Friday Music

 In his 1989 autobiography Henry Mancini shared this:

The Peter Gunn title theme actually derives more from rock and roll than from jazz.  I used guitar and piano in unison, playing what is known in music as an ostinato - which means obstinate.  It was sustained throughout the piece, giving it a sinister effect, with some frightened saxophone sounds and some shouting brass. The piece has one chord throughout and a super-simple top line. 

Composed by Mancini for the television show of the same name the song was the opening track on the original soundtrack album - The Music from Peter Gunn.  Released in 1959 it reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the R&B chart.  Mancini went on to win an Emmy Award and two Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Arrangement. 

Enjoy the walk down memory lane: