The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (late-night talk-variety)
(NBC Late night, 1962 - 1994)
[This witty conversationalist may not have been the first
host of the series, but may be the best-remembered. Carson
was born in 1905 in a small town in Nebraska. He grew up
loving magic, and studying radio drama, and performed on
some local radio shows during the 1930s as a voice actor.
As block-programming of radio was supplanted by "formats",
Carson adapted and was able to combine his love of comedy
with the new needs of the medium. He polished his stand-up
comedy presence, and worked his way through the ranks of
broadcasting, to the pinnacle of network TV stardom.
Along the way, he polished his presentation on game shows
("Who Do You Trust?") and a number of comedic guest shots
until the slot opened on NBC late-night.
On TV Carson had a boyish charm and unflappable good nature,
as so many viewers saw nightly. But he was a painfully private
person who suffered three divorces and the death of a son.
He let few people in or out of the business get close to him.
It was surmised that perhaps Johnny felt most comfortable
on stage, or on the air -- even in front of millions of
viewers and a studio audience -- since the situation had
a structure known in advance, and he could control his
reactions, thus giving him a certain sense of security.
In "real life" situations it was the lack of structure and
control that made him insecure, so he avoided being in
casual public situations...(or so the theory goes.)
Nonetheless he was a beloved personality that millions
felt they knew well through the side of himself he liked to
present via his humorous topical monologues and celebrity
interviews. He was a midwestern boy who certainly made
the "big-time", and knew how to be the perfect night-time host.
Johnny passed away at the age of 79 from "respiratory
arrest" -- a complication of Emphysema from which he had
suffered after his retirement -- brought on by 20 years of
heavy smoking. He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in
Los Angeles at 6:50 am, on January 23, 2005.]
Main Theme: "Johnny's Theme"
[aka: "Here's Johnny";
aka original title: "Toot Sweet";
aka vocal title: "It's Really Love (Faibles Femmes)"]
[Who says composers and songwriters don't re-use material?
This catchy ditty was first written by Canadian child-prodigy
singer-songwriter Paul Anka under the title "Toot Sweet".
After a lyric was added in 1959 "Toot Sweet" was re-named
"It's Really Love", and under that title was recorded by
Annette Funicello on her LP, "Annette Sings". Composer Anka
was then 18 years old.
In 1962, when Johnny Carson took over the NBC "Tonight Show",
he commissioned 21-year-old Anka for a new THEME song, via
his company "Management Agency & Music Publishing, Inc."
Anka must have suggested re-using this old tune, which does
have a pleasant bouncy feel and does seem to fit. Since it
was technically a deal under a "work for hire" contract...
Contributor Steve Owen said that at that time Johnny Carson
(who was a jazz fan) played drums at home. So he said he
would think of something to put at the beginning of Anka's
tune to "help author it." That something turned out to be
a little drum break (a little solo before the band joins
in.) So for 6 - 7 years there was that one-bar drum break
at the beginning of the THEME. Eventually that little break
was shortened even further to just one and a half beats.
So Johnny became an "author" of his THEME for copyright
purposes, and got not only a piece of the publishing
royalties, but a composer's share of royalties as well;
Of course, it must have been worth it to Paul Anka who
once said he got $200 in royalties every time the show
aired. It ran for 32 years, 52 weeks a year, 5 nights
a week -- which works out to $1,664,000.00 -- not bad
for an old tune that was re-cycled twice.]
Composers: Paul Anka (BMI)
[professional name of Paul Allan Anka], and
Johnny Carson (BMI)
[professional name of John William Carson]
Original Publishers: Chrysalis Standards, Inc. (BMI), and
Here's Johnny Music (BMI)
1999 Publishers: Chrysalis Standards, Inc. (BMI), and
Here's Johnny Music (BMI)
[as "It's Really Love (Faibles Femmes)"]:
Copyright Date: March 10, 1959; Ep 132 082.
Renewal Date: Sep. 21, 1987; RE 349 641.
[as "Johnny's Theme"]:
Copyright Date: Sep. 12, 1962; Eu 735 981.
Renewal Date: Jan. 9, 1990; RE 464 199.
Recordings:
CD: The Tonight Show Band
Amherst Records AMH 93311 (1986)
The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen
Vaudeville-style Play-Off Theme: "The
Billboard"
[This cornball anonymous short composition has many names like
"the old vaudeville runoff". It was used on the "Tonight Show"
as a "Play-Off" whenever a burlesque-style or slapstick comedian
like Rip Torn would exit after his stand-up routine...
The notes of the melody (in the key of C) are (approximately):
b---c---c#---
D-c-d-c-d-c---,
b-a-b-a-b-a-#g,
a-c-a-c-E--E--,
c----- (or c-g-c)
Once we spoke with a former LA studio trombonist named
Ray Heath who had played on the "Dragnet" radio/TV show was
asked what to call it; he said "It's just called 'Billboard'
or 'The Billboard'. Whenever I played in pit orchestras, the
conductor would just announce, 'Billboard' and we'd play it..."
Of course the title "Billboard" is a generic term that means
the music played behind a preview at the front of the TV show,
and there is also the "Billboard March" by John N. Klohr, not
to be confused with this corny little tag...
So there are over 70 composer/arrangers listed in ASCAP under
the title "BILLBOARD"...
But there is this one citation which may tend to verify its
use on the Johnny Carson Show with the two tonight show
conductors as its arranger...of course the piece itself is
probably in the Public Domain by now...]
