One of the many great things about Mannix
was the hip theme song and for that we have
composer Lalo Schifrin to thank

     

 

 

Lalo Schifrin is a pianist, composer and conductor. Born into a musical family, he received classical training in music, and also studied law in his native Argentina. He continued his formal music education at the Paris Conservatory during the 1950's, while simultaneously becoming a professional jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and conductor. Over the past 35 years, Schifrin has composed more than 100 scores for film and television, garnering four Grammy awards, sixteen Grammy nominations, one ACE, and six Oscar nominations. Schifrin has performed in the world's greatest concert halls: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Los Angeles Music Center, the Concertgebouw, Royal Festival Hall, Teatro Colon, Salle Pleyel, and the Champs Elysee Theatre, as well as at all the major jazz festivals in the United States and Europe. In 1958, Schifrin came to the U.S. to be the pianist/arranger for Dizzy Gillespie. As a jazz musician, he has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, and Count Basie. Schifrin was commissioned to write the Grand Finale Concert featuring Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavorotti in Italy celebrating the 1990 Finals of the World Soccer Championship. Schifrin was also engaged for the sequel in July 1994 featuring the Three Tenors and Zubin Mehta at Dodger Stadium. IN addition, he prepared the music for the third Three Tenors Concert, which was held at the World Soccer Cup Finals in July 1998, in Paris, France. Schifrin has arranged the music for two highly acclaimed Christmas programs: "Christmas in Vienna" in 1992 with Diana Ross, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo, and also "A Celebration of Christmas" in 1995 with Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Natalie Cole. Schifrin was featured as pianist and conductor on his series of four "Jazz Meets the Symphony" recordings, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and jazz stars Ray Brown, Grady Tate, Jon Faddis, Paquito D'Rivera and James Morrison. Lalo Schifrin is a recipient of the 1988 MBI Life Achievement Award. He has been honored by the Israel Government for his "Contributions to World Understanding through Music." In 1988, Schifrin received the "Walk of Fame" star by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He was honored at the M.I.D.E.M. Classique Festival in January 1990 at Cannes, France, and he was appointed "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres," one of the highest distictions granted by France's Minister of Culture. Additionally, Lalo has recently received an honorary appointment as cultural advisor to the President of Argentina. This carries along with it the distiguished rank of Secretary of the Cabinet.

Here are some of Mr. Schifrin's many credits

Feature Films

Rush Hour
Something to Believe In (due 1998)
Tango
Money Talks
Mission: Impossible
Sudden Impact
The Competition
The Amityville Horror
Voyage of the Damned
Enter the Dragon
Dirty Harry
Bullitt
Coogan's Bluff
The Fox
Cool Hand Luke
The Cincinnati Kid

Television Themes

Mission: Impossible
Mannix
Medical Center
Dr. Kildare
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Classical and Jazz

Gillespiana Suite for Trumpet and Bass
Canons for String Quartet
The Cat for Jazz Band and Percussion
The Jazz Mass
Symphonic Sketches of Cool Hand Luke
Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra
Pan American Games Overture
La Nouvelle Orleans (For Woodwind and Orchestra)
Dances Concertantes (For Clarinet and Orchestra)
Cantos Aztecas (Opera)
Lili'Uokalani Symphony (Symphony No. 1)