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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