Friend emailed me this news:
Neal Hefti, Composer of 'Batman' Theme, Dies
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 15, 2008
Filed at 12:04 a.m. ET
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Neal Hefti, a Big Band trumpeter, arranger and composer of themes for the movie ''The Odd Couple'' and the ''Batman'' television series, has died. He was 85.
Hefti died Saturday at his home, said his son Paul Hefti. Neal Hefti's notable achievements include the iconic theme of the 1960s superhero series ''Batman,'' which became a Top 40 hit and won a Grammy Award in 1966 for best instrumental theme. He also composed music for ''The Odd Couple,'' ''Barefoot in the Park'' and ''Harlow,'' which featured his classic track ''Girl Talk.''
His son said the ''Batman'' theme was Neal Hefti's most difficult piece, taking him at least one month to compose the driving bass and explosive trumpet bursts.
''He threw away more music paper on this thing than any other song,'' Paul Hefti told The Associated Press. ''It got down to the blues with a funny guitar hook, the lowest common denominator and a fun groove.''
Neal Hefti was born Oct. 29, 1922, in Hastings, Neb., and played trumpet with local bands as a teenager to earn money.
As an adult, he worked with and arranged music for the greats of the Big Band era, including Count Basie, Woody Herman, Charlie Spivak and Harry James.
''He was one of the really great arrangers and composers of all time,'' radio and television personality Gary Owens, a longtime friend, told the Los Angeles Times.
according to the review I read, the place wasn't very full.
That is true! You shoulda come. Scola was there!
That is true! You shoulda come. Scola was there!
Believe me, I'm kicking myself that I didn't. I was so sure they were going to sell out - Boston's hipster music cred just took a big hit for me.
I did see them years ago - I think it was in Portland, ME and they opened for somebody, but it might have been Boston. They weren't the main band, I know that. Really great then, but I didn't know enough about them to appreciate them at the time.
Boston's hipster music cred just took a big hit for me.
The Roxy is pretty huge. I thought from the start that the room was too big for them.
I think it was in Portland, ME and they opened for somebody, but it might have been Boston. They weren't the main band, I know that.
Husker Du?
Husker Du?
Yes, at the Orpheum. Thank you, that was bugging me.
I guess I haven't been to the Roxy in a while - I never thought it was that big a place. I think the only time I was there was when I saw Tricky.
The Chicago House of Blues website is currently advertising tonight's Cobra Starship show as "Christian Rock".
I find this endlessly amusing.
The Chicago House of Blues website is currently advertising tonight's Cobra Starship show as "Christian Rock".
I find this highly amusing. I think Gabe would also find this amusing. You should tell him!
They had that for the show I went to on Sunday at Cleveland HOB!
Good luck finding Gabe to tell him, though. He said he was celebrating his birthday all week, so he's probably still drunk.
Seriously, how did they get Christian Rock? Is HOB screwing with the fans, or is CS screwing with the HOB? Has someone listened to "Church of Hot Addiction" one too many times? (Of course, LiveNation's page for CS has an old (and inaccurate!) picture of the group, so.)
Good luck finding Gabe to tell him, though. He said he was celebrating his birthday all week, so he's probably still drunk.
From reports, drunk is his default state. Drunk & stealth-huggy.
If I see some of my friends before the show who have Meet & Greet tickets, I will ask them to pass it on. Or I suppose I could tell Tom Conrad the next time I see him.
