Henry Mancini, born Enrico Nicola Mancini, (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994), was a noted composer and arranger. He is remembered particularly for being one of the most acclaimed composers of music for TV and films, winning a record number of Grammy awards (including a 'Lifetime Achievement' award in 1995). His daughters were educated at Millfield School, Somerset.

Mancini was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and died in Beverly Hills, California. Although he was drafted into the Army during World War Two, Mancini was able get switched from the infantry to the band. The compositions for which he is best known include 'Moon River' (the theme song from the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's), and the theme music for the 1963 films The Pink Panther and Charade. He is often accredited with composing the music for the Peanuts movies, the well-known theme Linus and Lucy in particular. However, these songs were composed and performed by another esteemed jazz pianist, Vince Guaraldi. Much of Mancini's work can be classified under the easy listening genre.

Two his earliest scores were for the TV shows, Peter Gunn (1958) and Mr. Lucky (1959).

Selected Songs

• From Peter Gunn (lyrics by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston)
  • 'Peter Gunn Theme'
  • 'Bye Bye'
  • 'The Brothers Go to Mother's'
  • 'Dreamsville'
  • 'Blues for Mother's'
  • 'Sorta Blue'
  • 'Slow and Easy'
• From The Richard Boone Show (lyrics by Al Stillman)
  • 'How Soon'
• 'Man's Favorite Sport' (1963) (lyrics by Johnny Mercer)
• 'I Love You and Don't You Forget It' (1963) (lyrics by Al Stillman)

Selected Movies

• Charade (1963) (starring Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn)
  • 'Charade'
• The Pink Panther (1964) (starring Peter Sellers)
  • Theme
  • 'It Had Better Be Tonight' (lyrics by Johnny Mercer)
• Soldier in the Rain (1963)
• Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) (starring Audrey Hepburn)
  • 'Moon River' (lyrics by Johnny Mercer)
• Dear Heart (1964)
  • 'Dear Heart'
• A Shot in the Dark (1964) (starring Peter Sellers)
• Moment to Moment (1965)
  • 'Moment to Moment' (lyrics by Johnny Mercer)
• The Great Race (1966)
• Arabesque (1966)
• What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)
  • 'In the Arms of Love' (lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans)
• Two for the Road (1967)
  • Two for the Road'
• Wait Until Dark (1967)
  • 'Wait Until Dark'
• The Party (1968) (starring Peter Sellers)
  • 'Nothing to Lose' (sung by Claudine Longet)
• Me, Natalie
• Gaily, Gaily
• The Molly Maguires
• Sunflower (1970)
  • 'Loss of Love' (lyrics by Bob Merrill)
• Darling Lili (lyrics by Johnny Mercer)
  • 'I'll Give You Three Guesses'
  • 'Darling Lili'
• The Hawaiians
• The Night Visitor
• Hatari
  • 'Baby Elephant Walk'
• Experiment in Terror
• Days of Wine and Roses
  • 'Days of Wine and Roses'
• High Time
• Bachelor in Paradise
• The Great Impostor
• Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
• Peanuts theme - often ascribed to Mancini, but actually composed by Vince Guaraldi.

External links

• http://members.home.nl/mancini/Movie1.html
• Henry Mancini (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000049/) at the Internet Movie Database
• Spaceage Pop, 'Henry Mancini (http://www.spaceagepop.com/mancini.htm)'. Space Age Musicmaker.

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