Henry Mancini

• Composer of many unforgettable films

• Winner of multiple awards including Grammys and Oscars

PART I: BIOGRAPHYEarly Life

• Mancini was born April 16, 1924.

• He learned the flute and the piano at 8.

• Graduated high school in 1942.

• Attended Julliard in 1942 to 1943.

EARLY ADULTHOOD/WWII

• Served in WWII from 1943 to 1945.

• After Army discharge, decides upon music industry.

BEGINNINGS OF MUSIC CAREER

• Becomes rehearsal pianist for the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Glenn Miller and his Orchestra

BEGINNINGS CONT’D

• 1952, gets a job with Universal Pictures

• First Oscar nomination for The Glenn Miller Story

• 1958 – leaves Universal

• Scores Peter Gunn, meets Blake Edwards

CAREER IN FILM

• Mancini/Edwards produce about 30 films.

• Notable Blake Edwards film scores: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Days of Wine and Roses, Experiment in Terror, The Pink Panther, The Great Race, The Party, and Victor/Victoria.

MUSIC CAREER CONT’D• Collaboration with Stanley Donen proves successful.

CAREER IN TELEVISION

• In addition to scoring numerous films, he also worked widely in scoring themes for television

• Notable TV scores include: The Thorn Birds, The Shadow Box, Mr. Lucky, NBC News Election Night Coverage, NBC Mystery Movie, Remington Steele, and even the “Viewer Mail” theme for Late Night with David Letterman.

RECORDING ARTIST AND AWARDS

• Recorded over 90 albums.

• 4 Academy Awards, 20 Grammys, and 1 Golden Globe Award.

• Performed and conducted over 50 engagements per year, which amounted to over 600 in his lifetime.

DEATH AND LEGACY

• Mancini dies in 1994 of Pancreatic cancer.

• Many academies, institutes, and scholarships honor his legacy.

• Henry Mancini Arts Academy in Ohio.

PART II: COMPOSITION HISTORY

“Piano and Strings”

Mancini wrote the song for the film The Pink Panther. A continuation of the partnership with Blake Edwards.

“Charade”

Another great film partnership was forged with director Stanley Donen. Charade the film was released in 1963. It starred Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.

“Moon River”

The famous song Audrey Hepburn sings in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

“A Shot in the Dark”

This song appears in the sequel to The Pink Panther, A Shot in the Dark.

“Summer in Gstaad”

This song appeared in the 1975 film The Return of the Pink Panther. It is the fourth Pink Panther film in the series.

“The Shadows of Paris”

The opening song to the film A Shot in the Dark.

“The Inspector Clouseau Theme”

This theme is one that recurs through all of the Pink Panther series, including the cartoons.

PART III: LISTENING GUIDE

“Piano and Strings” 2:37

“Charade” 2:10

“Moonriver” 2:42

“A Shot in the Dark” 2:34

“Summer in Gstaad” 2:02

“The Shadow of Paris” 2:55

“Inspector Clouseau Theme” 2:58

REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mancini, Henry: henrymancini.com

Mancini, Henry: Did They Mention the Music? (Autobiography, with Gene Lees, 1989)

Thomas, Tony: Music for the Movies (1973)