Plas Johnson, Saxophonist Behind ‘Pink Panther Theme,’ Dead at 94
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- Plas Johnson died at 94, with his death reported on July 15 by the Donaldsonville Chief, his Louisiana hometown newspaper; no cause of death was given.
- 'The Pink Panther Theme' was recorded by Johnson in 1963 alongside composer Henry Mancini for Blake Edwards' comedy film, winning three Grammy Awards and earning an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score at the 37th Academy Awards — Johnson recalled it took only two takes and that the string players applauded when they finished.
- Johnson performed on recordings spanning Frank Sinatra, B.B. King, the Beach Boys, Ricky Nelson, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, and Nat King Cole, establishing himself as one of Los Angeles' most prolific session musicians after moving there in 1954 following Army service.
- Henry Mancini featured Johnson regularly in his orchestra through the 1950s and 1960s, and Johnson joined Merv Griffin's studio band in 1970, while later 1970s and 1980s credits include Bette Midler, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Boz Scaggs, Rod Stewart, and Joni Mitchell's 2002 LP 'Travelogue.'
- 'The Wrecking Crew,' a 2008 documentary directed by Denny Tedesco, profiled Johnson's contributions as part of the unsung Los Angeles session musician scene, highlighting work the source notes was 'often only celebrated behind the scenes' and 'largely gone unrecognized.'
Why it matters: Johnson's death closes a chapter on the golden era of Los Angeles session musicians who quietly shaped pop, rock, and jazz recordings across six decades. His Oscar-nominated, three-Grammy-winning Pink Panther solo — captured in just two takes — became one of cinema's most recognizable instrumental hooks, yet the source emphasizes that much of his vast catalog remains unattributed to him. The Wrecking Crew documentary tried to correct that invisibility; his passing sharpens the urgency of that recognition.
