W. G. Walden
Encyclopedia
W. G. Snuffy Walden is a musician
and composer
for television
shows. He has been awarded or nominated for numerous Emmy Awards and BMI Awards.
on February 13, 1950, and raised in Houston, Texas
. He graduated from Lamar High School in Houston in 1968. In college he studied science and math, and put himself through school working on a late-night radio show at KRBE in Houston, and playing guitar in a strip club.
, a blues-based rock trio, and together they moved to England. Following the breakup of Stray Dog, Walden teamed up with the English rock singer Paul Rodgers for what would be the last configuration of the rock group Free
. Walden replaced the ailing Paul Kossoff on Free's final album Heartbreaker, which was released in 1973. In 1973, he joined The Eric Burdon Band and performed with them for a year.
In 1973, Walden moved to Los Angeles
and spent the rest of the decade performing as a solo artist, and supporting artists such as Stevie Wonder
, Donna Summer
, Chaka Khan
, and Eric Burdon
. By the mid-1980s, television agents and producers became aware of Walden through his local performances in Santa Monica
. When approached to score a new television show, Walden had mixed feelings, but accepted the offer.
"I could see the handwriting on the wall for touring," he would later remember, "and it wasn't pretty. I kept envisioning Holiday Inn at age 60." The television show he was hired for was thirtysomething, which turned out to be a major hit television series, and dramatically altered Walden's music career.
, which had the fortune of premiering right after Super Bowl XXII
. Walden scored the pilot episode, and then went on to score the series, which also became a hit. For the end credits, he recorded his unique version of The Beatles
' song "A Little Help from My Friends".
Throughout the 1990s, Walden scored numerous television shows and series, including Roseanne
, Ellen, My So-Called Life
, Felicity, Early Edition
, Sports Night
, The West Wing
, The George Lopez Show, I'll Fly Away
, The Stand
, Huff
, Once and Again
, Friday Night Lights
, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
.
In the summer of 2001, Walden released a solo album of mainly acoustic guitar pieces titled Music by... W. G. Snuffy Walden. The "elegance and glowing warmth of the compositions" permiated the entire album. Avoiding the obvious temptation to release a greatest hits compilation of his television hits, Walden chose to explore and expand his musical vocabulary. Walden's playing always "evoked character and emotion through sometimes deceptively simple melodic motives." For example, "Felicity's Theme" surrounds the beautiful melody with "gentle harmonics" creating a poignant effect. The album also includes expanded or full versions of many of Walden's themes, such as "Once and Again", "Eugene's Ragtop", "Thirtysomething (Revisited)", and "West Wing Suite".
In 2002, a comprehensive interview with Walden was conducted by Tom Guerra
for Vintage Guitar Magazine. Walden announced that he would team up with a 60-piece orchestra to compose the film adaptation of The Umbrella Academy
. This will be the first time he has scored a movie since Leaving Normal
. Walden is now working with YouTube artists, including Jake Coco, to help them to produce covers and original songs. Walden serves as an artistic advisor to the BMI Foundation
.
BMI Awards
Stray Dog albums
Compilation albums
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and 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...
for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows. He has been awarded or nominated for numerous Emmy Awards and BMI Awards.
Early life
William Garrett Walden was born in LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
on February 13, 1950, and raised in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. He graduated from Lamar High School in Houston in 1968. In college he studied science and math, and put himself through school working on a late-night radio show at KRBE in Houston, and playing guitar in a strip club.
Early music career
In the late 1960s, Walden dropped out of school, quit his job, and devoted his energies to the guitar full-time. In 1968, he formed the group Stray DogStray Dog (band)
Stray Dog were a blues-based hard rock band of the early 1970s. They recorded two albums before disbanding around 1975.- Career :They originally formed in Texas under the name of Aphrodite, from there they moved to Denver, Colorado, they became very popular with the audience's in Denver...
, a blues-based rock trio, and together they moved to England. Following the breakup of Stray Dog, Walden teamed up with the English rock singer Paul Rodgers for what would be the last configuration of the rock group Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
. Walden replaced the ailing Paul Kossoff on Free's final album Heartbreaker, which was released in 1973. In 1973, he joined The Eric Burdon Band and performed with them for a year.
