Johnny Mandel, who composed and arranged for some of the leading big bands of the 1940s and 1950s before establishing himself as a writer of memorable movie scores and themes like “The Shadow of Your Smile,” “Emily” and “Suicide Is Painless,” died on Monday at his home in Ojai, Calif. Mr. Mandel was for many years a journeyman jazz trumpeter and trombonist, a reliable member of any band’s brass section but not an outstanding soloist. The most lasting chapter in his musical career began in 1958, when he began writing for Hollywood. His jarringly serene “Suicide Is Painless” became the theme of both the film “M*A*S*H” (1970) and the subsequent long-running TV version. Among the many other movies he scored were “The Last Detail” (1973), “Caddyshack” (1980) and “The Verdict” (1982).

Source: New York Times June 30, 2020 15:12 UTC