Pete Carpenter

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Clarence Edward Carpenter, known as Pete Carpenter, was born in 1914 and was an American jazz trombonist, arranger and composer of television themes. After a long career as a trombonist in bands and as a studio musician, he began writing music for television with the composer Earle Hagen, for series such as Bewitched, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and The Andy Griffith Show.

Music and breakthrough

In 1968 his collaboration with the much younger composer Mike Post began, which lasted until his death in 1987. Their first success was the theme for Toma from 1973, the first series by the producer Stephen J. Cannell. The big breakthrough came in 1974 with the theme for The Rockford Files, starring James Garner. It became a hit in the American top ten and won a Grammy for best arrangement. Together Carpenter and Post wrote music for more than 1,800 hours of television. This includes Baa Baa Black Sheep, CHiPs, Magnum, P.I., The A-Team, Hardcastle and McCormick, Riptide, Hunter and Stingray. They also made music for films, including Vanishing Point from 1971. For Hunter they received a BMI TV Music Award in 1989.

Influence

Carpenter came from the big band world, and you can hear that experience in the themes that viewers heard every week.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1984The A-Team (soundtrack)