In 1973, Walden moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and spent the rest of the decade performing as a solo artist, and supporting artists such as Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
, Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, and Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
. By the mid-1980s, television agents and producers became aware of Walden through his local performances in Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
. When approached to score a new television show, Walden had mixed feelings, but accepted the offer.
"I could see the handwriting on the wall for touring," he would later remember, "and it wasn't pretty. I kept envisioning Holiday Inn at age 60." The television show he was hired for was thirtysomething, which turned out to be a major hit television series, and dramatically altered Walden's music career.
Professional success
Following his successful debut as a television composer for thirtysomething, Walden was contacted by the producer on another new television show called The Wonder YearsThe Wonder Years
The Wonder Years is an American television comedy-drama created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens. It ran for six seasons on ABC from 1988 through 1993. The pilot aired on January 31, 1988 after ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXII....
, which had the fortune of premiering right after Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
. Walden scored the pilot episode, and then went on to score the series, which also became a hit. For the end credits, he recorded his unique version of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' song "A Little Help from My Friends".
Throughout the 1990s, Walden scored numerous television shows and series, including Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
, Ellen, My So-Called Life
My So-Called Life
My So-Called Life is an American teen drama television series created by Winnie Holzman and produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. It originally aired on ABC from August 25, 1994, to January 26, 1995 and was distributed by The Bedford Falls Company with ABC Productions. Set at the...
, Felicity, Early Edition
Early Edition
Early Edition is an American television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996 to May 27, 2000. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each Chicago Sun-Times newspaper the day before it is actually published, and who uses this...
, Sports Night
Sports Night
Sports Night is an American television series about a fictional sports news show also called Sports Night. It focuses on the friendships, pitfalls, and ethical issues the creative talent of the program face while trying to produce a good show under constant network pressure...
, The West Wing
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
, The George Lopez Show, I'll Fly Away
I'll Fly Away (TV series)
I'll Fly Away is a television series set during the late 1950s and early 1960s, in an unspecified Southern U.S. state. It aired on NBC from 1991 to 1993 and starred Regina Taylor as Lilly Harper, a black housekeeper for district attorney Forrest Bedford and his family...
, The Stand
The Stand (TV miniseries)
# Project Blue [1:33]# The Dream Begins [2:08]# On the Road to Kansas [3:57]# The Trashmen in Vegas [1:58]# Headin' West [1:56]# Larry & Nadine [2:38]# Mother Abigail [3:10]# 'Sorry Mister, I Don't Understand' [2:54]# Mid Country [3:22]...
, Huff
Huff (TV series)
Huff is an American television dramedy series produced by Sony Pictures Television for Showtime. The series was created by Bob Lowry and features Hank Azaria as Dr. Craig "Huff" Huffstodt, a psychiatrist whose life changes abruptly when a 15-year-old client commits suicide in his office...
, Once and Again
Once and Again
Once and Again is an American television series that aired on ABC from September 21, 1999 to April 15, 2002. It depicts the family of a single mother and her romance with a single father...
, Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was an American dramedy television series created and written by Aaron Sorkin. It ran for 22 episodes.The series takes place behind the scenes of a live sketch comedy show on the fictional television network NBS , whose format is similar to that of NBC's...
.
In the summer of 2001, Walden released a solo album of mainly acoustic guitar pieces titled Music by... W. G. Snuffy Walden. The "elegance and glowing warmth of the compositions" permiated the entire album. Avoiding the obvious temptation to release a greatest hits compilation of his television hits, Walden chose to explore and expand his musical vocabulary. Walden's playing always "evoked character and emotion through sometimes deceptively simple melodic motives." For example, "Felicity's Theme" surrounds the beautiful melody with "gentle harmonics" creating a poignant effect. The album also includes expanded or full versions of many of Walden's themes, such as "Once and Again", "Eugene's Ragtop", "Thirtysomething (Revisited)", and "West Wing Suite".
