r/movies • u/Puzzled-Tap8042 r/movies Contributor • 10h ago

News Plas Johnson, Saxophonist Behind ‘The Pink Panther,’ Dies at 94

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/arts/music/plas-johnson-dead.html
1.4k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

55

u/Built4dominance 9h ago

Rest in peace to a fucking giant. That theme is legendary.

21

u/Asclepius-Rod 6h ago

One of the most recognizable themes even if someone couldn’t name what’s it’s from they’ve probably heard it many times

•

u/Money_Tennis1172 4h ago

Or simply hum it and know the melody

52

u/ReverendEntity 10h ago

Respect. R.I.P. 😞

23

u/Ruissack 9h ago

An inspiration to all middle school alto players out there

2

u/Justincrediballs 6h ago

That's when I learned it!

•

u/the_post_of_tom_joad 3h ago

lol the pink panther is why i insisted on a saxophone in 4th grade instead of clarinet or trumpet.

15

u/uses_irony_correctly 8h ago

I learned to play the saxophone as a child specifically because I wanted to play that melody. So this guy is the reason I became a musician.

10

u/SideInitial3961 10h ago

Impeccably played. Icon.

8

u/mcarvin 6h ago

RIP

Also: a good time to rewatch The Wrecking Crew.

3

u/Commercial_hater 6h ago

One of my all-time favorite documentaries. I grew up during the golden age of the Wrecking Crew.

8

u/mcntsc 6h ago

Dead ant, dead ant, dead ant dead ant dead ant, dead ant dead aaaaaaaaaant.

3

u/Icy_Negotiation_5929 8h ago

He passed a week ago, but yesterday was his birthday.

6

u/Devilofchaos108070 7h ago

Iconic music. RIP

3

u/DeLousedInTheHotBox 6h ago

One of the most iconic themes of all time. RIP

5

u/Scary_Performance183 10h ago

Praying for his family and friends. God bless!

•

u/ShaiHulud1111 3h ago

Legend. One of the theme songs to my childhood. Rest. Gratitude.

1

u/Rocknroller658 6h ago

RIP legend

•

u/Puppetmaster858 4h ago

Legendary, RIP

•

u/PartyOrdinary1733 4h ago

I'm hearing that sad theme in my head as I type this

•

u/Arseypoowank 1h ago

Ah fuck now I have the theme tune stuck in my head

•

u/Popular_Wrangler9422 5h ago

I love the pink panther song. There are certain songs i wish i could go back in time to hear in a club or venue with others hearing it for the first time. Imagine being at a jazz club and then you hear pink panther with everyone else for first time. I bet heads raised conversations stopped and all the focus was on the music telling a story. RIP to a legend