About
"He said, 'we want a song called "Bonanza."' It had to be short and it had to sound like strong men were riding into somewhere and maybe have a western flavor, and it couldn't be too long, sixteen bars. And that's it. 'Go and see what you can do.'"
In their nearly hour-and-a-half interview, Ray Evans (1915-2007) and Jay Livingston (1915-2001) discuss the genesis of their 60-year musical partnership. They recall their arrival in Hollywood to write songs for movies and talk of signing a contract at Paramount Pictures. They outline the origins of their Oscar-nominated and winning tunes, including "Buttons and Bows," "Mona Lisa," "Que Sera, Sera" and "Tammy." They share the story behind the now classic Christmas song, "Silver Bells," for the Bob Hope film The Lemon Drop Kid and describe the theme songs they wrote for television shows Bonanza, Mister Ed, and The Doris Day Show. Evans and Livingston also mention their collaboration with composer Henry Mancini and speak about the entertainers they have written for throughout the years, including Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, Dinah Shore, Rosemary Clooney and Debbie Reynolds. Jon Burlingame conducted the interview on February 8, 2000 in Bel Air, CA.
Highlights
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme song for Mister Ed
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on the importance of a theme song to a show
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on how they work together and how song "To Each His Own" jumpstarted their career
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Silver Bells"
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Que Sera, Sera"
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On their early years and influences; on how the two of them met; on their band traveling to Europe; on deciding to stay in New York and write songs; on how World War II affected them; on meeting the vaudeville team Olsen and Johnson and moving to Hollywood in 1944
On writing a song for a Poverty Row movie; on writing for Johnny Mercer and gaining exposure; on signing with Paramount; on "To Each His Own"; on writing a song for "Vertigo"; on winning their first Oscar; on their hit song "Silver Bells"; on their hit, Oscar-winning song "Mona Lisa"
Chapter 2
On the song "Mona Lisa" contd.; on the 1939 World's Fair; on their television work in New York - music for Satins and Spurs, one of television's first 90-minute spectaculars
On their hit songs "Que Sera, Sera" and "Tammy"
On writing the theme to Bonanza; on writing a song for "No Man Can Tame Me" on General Electric Theater; on their collaborations with Henry Mancini for Peter Gunn
Chapter 3
On the trend of composers writing songs; on writing the theme song for Mister Ed; on coming up with a theme song for Bob Hope, "I'm Available"
On the importance of a theme song to a show; on how popular their songs are; on their friendships with people with whom they've worked
Shows
Bonanza
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme to Bonanza
Doris Day Show, The
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on "Que Sera, Sera" becoming the theme to The Doris Day Show
General Electric Theater, The
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing a song for "No Man Can Tame Me" on General Electric Theater
Mister Ed
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme song for Mister Ed
Peter Gunn
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their collaborations with Henry Mancini for Peter Gunn
Satins and Spurs
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on music for Satins and Spurs - one of television's first 90-minute spectaculars
To Rome With Love
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on the title song of To Rome With Love
Topics
Pop Culture
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme to Bonanza
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Que Sera, Sera"
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on the importance of a theme song to a show
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on "Que Sera, Sera" becoming the theme to The Doris Day Show
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme song for Mister Ed
TV Theme Songs
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme to Bonanza
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Que Sera, Sera"
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme song for Mister Ed
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on "Que Sera, Sera" becoming the theme to The Doris Day Show
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on the importance of a theme song to a show
War
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on how World War II affected them
World War II
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on how World War II affected them
Professions
Composer
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on how they work together and how song "To Each His Own" jumpstarted their career
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their music partnership
Lyricist
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on how they work together and how song "To Each His Own" jumpstarted their career
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their music partnership
Genres
Comedy Series
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme song for Mister Ed
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on music for Satins and Spurs - one of television's first 90-minute spectaculars
People
George Abbott
Ray Evans on how he and George Abbott came from the same town in New York
Rosemary Clooney
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their close relationship with Rosemary Clooney
Nat King Cole
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on almost losing the song "Mona Lisa"
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on Nat King Cole's association with Nelson Riddle, who arranged "Mona Lisa"
Bing Crosby
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Silver Bells"
Doris Day
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Que Sera, Sera"
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on "Que Sera, Sera" becoming the theme to The Doris Day Show
David Dortort
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme to Bonanza
Don Fedderson
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on the title song of To Rome With Love
Lorne Greene
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing the theme to Bonanza
Alfred Hitchcock
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing a song for "Vertigo"
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Que Sera, Sera"
Bob Hope
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their association with Bob Hope
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on material for Bob Hope
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their close relationship with Bob Hope
Betty Hutton
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on writing a song to be sung by Betty Hutton for the film "The Stork Club"
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on music for Satins and Spurs - one of television's first 90-minute spectaculars
Alan Ladd
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit, Oscar-winning song "Mona Lisa"
Max Liebman
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on music for Satins and Spurs - one of television's first 90-minute spectaculars
Henry Mancini
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their collaborations with Henry Mancini
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on composer Henry Mancini
Debbie Reynolds
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on their hit song "Tammy"
Nelson Riddle
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on music for Satins and Spurs - one of television's first 90-minute spectaculars
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on Nat King Cole's association with Nelson Riddle, who arranged "Mona Lisa"
Frank De Vol
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on the title song of To Rome With Love
