Plas Johnson, saxophonist behind 'Pink Panther' theme, dies at 94

Johnson specialized in jump-blues and R&B before becoming a well-respected live and studio session player who backed many greats

Published: July 22, 2026 06:48 am IST Location: Los Angeles, United States Source: AFP

Jazz musician Plas Johnson, whose silky tenor saxophone played the Grammy-winning "Pink Panther" theme song, died July 15 at the age of 94, Los Angeles radio station KKJZ reported.

The son of a professional saxophonist, Johnson specialized in jump-blues and R&B before becoming a highly regarded live and studio session player. He backed many music legends, including Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Barbra Streisand.

Alongside Peter Sellers' legendary comedic performance as the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the 1963 film, Henry Mancini's slinky theme song was led by Johnson's saxophone solo before a full horn section joined in.

Mancini wrote the tune specifically for Johnson, whose nimble style had gained acclaim through his work as a member of The Wrecking Crew — a group of Los Angeles-based session musicians who were the first choice of producers and record executives. These professional musicians were called on for their exceptional versatility and ability to record with minimal practice, delivering hits quickly.

In a 2008 documentary about The Wrecking Crew, Johnson said it was not uncommon for his work to go uncredited and unpaid. Session musicians' names were sometimes left off records to spare the band's egos, or session musicians would create a sound and a band to front the music would be found later.

"Worse than not getting the money to play on the hit record, which sold a million copies, was not even having your name on them. And they go dig some white kids up out of high school and put them on the road and call them the name," Johnson said.

Born in Louisiana, Johnson also spent 15 years in the band of The Merv Griffin Show, a popular TV talk show.

Published: July 22, 2026 06:48 am IST