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Lalo Schifrin, Prolific Film Composer Who Wrote ‘Mission: Impossible’ Theme, Dies at 93
Variety ^ | 6/26/25 | Jon Burlingame

Posted on 06/26/2025 4:15:16 PM PDT by Borges

Lalo Schifrin, the Grammy-winning composer of “Mission: Impossible” and film scores including “Cool Hand Luke,” “Dirty Harry” and “Bullitt,” died Thursday of complications from pneumonia. He was 93.

The Argentine musician was among the first to apply a broad range of musical ideas to film and TV scores, from jazz and rock to more modern and complex techniques of orchestral writing. His heyday was the 1960s and ’70s, when he produced several film and TV scores that are now regarded as classics.

(Excerpt) Read more at variety.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
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To: Borges

The Incredibles theme song was highly influenced by his composition.


21 posted on 06/26/2025 5:02:04 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear ("Uncle Sugar" is being audited and having an enema.)
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To: Borges
There are memorable themes and there are iconic themes. Mission: Impossible is iconic.

Here is Schifrin playing it live in 1995: https://youtu.be/H5SYHcD_CYA?si=HOi5qH77lFLwRIot

RIP, Lalo.

22 posted on 06/26/2025 5:04:16 PM PDT by Dahoser (Liz Cheney needs to work on her soccer skills so she fits in when she transfers to Guantanamo High.)
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To: Borges

He composed the beautiful score for the 1985 miniseries A.D. His Dirty Harry music is iconic. God rest his soul.


23 posted on 06/26/2025 5:12:43 PM PDT by Trump_Triumphant (“They recognized Him in the breaking of the Bread”)
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To: Borges

Memorable, evocative pieces that gave enjoyment to so many. RIP


24 posted on 06/26/2025 5:35:28 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Think about it: The Supreme Court is nine lawyers appointed for life by politicians. —David Horowitz)
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To: Albion Wilde

LS theme music to the Eastwood and McQueen films really added atmosphere that the viewer doesn’t forget.


25 posted on 06/26/2025 5:41:11 PM PDT by mason-dixon (As Mason said to Dixon, you have to draw the line somewhere.)
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To: Dahoser

Fantastic version. What a pianist, wow!


26 posted on 06/26/2025 5:42:33 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Think about it: The Supreme Court is nine lawyers appointed for life by politicians. —David Horowitz)
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To: Borges

Lalo Shifrin wrote the song “Down Here on the Ground” for the Cool Hand Luke soundtrack. It’s a wonderful song that became something of a soul jazz standard. Notable versions were recorded by Lou Rawls, Grant Green, and many others.

Sun Ra took it to space and back at the Lugano Jazz Festival in 1990. Made it sound like it was written about him!

Here’s the audio track on YouTube, timestamped at the beginning of “Down Here on the Ground.”

Sun Ra plays piano and sings, but it’s the tenor saxophone solo by John Gilmore that really lifts off.

There’s also video on YT of this performance from a German television broadcast.

https://youtu.be/_ElVWAfaJKw?t=3050


27 posted on 06/26/2025 6:53:57 PM PDT by Tom in SFCA
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To: Borges
They didn't mention the soundtrack to Kelly's Heroes.

-PJ

28 posted on 06/26/2025 7:01:12 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: Albion Wilde
So glad you like it. Since the 60s, Lalo Schifrin had always been just the exotic name of the guy who wrote the theme till I saw that video. Then it and he came alive for me.

I just found this video from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I think you'll enjoy the story before the performance.

https://youtu.be/TY7-Y7Ld2mk

29 posted on 06/26/2025 7:08:32 PM PDT by Dahoser (Liz Cheney needs to work on her soccer skills so she fits in when she transfers to Guantanamo High.)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

I watched “Thunderball” a while back, and at one point I thought it was “The Incredibles.” With the distinctive music, and a rocket ship, there was a weird reverse deja vu thing going on.


30 posted on 06/26/2025 7:09:07 PM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: Tom in SFCA

Video of Sun Ra and His Arkestra performing “Down Here on the Ground” in Lugano, 1990.

https://youtu.be/FDIQNKItblQ?list=PLoZ2-gcbE0N0_vQbQVqIh69_E_ddBejJY&t=1064


31 posted on 06/26/2025 7:21:01 PM PDT by Tom in SFCA
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To: Borges

A great radio show that features music from the movies.

32 posted on 06/27/2025 12:21:11 AM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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