Allyn Malcolm Ferguson Jr. (October 18, 1924 – June 23, 2010) was an American composer, whose works include the themes for 1970s television programs Barney Miller and Charlie's Angels (1976-1981), which he co-wrote with Jack Elliott. In its obituary, Variety called him "among the most prolific composers of TV-movie scores in the past 40 years."[1]
Ferguson was born in San Jose, California on October 18, 1924. He started playing the trumpet when he was four years old and began playing piano at seven.[2] After graduating from San Jose State University, he traveled to Paris, where he studied with Nadia Boulanger and at Tanglewood with Aaron Copland.[2] He established the Chamber Jazz Sextet in the 1950s, combining classical and jazz influences. Ferguson and his Chamber Jazz Sextet collaborated with the poet Kenneth Patchen on a recording in 1957, originally titled Kenneth Patchen with the Chamber Jazz Sextet. Behind Patchen's readings, Ferguson and the Chamber Jazz Sextet performed jazz accompaniment which Ferguson composed for eight individual poems. The group produced "Pictures at an Exhibition: Framed in Jazz" in 1963, a big band-style production of the Modest Mussorgskypiano suite.[1]
He is credited, along with Hugh Heller, with writing the San Francisco "Giants Fight Song" in 1961.[3][4][5]
During the 1970s, he collaborated extensively with composer Jack Elliott, co-writing the themes to Barney Miller and Charlie's Angels. University of Southern California music historian Jon Burlingame called the themes "iconic in the sense that most people who were around in that era can easily recall those tunes".[2] Together with Eliott, he created scores for episodes of Banacek, Fish, Police Story, Big Hawaii, Starsky & Hutch, S.W.A.T. and The Rookies.[1][2] The duo also collaborated to form the Foundation for New American Music in 1978.[1] Ferguson was among the founders of the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles.[1]
Ferguson died of natural causes at age 85 on June 23, 2010, at his home in Westlake Village, California. He was married with three children and six grandchildren.[1]
^ abcdefghiBurlingame, Jon. "Emmy-winning composer Ferguson dies: He co-wrote the theme song for TV's 'Charlie's Angels'", Variety (magazine), June 27, 2010. Accessed June 30, 2010.
^ abcdeHevesi, Dennis. "Allyn Ferguson, TV Composer, Dies at 85", The New York Times, June 29, 2010. Accessed June 30, 2010.
^. Archived from the original on 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
^"San Francisco Giants - Bye Bye Baby". YouTube. 2010-03-23. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
allyn, ferguson, allyn, malcolm, ferguson, october, 1924, june, 2010, american, composer, whose, works, include, themes, 1970s, television, programs, barney, miller, charlie, angels, 1976, 1981, which, wrote, with, jack, elliott, obituary, variety, called, amo. Allyn Malcolm Ferguson Jr October 18 1924 June 23 2010 was an American composer whose works include the themes for 1970s television programs Barney Miller and Charlie s Angels 1976 1981 which he co wrote with Jack Elliott In its obituary Variety called him among the most prolific composers of TV movie scores in the past 40 years 1 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Discography 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife and career EditFerguson was born in San Jose California on October 18 1924 He started playing the trumpet when he was four years old and began playing piano at seven 2 After graduating from San Jose State University he traveled to Paris where he studied with Nadia Boulanger and at Tanglewood with Aaron Copland 2 He established the Chamber Jazz Sextet in the 1950s combining classical and jazz influences Ferguson and his Chamber Jazz Sextet collaborated with the poet Kenneth Patchen on a recording in 1957 originally titled Kenneth Patchen with the Chamber Jazz Sextet Behind Patchen s readings Ferguson and the Chamber Jazz Sextet performed jazz accompaniment which Ferguson composed for eight individual poems The group produced Pictures at an Exhibition Framed in Jazz in 1963 a big band style production of the Modest Mussorgsky piano suite 1 He is credited along with Hugh Heller with writing the San Francisco Giants Fight Song in 1961 3 4 5 During the 1970s he collaborated extensively with composer Jack Elliott co writing the themes to Barney Miller and Charlie s Angels University of Southern California music historian Jon Burlingame called the themes iconic in the sense that most people who were around in that era can easily recall those tunes 2 Together with Eliott he created scores for episodes of Banacek Fish Police Story Big Hawaii Starsky amp Hutch S W A T and The Rookies 1 2 The duo also collaborated to form the Foundation for New American Music in 1978 1 Ferguson was among the founders of the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles 1 During the 1980s he produced Emmy Award nominated scores for Peter and Paul 1981 Ivanhoe 1982 Master of the Game 1984 The Last Days of Patton 1986 April Morning 1988 and Pancho Barnes 1988 winning in 1985 for his work on Camille He worked on dozens of literary television films for Norman Rosemont including The Count of Monte Cristo 1975 The Man in the Iron Mask 1977 Captains Courageous 1977 The Four Feathers 1978 Les Miserables 1978 All Quiet on the Western Front 1979 Little Lord Fauntleroy 1980 and A Tale of Two Cities 1980 1 2 He also composed scores for theatrical films among them Support Your Local Gunfighter 1971 Get to Know Your Rabbit 1972 Avalanche Express 1979 and Back to the Secret Garden 2001 He was music director for television presentations of the American Movie Awards Emmy Award Grammy Award Kennedy Center Honors and the Oscars 1 Ferguson was musical director for Julie Andrews Johnny Mathis and for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme 1 Ferguson died of natural causes at age 85 on June 23 2010 at his home in Westlake Village California He was married with three children and six grandchildren 1 Discography EditPictures at an Exhibition Framed in Jazz 1963 Charlie s Angels 1976 Kenneth Patchen Reads With Allyn Ferguson And The Chamber Jazz Sextet 1983 Master Of The Game 1984 The Film Music of Allyn Ferguson Volume 1 1993 The Film Music of Allyn Ferguson Volume 2 1994 The Film Music of Allyn Ferguson Volume 3 1997 See also EditCharlie s Angels Jack ElliottReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i Burlingame Jon Emmy winning composer Ferguson dies He co wrote the theme song for TV s Charlie s Angels Variety magazine June 27 2010 Accessed June 30 2010 a b c d e Hevesi Dennis Allyn Ferguson TV Composer Dies at 85 The New York Times June 29 2010 Accessed June 30 2010 Giants Bye Bye Baby Postcards from San Francisco Archived from the original on 2014 10 16 Retrieved 2014 10 10 San Francisco Giants Bye Bye Baby YouTube 2010 03 23 Archived from the original on 2021 12 15 Retrieved 2020 04 05 http sheetmusic santacruzpl org search work 3425 Retrieved 2014 10 10 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help External links EditAllyn Ferguson at IMDb Official website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Allyn Ferguson amp oldid 1146620186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
