About
"I was born and raised in the tradition, I think, of the greatest era of popular music."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Tony Mottola (1918-2004) talks about his roots as a member of The George Hall Orchestra. He describes his beginnings at CBS radio, which led to his Tony Mottola Trio (Mottola on guitar, Bill Clifton on piano, and Sid Weiss on bass) appearing on the very first "live" musical television show on CBS— Face the Music, later titled Make Mine Music (1948-49). He details his long association with The Perry Como Show (1950-63), originally The Chesterfield Supper Club (1948-50). He describes his groundbreaking work on the "live" anthology series Danger (1950-55) for which he composed and played electric guitar, and talks about the opening chord for the series that would become known as the "Danger chord" or the "Tony Mottola chord." Mottola talks of the record album that was released in 1951 with selections of his work from Danger, which is believed to be the first television soundtrack album. He speaks about other series he composed for, including Crime Photographer (1951-52) and The Kraft Television Theater. Finally, Mottola discusses his work as a member of the staff orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (from 1962-72) and talks of his last professional credit as composer, the feature film Running on Empty (1988), directed by former Danger director Sidney Lumet. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on October 24, 2000 in Denville, NJ.
Highlights
Tony Mottola on writing the theme to Danger
Tony Mottola on why he likes a Gibson guitar
Tony Mottola on becoming a staff musician at CBS and working with Frank Sinatra and Perry Como
Tony Mottola on working with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and teaching Carson to play the guitar
Tony Mottola on touring with Frank Sinatra in the 1980s
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on his love of guitar and how his family was affected by the Great Depression
On winning amateur competitions and appearing on a children's show at WAAT; on meeting a young Frank Sinatra; on getting his own radio show on WAAT
On becoming a member of The George Hall Orchestra and touring the South; on moving to New York
On becoming a staff musician at CBS and working with Frank Sinatra and Perry Como; on New York in the 1940s
Chapter 2
On getting married; on Swing Alley; on working with Perry Como and Frank Sinatra and their differences in style
On playing electric guitar; on his role in CBS experimental television's Face the Music aka Make Mine Music
On meeting (then-television director) Yul Brynner and writing the theme to Danger; on playing live music on television
On working with Yul Brynner; on composing the music for Danger
Chapter 3
On playing electric guitar on Danger; on why he likes a Gibson guitar; on composing for Danger and "The Danger chord"
On "The Killer Scarf" production of Danger; on adapting the music for live productions; on appearing on screen and working with actors
On working with director Sidney Lumet on Danger; on keeping the music on Danger fresh
On other CBS shows on which he worked and how he balanced his workload; on his work accompanying Perry Como
Chapter 4
On working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall; on composing and playing music for Crime Photographer and other DuMont productions
On working with musician Enoch Light; on albums he's recorded
On working on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and teaching Johnny Carson to play guitat
On touring with Frank Sinatra in the 1980s; on the last time he played guitar - 1986 for a tribute album to Frank Sinatra
On advice to an aspiring musician; on playing with vocalists and playing music on Caesar's Hour
Chapter 5
B-roll of photos and items from his career - worksheets and folios from Danger, photos with Johnny Carson, Skitch Henderson, and Frank Sinatra
Shows
Caesar's Hour
Tony Mottola on playing music on Caesar's Hour
Crime Photographer
Tony Mottola on composing and playing music for Crime Photographer
Danger
Tony Mottola on meeting Yul Brynner, writing the theme to Danger, and playing music on the show
Tony Mottola on composing the music for Danger and his other duties at CBS
Tony Mottola on playing electric guitar on Danger
Tony Mottola on composing for Danger
Tony Mottola on composing for specific productions of Danger and writing themes and variations for the program
Tony Mottola on actors and actresses with whom he worked while composing for Danger and adapting live music on the spot
Tony Mottola on appearing on screen on Danger
Tony Mottola on working with director Sidney Lumet on Danger and on films
Tony Mottola on keeping the music on Danger fresh
Tony Mottola on one of his worksheets from Danger
Tony Mottola on the cover of a folio to Danger
Tony Mottola on a photo with Yul Brynner from Danger
Tony Mottola on a photo with Sidney Lumet from Danger
Face the Music aka Make Mine Music
Tony Mottola on his role in CBS experimental television (Face the Music aka Make Mine Music)
Tony Mottola on rehearsals and production on Face the Music aka Make Mine Music
Tony Mottola on photos from Face the Music
Tony Mottola on a photo of his on-screen performance on Face the Music
Kraft Music Hall, The
Tony Mottola on a photo of a rehearsal for The Kraft Music Hall
Perry Como Show, The
Tony Mottola on his workload on The Perry Como Show and accompanying Perry Como
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Tony Mottola on becoming a guitarist for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Tony Mottola on working with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and teaching Carson to play the guitar
Tony Mottola on a photo with Skitch Henderson and Johnny Carson on the set of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Topics
Advice
Tony Mottola on advice to an aspiring musician
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Tony Mottola on his musical influences
Hollywood Blacklist
Tony Mottola on not being affected by the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Tony Mottola on not being affected by the Hollywood Blacklist
Pop Culture
Tony Mottola on writing the theme to Danger
Television Industry
Tony Mottola on advice to an aspiring musician
TV Theme Songs
Tony Mottola on writing the theme to Danger
Professions
Music Professionals
Tony Mottola on advice to an aspiring musician
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Tony Mottola on meeting Yul Brynner, writing the theme to Danger and playing music on the show
Tony Mottola on playing live music on the early classic anthology series
Tony Mottola on composing for Danger
Late Night
Tony Mottola on becoming a guitarist for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
People
Yul Brynner
Tony Mottola on meeting (then-television director) Yul Brynner and working on Danger
Tony Mottola on Yul Brynner as a director on Danger
Tony Mottola on a photo with Yul Brynner from Danger
Johnny Carson
Tony Mottola on working with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and teaching Carson to play the guitar
Tony Mottola on a photo with Skitch Henderson and Johnny Carson on the set of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Perry Como
Tony Mottola on performing with Perry Como and Frank Sinatra
Tony Mottola on his workload on The Perry Como Show and accompanying Perry Como
Tony Mottola on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall
Tony Mottola on a photo at the Reagan White House with Perry Como and Frank Sinatra
Skitch Henderson
Tony Mottola on a photo with Skitch Henderson and Johnny Carson on the set of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Sidney Lumet
Tony Mottola on Sidney Lumet as a director on Danger
Tony Mottola on working with director Sidney Lumet on Danger and on films
Tony Mottola on a photo with Sidney Lumet from Danger
Ronald Reagan
Tony Mottola on a photo at the Reagan White House with Perry Como and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Tony Mottola on meeting Frank Sinatra on WAAT radio
Tony Mottola on performing with Perry Como and Frank Sinatra
Tony Mottola on touring with Frank Sinatra in the 1980s
Tony Mottola on a photo with Frank Sinatra
Tony Mottola on a photo at the Reagan White House with Perry Como and Frank Sinatra
Tony Mottola on a photo of a Frank Sinatra recording