Fred Steiner dies at 88; Hollywood composer created 'Perry Mason' theme

[Lionel Mandrake]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Television and film music composer Fred Steiner, creator of the bold and gritty theme for the "Perry Mason" TV series and one of the composers of the Oscar-nominated score for "The Color Purple," has died. He was 88.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-fred-steiner-20110625,0,7265403.story

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If you watched TV in the 1960s, you probably heard this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68XL74fMgF4

[TexasProgresive]

1. That show was so loved by members of my family that events were scheduled

around it. "Oh no, we can't do (fill in the blank) Perry's on!"

[Lionel Mandrake]

7. My family, likewise.

It started with the books by Erle Stanley Gardner titled The Case of the ... and featuring Perry Mason.



My parents had bought all these books, and I read them as a teenager.

Much later, my wife and I watched the TV series.

Raymond Burr was perfect as Perry Mason. IMO that was his best work as an actor, although he was also good as the bad guy in Rear Window.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I never heard the entire theme before.

It's very cool.

[NBachers]

5. No, me neither. I was just familiar with the TV intro part

This is the music that should follow me as I walk through San Francisco's Dashiell Hammett neighborhoods on wet, foggy nights. The night streets glisten; the building lights & outlines disappear up into the mist.

[Lionel Mandrake]

9. Your post reminds me of a poem by Hermann Hesse

Im Nebel - Hermann Hesse

Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!
Einsam ist jeder Busch und Stein,
Kein Baum sieht den anderen,
Jeder ist allein.

Voll von Freunden war mir die Welt,
Als noch mein Leben Licht war,
Nun, da der Nebel fällt,
Ist keiner mehr sichtbar.

Wahrlich, keiner ist weise,
Der nicht das Dunkle kennt,
Das unentrinnbar und leise
Von allen ihn trennt.

Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!
Leben ist Einsamsein.
Kein Mensch kennt den anderen,
Jeder ist allein.


In a fog - Herman Hesse

It is strange to walk in the fog!
Alone, every bush and stone,
No tree can see the other,
Everyone is alone.

Full of friends was the world to me
As yet my life was the light,
Now that the mist falls
Is there no longer visible.

Truly, no one is wise,
The darkness is not known,
The inescapable and quietly
Separates him from all.

It is strange to walk in the fog!
Life is loneliness.
No man knows the other,
Everyone is alone.

[grasswire]

3. thank you for that news

I ought to know more about composers of the songs of our lives.

Just the other night I learned that Barry Manilow composed some of the great advertising jingles, including "You Deserve a Break Today" and "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there."

[Lionel Mandrake]

8. I only know advertising jingles from the 1950s.

I was subjected to them in my parents' house.

In the 60s I made a device to turn off the sound during commercials. Later, I got in the habit of recording TV shows and fast forwarding through the commercials when I played them back. The result is that I haven't heard the more recent jingles.

[Auggie]

4. He also composed the main theme for The Bullwinkle Show

Wow... major iconic TV themes

[Jack Rabbit]

6. RIP: Musical Interlude

Pleas click here.

[checks-n-balances]

10. I didn't realize he was father of singer-songwriter Wendy Waldman

The man had enormous talent and, according to the obituary, must have been wonderful to have known personally.

[RepublicanElephant]

11. great composer.

if you get a chance, listen to the wonderful music he did for the movie Time Limit.