Morton Stevens
Encyclopedia
Morton Stevens was an American
film score
composer
from Newark, New Jersey
. In 1965 Stevens became director of music for CBS
West Coast operations. He is probably best known for composing the theme tune for Hawaii Five-O
, a television series for which he won two Emmy Award
s (in 1970 and 1974), and was nominated seven other times for work on television programs including Gunsmoke
and Police Woman
. He was taught under Academy Award-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith
and had collaborated with him most of the time on other projects. He succumbed to cancer in 1991.
Stevens got his start in the 1950s as an arranger/conductor for Sammy Davis, Jr.
After Davis's longtime conductor, George Rhodes, died in 1985, Stevens was among those who filled that role again sporadically until Davis' death in 1990. In his later years, Stevens worked as conductor for other Vegas legends, including Jerry Lewis
, and was musical director for the "Rat Pack
" tour featuring Davis, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and (when Martin quit) Liza Minnelli
.
A Brian Tyler
-arranged version of Stevens' classic theme is used in the 2010 remake of Hawaii Five-0. Both are credited, with Stevens as the composer and Tyler as the arranger.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
from Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. In 1965 Stevens became director of music for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
West Coast operations. He is probably best known for composing the theme tune for Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
, a television series for which he won two Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s (in 1970 and 1974), and was nominated seven other times for work on television programs including Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
and Police Woman
Police Woman (TV series)
Police Woman is an American television police drama starring Angie Dickinson that ran on NBC for four seasons, from September 13, 1974, to March 29, 1978.-Synopsis:...
. He was taught under Academy Award-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith
Jerry Goldsmith
Jerrald King Goldsmith was an American composer and conductor most known for his work in film and television scoring....
and had collaborated with him most of the time on other projects. He succumbed to cancer in 1991.
Stevens got his start in the 1950s as an arranger/conductor for Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
After Davis's longtime conductor, George Rhodes, died in 1985, Stevens was among those who filled that role again sporadically until Davis' death in 1990. In his later years, Stevens worked as conductor for other Vegas legends, including Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
, and was musical director for the "Rat Pack
Rat Pack
The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean...
" tour featuring Davis, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and (when Martin quit) Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
.
A Brian Tyler
Brian Tyler (composer)
Brian Tyler is an American composer, producer, conductor, and film producer most known for his scores of Eagle Eye, The Expendables, Battle: Los Angeles, The Final Destination, Rambo, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, and Final Destination 5. Tyler is a symphonic conductor and conducts his own scores....
-arranged version of Stevens' classic theme is used in the 2010 remake of Hawaii Five-0. Both are credited, with Stevens as the composer and Tyler as the arranger.