The saxophonist who delivered the unforgettable melody on Henry Mancini’s “Pink Panther” theme died July 15 at his Los Angeles home, just days before he would have turned 95. Plas Johnson, who transformed a film score into a cultural touchstone recognized worldwide, was 94.
Johnson’s son Eric Johnson and daughter Stephanie Oliver confirmed his death. The family did not disclose a cause.
Born July 21, 1931, in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, Johnson grew up surrounded by music. His mother played piano while his father performed on banjo and saxophone. He was the middle of three children in a household where instruments were central to daily life.
He began performing professionally at age 10 as a vocalist, years before touching a horn. At 12, someone gave him a soprano saxophone, and he started taking lessons. His repertoire expanded to include alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, plus clarinet and flute. By his teenage years he was already gigging in New Orleans, which led to touring work with R&B vocalist Charles Brown. Military service interrupted that schedule, and in 1950 Johnson performed as part of a musical unit in the armed forces.
That same year, Johnson made his first recording alongside his brother Ray for DeLuxe Records. After shifting from soprano to alto and tenor instruments, he relocated to Los Angeles in 1954 and quickly became embedded in the city’s studio scene. Over a career that stretched beyond five decades, he played on sessions for Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, BB King, Marvin Gaye, Elton John and Barbra Streisand.
Mancini Wrote the Melody With Him in Mind
But it was the 1963 recording for Blake Edwards’ comedy starring Peter Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau that defined his legacy. Mancini later explained that he had composed the piece expressly for Johnson, noting the musician had “the sound and the style I wanted.” That warm tenor solo became one of Hollywood’s most instantly recognizable musical phrases, synonymous with stealth and comedy in popular culture.
Johnson remembered the session as unusually efficient. The musicians captured it in nearly one pass, he recalled decades later, and the response from the other players surprised him. “We only did two takes, I think,” he once said. “When we finished, everyone applauded, even the string players.” He observed, with typical modesty, that string players never applaud for anything.
Released as a single, the track reached the Top 10 on the adult contemporary chart and won three Grammy Awards. The score earned a nomination in the best original score category at the 37th Academy Awards and later ranked 20th on the American Film Institute’s list of cinema’s greatest film scores.
Sessions, Television Themes and a Lasting Voice
His discography reads like a survey of postwar American music. Johnson contributed to The Beach Boys’ 1966 album “Pet Sounds” and recorded the piccolo solo on Bobby Day’s 1958 hit “Rockin’ Robin.” He performed theme songs for television programs including “The Monkees,” “Mannix” and “The Odd Couple.” He spent 15 years as a member of host Merv Griffin’s house band on “The Merv Griffin Show.”
Johnson’s job on those dates was clear to him. Looking back, he later reflected that his contributions consistently elevated a track, no matter the length of his part, and he often provided support beneath the lead vocals.
More than four decades after the original recording, he revisited his signature work when he recorded an updated arrangement for the 2006 “Pink Panther” remake with Steve Martin.
Harmonica player and record producer Bob Corritore paid tribute on social media, describing Johnson as an artist’s artist with a warm, full-bodied tone and sophisticated phrasing that never left him. Corritore recalled attempting to compliment Johnson on his energetic, blues-driven recordings from the mid-1950s, only to have the musician dismiss them as rudimentary when measured against the refined jazz artistry he developed in subsequent years.
Johnson remained active nearly until his death, performing at his retirement community about 30 days before his passing.
He is survived by his wife Carol, his partner for more than 60 years; their son Philip; his children Eric Johnson and Stephanie Oliver; three children from his first marriage, Cheryl, David and Denise; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.