About
"Look at the picture. A lot of guys make the mistake of going, 'This is what I feel.' Look at the picture. Your art on somebody else's art. They already did their art. Look at the picture. By the way, did I say look at the picture?"
In his nearly three-hour interview, Mike Post talks about his early interest in music and his formative years as a studio musician. He recalls his early successes as a music producer, including producing the first album for First Edition, the band that made Kenny Rogers famous, and producing the number-one hit "Classical Gas". He discusses his first big break in television as the musical director of the newly revamped The Andy Williams Show (1969-71), making him the youngest person to hold that title at the time. He recounts his longtime partnership with Pete Carpenter and their collaborative efforts on many of the major dramatic shows of the 1970s and '80s. He speaks about his chance meeting with Stephen J. Cannell that led to his extensive work with Cannell, Dick Wolf, and Steven Bochco. Post describes the work of a television composer as someone who layers their art on another's in a true spirit of collaboration. He outlines his compositions and memorable theme songs for such series as The Rockford Files, Hill Street Blues, The Greatest American Hero, L.A. Law, Cop Rock (theme by Randy Newman), and Law & Order. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on May 25, 2005 in Burbank, CA.
Highlights
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Magnum, P.I.
Mike Post on writing the theme song to L.A. Law
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The Greatest American Hero
Mike Post on meeting Stephen J. Cannell
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Doogie Howser, M.D.
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on early theme songs that he liked
On playing for Sonny and Cher; on his early session work; on producing the band First Edition with Kenny Rogers
Chapter 2
On producing and winning a Grammy for the song "Classical Gas"; on going to work for The Andy Williams Show; on working with Ray Charles
On his two years as a conductor on The Andy Williams Show; on his music partner Pete Carpenter
Chapter 3
On his writing process with partner Pete Carpenter; on meeting Stephen J. Cannell; on writing the theme song for Toma
On writing the theme song to The Rockford Files; on his friendships with Stephen J. Cannell, Steven Bochco, and Dick Wolf; on writing the theme songs for Richie Brockelman, Private Eye and Baa Baa Blacksheep
Chapter 4
On early career encouragement; on writing the theme songs to The White Shadow, Magnum, P.I., and Hill Street Blues; on public reaction to his work
On then-current trends in television scoring; on music he listens to and scoring feature films; on writing the theme songs to The A-Team and L.A. Law
Chapter 5
On writing the theme for L.A. Law; on what he's proudest of; on writing music for Quantum Leap, Doogie Howser, M.D., and Cop Rock
On writing the theme for and scoring Law & Order and its spin-offs; on writing the theme for NYPD Blue
Chapter 6
On composing various themes; on then-current (2005) projects
On the business of composing for television; on career highlights and the Pete Carpenter Memorial Fund; on advice to aspiring composers and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
A-Team, The
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The A-Team
Andy Williams Show, The
Mike Post on his entry into television via The Andy Williams Show
Mike Post on working with his hero, Ray Charles, on conducting The Andy Williams Show and how he came to pre-record the music for the show
Mike Post on his two seasons conducting the orchestra on The Andy Williams Show
Mike Post on what he learned working with various musical guests on The Andy Williams Show
Baa Baa Black Sheep aka Black Sheep Squadron
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Cop Rock
Mike Post on composing for Cop Rock
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Doogie Howser, M.D.
Grammys, The
Mike Post on winning a Grammy for "Classical Gas" and coming of age in Los Angeles
Greatest American Hero, The
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The Greatest American Hero
Hill Street Blues
Mike Post on working on Hill Street Blues with writer/producer Steven Bochco
L.A. Law
Mike Post on writing the theme song to L.A. Law
Mike Post on writing the theme music for L.A. Law
Mike Post on scoring L.A. Law
Lassie
Mike Post on the theme to Lassie
Law & Order
Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring Law & Order
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring the Law & Order spin-offs
Magnum, P.I.
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Magnum, P.I.