Arrangers: Doc Severinsen (ASCAP)
[professional name of Carl H. Severinsen], and
Tommy Newsom (ASCAP)
[professional name of Thomas P. Newsom]
Original Publishers: Awright Music (ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Awright Music (ASCAP)
c/o Goldman, Wasserman & Grossman
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Bumper Theme 1: "Chimes"
[Carson Tonight Show credit in album liner notes by Johnny Carson.]
[a variation on the 3-note "NBC Chimes Theme" originally
written by NBC Radio Music Director Alfredo Antonini or
by Rex Koury, depending upon various sources...]
[Zabka was an "associate director" of the Tonight Show;
Al D'Artega is credited as "arranger" of the music...]
Composer: Stanley W. ("Stan") Zabka (ASCAP), and
Alphonse ("Al") D'Artega (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Broude Brothers (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: Broude Brothers Limited (ASCAP),
of Williamstown, MA
Composition Date: 1947, according to publisher letter 4/15/82
Unpublished Copyright Date: Jan. 13, 1958; Eu 508 466.
Unpublished Renewal Date 1: Jan. 8, 1986; RE-277-969.
Unpublished Renewal Date 2: Dec. 29, 1986; RE-315-943.
Published Copyright Date: Jan. 26, 1959; Ep 126 913.
Published Renewal Date: Jan. 5, 1987; RE-319-249.
Recordings:
45rpm single: "Chimes (Theme)"
Palladium BB-605 (1964)
Stan Zabka's Orchestra
LP: "Zabka's Themes From Television"
Laurie LLP 2025 (1964)
Stan Zabka and his Orchestra ["the Paris Strings"]
Recorded 1964 at Barclay Studios, Paris, France
CD Re-issue: "Zabka's Themes From Television"
Big Island Music, Grass Valley, CA -- BIM CD 599 (1999)
Stan Zabka and The Paris Strings
Recorded 1964 at Barclay Studios, Paris, France
Bumper Theme 2: "30 Rockefeller Plaza"
[Credit on liner notes to LP "Skitch...Tonight!", which
says this piece was usually played around 12:30am..and
Skitch's own publishing company published it]
Composer: Torrie Zito (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Welzheim Music Publishing Corp. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: Welzheim Music Publishing Corp. (ASCAP),
of New Milford, CT
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
LP: "Skitch...Tonight!"
Columbia CL 2367
Skitch Henderson and the "Tonight Show" orchestra
Closing Theme 1: "Tonight"
[aka: "Tonight Theme"]
[a leftover from the Steve Allen Tonight-hosting days, used
briefly at the end of the Carson show...]
Composer: Steve Allen (ASCAP)
[professional name of Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen]
Original Publisher: Rosemeadow Publishing Corp. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: All Nations Music (ASCAP),
of Beverly Hills, CA
Copyright Date: Dec. 10, 1954; Eu 379 764.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
LP: "Music For Tonight" (1955)
Coral CRL-57004
Steve Allen
Closing Theme 2: "Hawaiian Village (Closing
Theme of the NBC Tonight Show)"
[above title and sub-title listed as filed for copyright
and also on the sheet music dated 1962;
Original 1961 title was "Paradise Island."]
Composers: Milton De Lugg (ASCAP) and
Anne Renfer De Lugg (ASCAP)
Orig. Publisher: International Pauline Corp. (ASCAP)
1967 Publisher: International Pauline Corp. (ASCAP)
2002 Publisher: International Korwin Corp. (ASCAP)
of Huntington Station, NY
[filed for 1961 copyright under the title "Paradise Island"]:
Unpublished Copyright Date: Aug. 28, 1961; Eu 684 807.
Unpublished Renewal Date: Nov. 9, 1989; RE 446 952.
[filed for 1967 copyright under the title "Hawaiian Village"]:
Published Copyright Date: Mar. 6, 1967; EP 241 822.
Published Renewal Date: [not found]
Recordings:
Closing Theme 3: "Lil' Darlin'"
Composer: Neal Hefti (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: International Korwin Corp. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Dec. 19, 1960; Eu 651 498.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
LP: by Count Basie
Closing Theme 4: "Sick of The Blues"
[Title Credit in Patillo book]
Composer: Joseph J. Curiale (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Glores Music (BMI)
1997 Publisher: Glores Music (BMI)
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Closing Theme 5: "Way I Feel About You"
Composers: Doc Severinsen (ASCAP)
[professional name of Carl H. Severinsen],
Tommy Newsom (ASCAP)
[professional name of Thomas P. Newsom], and
lyric by Sam ("Sammy") Gallop (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Welzheim Music Publishing Corp. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: Welzheim Music Publishing Corp. (ASCAP),
of New Milford, CT
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Weekend Closing Theme: "Saturday Music (Sabato Sera)"
Composers: music by Franco DeBellis (Italian SIAE/ASCAP/BMI), and
Bruno Martino (Italian SIAE/ASCAP/BMI), with
Italian lyric by Fabio Massimo Cantini (Italian SIAE/ASCAP/BMI)
Original Publisher: Edizioni Musicali First Music Co.
U.S. Publisher: Santa Cecilia Music (BMI)
1997 Publisher: [no listing in either ASCAP or
BMI Repertoire]
2014 Publisher: Universal Songs of Polygram International, Inc.
of Santa Monica, CA
[registered under the name "Sabato Sera"]:
U.S. Copyright Date: June 28, 1967; EFO-123 225.
U.S. Renewal Date: [not found]
Recordings:
45rpm single: "Saturday Music"
Brunswick 55346
Dick Jacobs and his Orchestra
Copyright 1960 - 2018 by The Media
Management Group. All Rights Reserved