One hundred years ago on this date, the great composer, conductor, and arranger Henry Mancini was born. Winner of four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, twenty Grammy Awards, and a posthumous Lifetime Grammy Achievement Award, Mancini composed some of the most memorable scores and cinematic songs of the twentieth century—from his Peter Gunn TV theme and his iconic “Pink Panther” theme to his Oscar-winning scores for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Victor/Victoria,” from songs such as “Moon River” and “Days of Wine and Roses” to “Charade” and “Two for the Road.” Countless Mancini songs have made their impact on “My Favorite Songs” list over the years. Today, Turner Classic Movies is running a 24-hour tribute to Mancini that began at 6 am (ET) with “Carol for Another Christmas” (a 1964 TV flick, which features one of my favorite Christmas themes) and will end with “Wait Until Dark” (a 1967 thriller with the Oscar-nominated Audrey Hepburn).
In honor of Mancini the Magnificent, this musical montage …
Song of the Day: A Tribute to Henry Mancini (Medley) [YouTube link], music by Henry Mancini, arranged by Calvin Custer, features the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Konstantin Dimitrov. The medley includes “Baby Elephant Walk” (from the 1962 film “Hatari!”), “Charade” (1963), “The Pink Panther” (1963), “Days of Wine and Roses” (1962), and the Peter Gunn Theme (from the 1959-1961 television series). On the one hundredth anniversary of his birth, we celebrate Mancini’s wonderful musical legacy.
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