In 2002, a comprehensive interview with Walden was conducted by Tom Guerra
Tom Guerra
Tom Guerra of Hartford, Connecticut is an American guitarist.Since the late 1970s, Guerra has been a popular guitarist on the New England club circuit, playing with a host of leading blues, rock n' roll and R&B acts...
for Vintage Guitar Magazine. Walden announced that he would team up with a 60-piece orchestra to compose the film adaptation of The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy is a comic book written by Gerard Way with art by Gabriel Bá, cover art by James Jean, colors by Dave Stewart and letters by Blambot's Nate Piekos. The six-issue limited series was released by Dark Horse Comics, the first issue making its premiere on September 19, 2007. It won...
. This will be the first time he has scored a movie since Leaving Normal
Leaving Normal (film)
Leaving Normal was a 1992 American road movie which featured two female leads. Directed by Edward Zwick and written by Ed Solomon, the film's plot resembled the more commercially-lucrative 1991 film Thelma & Louise...
. Walden is now working with YouTube artists, including Jake Coco, to help them to produce covers and original songs. Walden serves as an artistic advisor to the BMI Foundation
BMI Foundation
The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by executives of Broadcast Music Incorporated for the purpose of "encouraging the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, internships, grants, and commissions." Additionally, the Foundation makes...
.
Awards and nominations
Emmy Awards- 2007 Emmy Nomination for Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) – Kidnapped
- 2005 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music – Huff
- 2003 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music – Miracles
- 2001 Emmy Nomination for Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) – The West Wing
- 2000 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music – The West Wing
- 2000 Emmy Nomination for Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) – FelicityFelicityFelicity is an American prime-time television drama that was produced by Touchstone Television and Imagine Television for The WB Television Network...
- 1997 Emmy Nomination for Main Title Theme Music – Early Edition
- 1997 Emmy Nomination for Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) – Early Edition
- 1995 Emmy Nomination for Main Title Theme Music – My So-Called LifeMy So-Called LifeMy So-Called Life is an American teen drama television series created by Winnie Holzman and produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. It originally aired on ABC from August 25, 1994, to January 26, 1995 and was distributed by The Bedford Falls Company with ABC Productions. Set at the...
- 1994 Emmy Nomination for Best Original Score – The Stand
- 1992 Emmy Nomination for Main Title Theme Music – I'll Fly Away
- 1988 Emmy Nomination for Main Title Theme Music – thirtysomething
BMI Awards
- Richard Kirk Ward BMI Award for Outstanding Career Achievement (2001)
- Men of a Certain AgeMen of a Certain AgeMen of a Certain Age is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on TNT on December 7, 2009. The hour-long program stars Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula as three best friends in their late forties dealing with the realities of middle age. The show ran for two years,...
(2010) - The West WingThe West Wing (TV series)The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
(2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) - The Norm ShowThe Norm ShowThe Norm Show is an American television sitcom that ran from 1999 through 2001 on the ABC television network.-Synopsis:...
(1999) - ProvidenceProvidence (TV series)Providence is an American drama series that aired on NBC starring Melina Kanakaredes. The show ran for five seasons from January 8, 1999 until December 20, 2002.-Synopsis:The show revolves around Dr...
(1999, 2000,, 2002, 2003) - The Drew Carey ShowThe Drew Carey ShowThe Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
(1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) - EllenEllen (TV series)Ellen is a U.S. television sitcom that ran on the ABC network from March 29, 1994 to July 22, 1998, producing 109 episodes.The theme song, "So Called Friend" is by Scottish band Texas...
(1994, 1995) - RoseanneRoseanne (TV series)Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
(1994, 1995, 1996) - The Jackie Thomas ShowThe Jackie Thomas ShowThe Jackie Thomas Show is an American sitcom that aired on the ABC network from December 1992 to March 1993. The series received widespread attention due to its creators Roseanne Arnold, then starring in the fifth season of her top-rated comedy Roseanne, and her husband and Roseanne co-producer Tom...
(1993) - The Wonder YearsThe Wonder YearsThe Wonder Years is an American television comedy-drama created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens. It ran for six seasons on ABC from 1988 through 1993. The pilot aired on January 31, 1988 after ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXII....
(1988, 1989, 1990)
Discography
Solo albums- Music by... W. G. Snuffy Walden (2001, Windham Hill RecordsWindham Hill RecordsWindham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected...
