Plas Johnson, saxophonist behind Pink Panther theme, dies at 94

Jazz saxophonist Plas Johnson, best known for playing the Grammy-winning theme to The Pink Panther, has died at the age of 94. Los Angeles radio station KKJZ reported that he died on July 15.

Johnson, the son of a professional saxophonist, specialised in jump-blues and R&B before becoming a respected live and studio session player. Over the years, he worked with musicians including Frank Sinatra, Nat 'King' Cole, Ella



Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand.

His saxophone solo became closely linked with Henry Mancini's theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther, alongside Peter Sellers' performance as Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The tune was written by Mancini for Johnson, whose style had already won attention through his work with The Wrecking Crew, a group of Los Angeles-based session musicians regularly chosen by producers and record executives.