Plas Johnson, 'Pink Panther' saxophonist, Grammy winner, dies at 94

Plas Johnson, the acclaimed jazz saxophonist whose iconic solo on Henry Mancini's 'Pink Panther' theme won a Grammy, died on July 15, 2026, at age 94 in Los Angeles. Born in Louisiana, Johnson began his career in jump-blues and R&B before becoming a highly sought-after session musician. He was a key member of The Wrecking Crew, a legendary group of Los Angeles session players who backed countless stars including Frank Sinatra, Nat 'King' Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Barbra Streisand. Mancini specifically wrote the 'Pink Panther' theme for Johnson's nimble saxophone style. Johnson also spent 15 years in the band of The Merv Griffin Show. In a 2008 documentary, he reflected on the anonymity session musicians often faced, noting they sometimes went uncredited and unpaid while others fronted their work.