The Today Show (weekday morning news & interviews)
(NBC Weekday Mornings, 1952 - Present)
[aka: "The Dave Garroway Today Show";
aka: "The NBC Today Show";
The first weekday morning show on network TV;
Hosts and Co-hosts and others included:
Dave Garroway (1952 - 1961),
Announcer Jack Lescoulie (1952 - 1961, 1962 - 1963),
Frequent guest J. Fred Muggs (chimpanzee, in 1953),
Newsman Frank Blair (1953 - 1974),
John Chancellor (1961 - 1962),
Hugh Downs (1962 - 1971),
Co-host Barbara Walters (1964 - 1976),
Joe Garagiola (1967 - 1973),
Frank McGee (1971 - 1974),
Movie Reviewer Gene Shalit (1973 - Present),
Jim Hartz (1974 - 1976),
Tom Brokaw (1976 - 1981),
Co-host Jane Pauley (1976 - 1983, 1984 - 1989 ),
Weatherman & Contributor Willard Scott (1980 - 2001),
Co-host Chris Wallace (1981 - 1983),
Bryant Gumbel (1982 - 1997),
Co-host Deborah Norville (1990 - 1991),
Matt Lauer (1997 - Present),
Co-host Katie Couric (1991 - Present),
Weatherman Al Roker (1995 - Present)]
Theme 1 (1952 - 1962): "Sentimental Journey"
[this piece -- which was the theme song of the Les Brown
Big Band and was long associated with Dave Garroway on
radio and TV from his days as a Disc Jockey, was the
first "Today Show" theme.]
Composers: Lester ("Les") Brown (ASCAP),
Bud Green (ASCAP) and
Benjamin ("Ben") Homer (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: Morley Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
2000 Publisher: Morley Music Co. (ASCAP),
c/o MPL Communications Inc.,
of New York, NY
Composition Date: 1944
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 2 (1962, when Hugh Downs became host):
"Melodie au Crepuscule"
[aka: "Crepuscule";
a Django Reinhardt jazzy piece with a small group of
musicians featuring jazz violin and acoustic guitar;
Verified as the THEME in TV Guide article "Looking
For A Lost Chord?" April 28, 1962, pp. 12-13]
Composers: Jean ("Django") Reinhardt (ASCAP) and
Francis Jean Blanche (ASCAP)
1978 Publishers: Francis, Day & Hunter Pub. (ASCAP),
of Great Britain; and
Jewel Music Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
of New York, NY
2000 Publisher: Jewel Music Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP),
of New York, NY
Composition Date: circa 1947
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 3 (circa 1963): "Misty"
[The version used on the air was from a mono
Columbia LP called "Dream Awhile" that featured the
mellow trumpet sounds of Bobby Hackett, accompanied
by pipe organist John B. Seng, according to Seng's
obituary; Seng was also an NBC organist who played
live on the show; A number of internet pages have
stated that Seng "wrote and performed" the theme,
and that it was named "Dream Awhile"; but that's
not correct -- The THEME was Erroll Garner's
ballad "Misty" -- one of the tracks Hackett and
Seng recorded on the Columbia LP; There is no
song named "Dream Awhile" on the LP either.]
Composer: music by Erroll Garner (ASCAP) and
lyric by Johnny Burke (ASCAP)
1978 Publishers: Octave Music Publ. Corp. (ASCAP), and
Vernon Music Corp. (ASCAP)
2000 Publishers: Marke Music Publishing Co. Inc. (ASCAP),
c/o BMG Songs, Inc.,
of Beverly Hills, CA;
Octave Music Publishing Corp. (ASCAP),
of New York, NY
My Dad's Songs, Inc. (ASCAP),
c/o Spirit Two Music Inc.,
of New York, NY
Pocketful Of Dreams Music (ASCAP),
c/o Spirit Two Music Inc.,
of New York, NY
Reganesque Music Company (ASCAP),
c/o Spirit Two Music Inc.,
of New York, NY
[as an instrumental]:
Copyright Date: Sep. 2, 1954; Eu 369 532.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 4 (1971, when Frank McGee became host):
"This Is Today"
[Unfortunately this melody had so close a resemblance to the
pop song "Day By Day" from the rock musical "Godspell", that
it was successfully sued for copyright infringement and had
to be withdrawn...]
Composer: Ray Ellis (ASCAP/BMI)
[professional name of Raymond S. Ellis]
1978 Publisher: Blackwood Music (BMI)
2000 Publisher: Living Music Inc. (BMI),
a division of EMI-Blackwood,
c/o EMI Music Publishing,
of New York, NY
Copyright Date: Oct. 2, 1972; Eu 362 987.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 5 (circa 1978): "This Is Today (II)"
[aka: "Theme for the NBC Today Show"]
[As the result of the copyright infringement suit, Ellis made
a change to the melody, which was used afterwards.]
Composer: Ray Ellis (ASCAP/BMI)
[professional name of Raymond S. Ellis]
1978 Publisher: Blackwood Music (BMI)
2000 Publisher: Living Music Inc. (BMI),
a division of EMI-Blackwood,
c/o EMI Music Publishing,
of New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 6 (circa 1982): "The 59th Street Bridge Song
(Feelin' Groovy)"
[In the book "TV Theme Soundtrack Directory", Craig W. Pattillo
states this pop song was used as the theme for 1/2 of a season]
Composer: Paul Simon (BMI)
Orig. Publisher:
2000 Publisher: Paul Simon Music (BMI),
of New York, NY
Unpublished Copyright Date: Oct. 4, 1966; Eu 961 605.
Unpublished Renewal Date: Jan. 21, 1994; RE-658-256.
Recordings:
Theme 7 (circa 1983): "Today New Open (NBC Chimes Signature)"
[aka: "NBC Chimes Signature";
Today New Open;]
Composers: Ray Ellis (ASCAP/BMI)
[professional name of Raymond S. Ellis], and
Mark Lee Ellis (BMI)
1978 Publisher: Blackwood Music (BMI)
2000 Publisher: Living Music Inc. (BMI),
a division of EMI-Blackwood,
c/o EMI Music Publishing,
of New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 8 (1985): "The Mission Theme Open"
[aka: "N B C news theme (1985)";
aka: "The Mission Theme: [from] N B C News"]
Composer: John Towner Williams (ASCAP/BMI)
Orig. Publishers: John Williams
d.b.a. Deep Dell Music (BMI); and
Living Music, Inc. (BMI)
2000 Publisher: Living Music, Inc. (BMI),
a division of EMI-Blackwood,
c/o EMI Music Publishing,
of New York, NY
Creation Date: 1985
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 9 (circa 1985): "Scherzo For Today"
[aka: "N B C News Theme Number 1" --
a variation on "The Mission Theme"]
Composer: John Towner Williams (ASCAP/BMI)
Orig. Publisher: John Williams
d.b.a. Deep Dell Music (BMI); and
Living Music, Inc. (BMI)
2000 Publisher: Living Music Inc. (BMI),
a division of EMI-Blackwood,
c/o EMI Music Publishing,
of New York, NY
Creation Date: 1985
[filed as "Scherzo For Today"]:
Copyright Date: Sep. 23, 1986; PAu-895-809.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
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