Sad news out of Hollywood today, as acclaimed composer, arranger and jazz trumpeter, Neal Hefti, passed away on Saturday from "undetermined causes." He was 85-years-old.
While Hefti's work could be heard on such classic television shows as "The Odd Couple" and films including "Barefoot in the Park," comic fans know him best as the composer behind the iconic theme to the '60s "Batman" TV series, for which he won a Grammy Award.
The New York Times has an extensive story up, chronicling Hefti's career, which notes that, in addition to his film and television work, Hefti also worked with such notable talent as Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Mel Tormé and Tony Bennett.
In a telephone interview with his son, Paul, he recalls the evolution of the classic theme song to "Batman."
“He told me he tore up more paper on ‘Batman’ than on any other work he ever did,” Paul Hefti said in the Times piece. “He had to find something that worked with the lowest common denominator, so it would appeal to kids, yet wouldn’t sound stupid. What he came up with was a 12-bar blues with a guitar hook and one word.”
Sad to hear the news? Are you a fan of the 1960's "Batman" television show? Got that theme song stuck in your head like we do?
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