NYPD Blue
Mike Post on writing the theme for NYPD Blue
Quantum Leap
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Quantum Leap
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
Rockford Files, The
Mike Post on writing the theme music for The Rockford Files
Mike Post on scoring The Rockford Files
Toma
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Toma
White Shadow, The
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The White Shadow
Topics
Pop Culture
Mike Post on the theme to Lassie
Mike Post on writing the theme music for The Rockford Files
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Toma
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The White Shadow
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Magnum, P.I.
Mike Post on working on Hill Street Blues with writer/producer Steven Bochco
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The Greatest American Hero
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The A-Team
Mike Post on writing the theme song to L.A. Law
Mike Post on writing the theme music for L.A. Law
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Quantum Leap
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Doogie Howser, M.D.
Mike Post on composing for Cop Rock
Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring Law & Order
Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring NYPD Blue
Television Industry
Mike Post on how the business of television scoring has changed since the '70s
TV Theme Songs
Mike Post on the theme to Lassie
Mike Post on writing the theme music for The Rockford Files
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Toma
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The White Shadow
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Magnum, P.I.
Mike Post on working on Hill Street Blues with writer/producer Steven Bochco
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The Greatest American Hero
Mike Post on writing the theme song to The A-Team
Mike Post on writing the theme song to L.A. Law
Mike Post on writing the theme music for L.A. Law
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Quantum Leap
Mike Post on writing the theme song to Doogie Howser, M.D.
Mike Post on composing for Cop Rock
Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring Law & Order
Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring NYPD Blue
Professions
Composer
Mike Post on his process of writing musical themes
Mike Post on how he got hired (by Stephen J. Cannell) and his work ethic
Mike Post on coming up with the theme music for The Rockford Files, using a synthesizer, being a "behind-the-scenes" guy
Mike Post on the process of scoring a television episode
Mike Post on what he's proudest of in his music career
Mike Post on how the business of television scoring has changed since the '70s
Mike Post on advice to aspiring television or film composers and how he'd like to be remembered
Music Professionals
Mike Post on the process of scoring a television episode
Mike Post on what he's proudest of in his music career
Mike Post on how the business of television scoring has changed since the '70s
Mike Post on advice to aspiring television or film composers and how he'd like to be remembered
Genres
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Mike Post on what he learned working with various musical guests on The Andy Williams Show
People
Steven Bochco
Mike Post on his friendships with Stephen J. Cannell, Steven Bochco, and Dick Wolf
Mike Post on writing the theme song for Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
Mike Post on working on Hill Street Blues with writer/producer Steven Bochco
Mike Post on composing for Cop Rock
Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring NYPD Blue
Mike Post on then-current (2005) projects and how he works with Stephen J. Canell, Steven Bochco, and Dick Wolf
Sonny Bono
Mike Post on playing for Sonny and Cher
Stephen J. Cannell
Mike Post on meeting Stephen J. Cannell
Mike Post on the talent of Stephen J. Cannell
Mike Post on writing the theme music for The Rockford Files
Mike Post on his friendships with Stephen J. Cannell, Steven Bochco, and Dick Wolf
Mike Post on then-current (2005) projects and how he works with Stephen J. Canell, Steven Bochco, and Dick Wolf
Ray Charles
Mike Post on working with his hero, Ray Charles, on The Andy Williams Show and how he came to pre-record the music for the show
Cher
Mike Post on playing for Sonny and Cher
Henry Mancini
Mike Post on early encouragement from Henry Mancini
Randy Newman
Mike Post on composing for Cop Rock
Kenny Rogers
Mike Post on producing the band First Edition
Tom Smothers
Mike Post on producing the hit song "Classical Gas" for Mason Williams
Andy Williams
Mike Post on his entry into television via conducting for The Andy Williams Show
Dick Wolf
Mike Post on his friendships with Stephen J. Cannell, Steven Bochco, and Dick Wolf
Mike Post on writing the theme for and scoring Law & Order
Mike Post on then-current (2005) projects and how he works with Stephen J. Canell, Steven Bochco, and Dick Wolf