Lalo Schifrin, Composer of the Mission: Impossible Theme, Dead at 93

Lalo Schifrin, the Argentine-American composer who was finest identified for writing the Mission: Not possible theme, has died. He was 93 years outdated.

Schifrin died in a Los Angeles hospital on Thursday, June twenty sixth, because of problems from pneumonia.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June twenty first, 1932, Schifrin was the son of an expert violinist. After finding out piano and jazz in his youth — together with a span the place he was incessantly gigging at jazz golf equipment in Paris — Schifrin’s profession reached a brand new stage after he returned to Buenos Aires and shaped a 16-piece band that finally secured an everyday TV spot.

From there, Schifrin had his first interplay with offering music for tv, however first took a profession detour because the pianist in Dizzy Gillespie’s band, for whom he composed the album Gillespiana. By 1963, although, he was getting provides to compose for Hollywood movies and moved to Los Angeles.

In 1965, Schifrin wrote for The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which was adopted the subsequent 12 months by arguably his most beloved composition: the Mission: Not possible theme. With its 5/4 time signature, which permits for a rhythmic mimicking of the Morse Code for “M” and “I” — and a uniquely enjoyable, undercover agent vibe, it’s some of the iconic songs in TV historical past. In 2023, sondramedia named it the fourth-best TV theme track of all time.

Associated Video

Schifrin went on to compose music for Cool Hand Luke, Kelly’s Heroes, Soiled Harry, Enter the Dragon, Starsky and Hutch, The Eagle Has Landed, Rush Hour, and extra. Alongside the best way, he was nominated for six Academy Awards and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2019.

He was additionally nominated for a number of Grammy Awards, and received 4: two for Finest Unique Jazz Composition in 1965 and 1966, adopted by Finest Rating Soundtrack for Visible Media and Finest Instrumental Composition for the Mission: Not possible theme in 1968. The Mission: Not possible theme has additionally been inducted into the Grammy Award Corridor of Fame.

Schifrin is survived by his spouse, Donna, and their three kids.