)
Stray Dog albums
- While You're Down There (1974)
- Fasten Your Seat Belts (1973)
- Stray Dog (1973)
Compilation albums
- Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 (2010)
- Windham Hill Chill 2 (2003, Windham Hill Records)
- Windham Hill Chill: Ambient Acoustic (2003, Windham Hill Records)
- A Windham Hill Christmas (2002, Windham Hill Records)
- A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 1: Silver Anniversary Edition (2001, Windham Hill Records)
- Touch - Windham Hill 25 Years of Guitar (2001, Windham Hill Records)
- Celtic Christmas IV (1998, Windham Hill Records)
- Sounds Of Wood & Steel (1998, Windham Hill Records)
- Summer Solstice 2 (1998, Windham Hill Records)
- The Carols Of Christmas II (1997, Windham Hill Records)
- Celtic Christmas III (1997, Windham Hill Records)
- A Winter's Solstice VI (1997, Windham Hill Records)
- My-So Called Life Soundtrack (1995, Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
) - The Stand (1994, ABC Circle Music)
- Babylon Minstrels (1992, Hollywood RecordsHollywood RecordsHollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
) - thirtysomething Soundtrack (1991, Geffen RecordsGeffen RecordsGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
)
Filmography
Composer- Friday Night Lights (TV series) (2006-2011)
- In the Key of Eli (2011)
- Huge (TV series) (2010)
- Men of a Certain Age (TV series) (2009-2010)
- Hawthorne (TV series) (2009)
- The Beast (TV series) (2009)
- Lipstick Jungle (TV series) (2008-2009)
- A Marriage (TV movie) (2009)
- In Plain Sight (TV series) (2008)
- Quarterlife (TV series) (2008)
- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (TV series) (2006-2007)
- Heartland (TV series) (2007)
- The War at Home (TV series) (2005-2007)
- Kidnapped (TV series) (2006-2007)
- Huff (TV series) (2004-2006)
- The Jake Effect (TV series) (2006)
- The West Wing (TV series) (1999-2006)
- Surface (TV series) (2005-2006)
- The Book of Daniel (TV series) (2006)
- 1/4life (TV movie) (2005)
- Boomtown (TV series) (2003)
- The Lyon's Den (TV series) (2003)
- The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire (TV series) (2003)
- The Drew Carey Show (TV series) (1998-2003)
- Mister Sterling (TV series) (2003)
- Hidden Hills (TV series) (2002)
- Felicity (TV series) (1998-2002)
- Once and Again (TV series) (1999-2002)
- George Lopez (TV series) (2002)
- It's Like, You Know... (TV series) (1999-2001)
- Providence (TV series) (1999-2001)
- First Years (TV series) (2001)
- Three Sisters (TV series) (2001)
- Rock & Roll Back to School Special (TV movie) (2001)
- The $treet (TV series) (2000)
- Sports Night (TV series) (1998-2000)
- Roswell (TV series) (1999)
- Norm (TV series) (1999)
- Cupid (TV series) (1998-1999)
- Maggie Winters (TV series) (1998)
- Ellen (TV series) (1994-1998)
- Early Edition (TV series) (1996-1998)
- 413 Hope St. (TV series) (1997)
- Roseanne (TV series) (1993-1997)
- Relativity (TV series) (1996-1997)
- A Friend's Betrayal (TV movie) (1996)
- Homecoming (TV movie) (1996)
- Ink (TV series) (1996)
- The Monroes (TV series) (1995)
- My So-Called Life (TV series) (1994-1995)
- Homage (1995)
- Sweet Justice (TV series) (1994)
- The Stand (TV mini-series) (1994)
- Tom (TV series) (1994)
- Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story (TV movie) (1994)
External links
- Official Website
- http://www.tomguerra.com/snuffy.htmInterview with Tom GuerraTom GuerraTom Guerra of Hartford, Connecticut is an American guitarist.Since the late 1970s, Guerra has been a popular guitarist on the New England club circuit, playing with a host of leading blues, rock n' roll and R&B acts...
] - Studio