Henry Mancini (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best known for his film and television scores. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he studied at the Juilliard School before serving in World War II. After the war, he joined the Universal Pictures music department, where he gained recognition for his jazz-infused orchestral arrangements.
Mancini became a household name with his iconic scores for films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), featuring the timeless classic Moon River, and The Pink Panther (1963), which introduced his famous jazz-tinged theme. His work blended jazz, classical, and pop influences, creating a sophisticated and instantly recognizable sound.
Over his career, Mancini won four Academy Awards, twenty Grammy Awards, and a Golden Globe, making him one of the most celebrated composers in film history. He also wrote music for TV shows, including Peter Gunn and The Thorn Birds.
Beyond film, Mancini was a successful recording artist and orchestra leader, performing worldwide. His elegant melodies and innovative compositions continue to influence musicians and composers today, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest film composers of all time.
92 recordings by Henry Mancini you can hear on Instrumentals Forever:
A Day In The Life Of A Fool • A Man, a Horse, and a Gun (From ”The Stranger Returns”) • African Symphony • Airport Love Theme • All The Things You Are • As Time Goes By • As Time Goes By (From ” Casablanca”) • Baby Elephant Walk • Baby Face • Baretta’s Theme (Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow) (From the Universal TV Series) • Battlestar Galactica • Bumper’s Theme (From the Lorimar Production ”The Blue Knight”) • Butterfly • By The Time I Get To Phoenix • Car Wash • Charlie’s Angels • Copacabana • Could It Be Magic • Cycles • Days Of Wine And Roses • Dear Heart • Dream A Little Dream Of Me • Dueling Banjos • Even Now • Evergreen (Love Theme from ”A Star Is Born”) • Fantasy Island • Gonna Fly Now (From ”Rocky”) • Hawaii Five-0 (From the CBS TV Series) • Heaven Can Wait • I Write the Songs • I’m Always Chasing Rainbows • In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning • It’s A Miracle • Jean (From ”The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”) • Kojak (From the Universal TV Series) – SWAT (From the ABC TV Series) • Long Ago (And Far Away) • Love Theme from ”Romeo and Juliet” • Love Theme from ”The Adventurers” • Many Rains Ago [”Oluwa”] – Theme (From ”Roots”) • Meditation • Misty • Moment To Moment • Moon River • Moonlight Serenade • Mystery Movie Theme (From the Universal TV Series) • NBC Nightly News Theme • No Other Love (Tristesse) • Once Is Not Ehough • ”Patton” Theme • Peter Gunn (New Version) • Pick Up the Pieces • Police Woman (From the NBC TV Series) • Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head (From ”Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”) • Rhapsody In Blue • Satin Soul • Send In The Clowns • Silver Streak • Slow Hot Wind (Lujon) • Smoke Gets In Your Eyes • Soul Saga (Song of the Buffalo Soldier) • Star Trek • Stardust • Sun Goddes • Symphonic Soul • Tenderly • The Cheap Detective • The Children Of Sanchez • The Entertainer • The Hills of Yesterday (From ”The Molly Maguires”) • The Impossible Dream • The Inspector Clouseau Theme (From ”The Pink Panther Strikes Again”) • The Little House (From ”Little House On The Prairie”) • The Moneychangers • The Pink Panther Theme • The Rockford Files (From the Universal TV Series) • The Streets Of San Francisco (From the Quinn Martin Production) • The Windmills Of Your Mind • Theme from ”Love Story” • Theme from ”Mr Lucky” • Theme from ”Peter Gunn” • Theme from ”Star Wars” • Theme from ”The Molly Maguires” • Theme from ”Z” (Life Goes On) (To Yelasto Pedi) • Three’s Company • Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree • Tomorrow • Watch What Happens • What I Did For Love • What’s Happening!! • When I Look In Your Eyes • You Make Me Feel Like Dancing • You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine •
