(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)]
[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:
[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:
[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:
[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:
[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:
[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:
[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:
[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:
[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: