, Rosemary Clooney and Keely Smith. He scored and arranged music for many films and television shows, earning an Academy Award and three Grammy Awards. He fou... > **[Billy May](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_May)** > > Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for The Green Hornet (1966), The Mod Squad (1968), Batman (with Batgirl theme, 1967), and Naked City (1960). He collaborated on films such as Pennies from Heaven (1981), and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return, among others. > May wrote arrangements for many top singers, including Frank Sinatra, Yma Sumac, Nat King Cole, Anita O'Day, Peggy Le... ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/2 "2011-04-21T16:23:42Z")
For British TV you have to include [Barry Gray](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Gray) Wrote the themes for: Stingray Thunderbirds Captain Scarlet UFO ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/3 "2011-04-21T16:25:48Z")
Danny Elfman. Possibly better known for movies, but so was Mancini in his time. Resume includes: The Simpsons Desperate Housewives Tales From the Crypt and [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3yMP-j3yK0) ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/4 "2011-04-21T16:29:01Z")
I’d throw in Ron Grainer for Doctor Who alone, though there’s more to his work including the Prisoner (which I don’t remember). > **[Ron Grainer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Grainer)** > > Ronald Erle Grainer (11 August 1922 – 21 February 1981) was an Australian composer who worked for most of his professional career in the United Kingdom. He is mostly remembered for his television and film score music, especially the theme music for Doctor Who, The Prisoner, Steptoe and Son and Tales of the Unexpected. > Ronald Grainer was born on 11 August 1922 in Atherton, Queensland, Australia, the first child of Margaret Clark, an amateur pianist, and Ronald Albert Grainer, a storekeeper and... ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/5 "2011-04-21T16:37:54Z")
Jerry Fielding: _McHale’s Navy, Hogan’s Heroes_ and the less memorable _The Bionic Woman_ Earle Hagen:\* Dick Van Dyke, Gomer Pyle, USMC, That Girl, Eight is Enough, The Mod Squad, I Spy\* ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/6 "2011-04-21T17:15:56Z")
[Dominic Frontiere](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_Frontiere) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/7 "2011-04-21T17:31:10Z")
Mike Post might be the only TV composer to have a [rock song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Zmh-KlYZo) written about him. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/8 "2011-04-21T17:37:53Z")
There’s a big list of Movie composers at [Category:American film score composers - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_film_score_composers) so looking through that for TV credits might help us find other Great ones. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/9 "2011-04-21T17:43:26Z")
Jerry Goldsmith. The two most memorable Star Trek theme songs (TNG\* and Voyager), gives him a nod in my books. \*yes, I know TNG’s theme was originally for a Star Trek movie, but it worked perfectly as a TV theme song for years. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/10 "2011-04-21T17:43:30Z")
Jerry Goldsmith was one of the greatest film score composers, but he also deserves a place here: _Barnaby Jones, The Waltons, Dr. Kildare, The Man from UNCLE, Room 222, Star Trek_ (TNG & Voyager), plus he did amazing work on shows like _The Twilight Zone_ and mini-series like _Masada_. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/11 "2011-04-21T18:48:57Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Jerry Goldsmith was one of the greatest film score composers, but he also deserves a place here: _Barnaby Jones, The Waltons, Dr. Kildare, The Man from UNCLE, Room 222, Star Trek_ (TNG & Voyager), plus he did amazing work on shows like _The Twilight Zone_ and mini-series like _Masada_. Lol, exact same post time. Twinsies! ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/12 "2011-04-21T22:46:06Z")
Frank De Vol wrote themes for The Brady Bunch, My Three Sons, and Family Affair (and scored a lot of movies), plus he was Happy Kyne on Fernwood 2night. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/13 "2011-04-22T06:34:25Z")
Robert Israel wrote the theme songs to the game shows _The Price Is Right_, _Match Game_, _Family Feud_, and _To Tell the Truth_. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/14 "2011-04-22T12:18:41Z")
The OP mentions **Lalo Schifrin** (who gave us the theme to **Mission: Impossible** , among others. That theme alone would justify his inclusion), but I havre to bring him up again. The Wikipedia article mentions that he studied Sociology, but then sort of gives the impression that he dropped it. He didn’t. My mother’s boss (a professor of sociology) knew Schifrin _because of_ his involvement in sociology. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-tv-theme-composers/579242/15 "2011-04-22T20:05:22Z")
I will vote for Mancini, his best IMHO. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OleZDTgEglQ)