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 with the Jeff Beck cover.

It rocks!