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Billy May (I) (1916–2004)

Composer | Music Department | Soundtrack

Distinguished multiple Grammy-winning trumpeter, arranger, conductor and songwriter whose instantly-recognizable style remains a longtime trademark. The son of a roofer and a youthful asthmatic, his physician advised therapy through playing the tuba. In his school band, he developed an appreciation of the other instruments and became a self-taught trumpeter and trombonist... See full bio »

Born:

Edward William May Jr.
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Died:

(age 87) in San Juan Capistrano, California, USA
Frank Sinatra and Billy May at a Capitol Records recording session, c. 1958. Frank Sinatra in the recording studio with Billy May circa 1959 Frank Sinatra in the recording studio with Billy May circa 1959
3 photos | 41 videos | 10 news articles »

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My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

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Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

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Melanie Molnar - Reel

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel


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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideComposer (29 titles)
1993 L'Oeil Du Cyclone (TV series documentary)
– Yma Sumac: La Castafiore Inca (1993)
 
1991 Yma Sumac - Hollywoods Inkaprinzessin (documentary)
 
1981 Pennies from Heaven (uncredited)
 
1981 The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (TV movie)
 
1978 Little Mo (TV movie)
 
1978 Sam (TV series)
– Episode #1.6 (1978)
– Episode #1.5 (1978)
– Episode #1.4 (1978)
– Episode #1.3 (1978)
– Episode #1.2 (1978)
See all 6 episodes »
 
1973-1978 Emergency! (TV series)
– Survival on Charter #220 (1978)
– Limelight (1977)
– Hypochondri-Cap (1977)
– Upward and Onward (1977)
– All Night Long (1977)
See all 90 episodes »
 
1978 M*A*S*H (TV series)
– Your Hit Parade (1978)
 
1977 CHiPs (TV series)
 
1977 Tail Gunner Joe (TV movie)
 
1976 American Reunion (documentary)
 
1975 The Specialists (TV movie)
 
1968-1971 Mod Squad (TV series)
– A Bummer for R.J. (1971)
– Is There Anyone Left in Santa Paula? (1970)
– Just Ring the Bell Once (1970)
– Search and Destroy (1970)
– The Song of Willie (1970)
See all 26 episodes »
 
1969 The Ballad of Andy Crocker (TV movie)
 
1969 The Pigeon (TV movie)
 
1968 The Secret Life of an American Wife
 
1967-1968 Batman (TV series)
– Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires (1968)
– The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra (1968)
– The Joker's Flying Saucer (1968)
– Nora Clavicle and the Ladies' Crime Club (1968)
– The Ogg Couple (1967)
See all 18 episodes »
 
1967 Tony Rome
 
1966-1967 The Green Hornet (TV series)
– The Hornet and the Firefly (1967)
– Invasion from Outer Space: Part 2 (1967)
– Hornet, Save Thyself (1967)
– Alias the Scarf (1967)
– Trouble for Prince Charming (1967)
See all 25 episodes »
 
1963 Johnny Cool
 
1962 Sergeants 3
 
1960-1962 Naked City (TV series)
– Portrait of a Painter (1962)
– The Face of the Enemy (1962)
– Bridge Party (1961)
– Ooftus Goofus (1961)
– The Hot Minerva (1961)
See all 43 episodes »
 
1960 Dan Raven (TV series)
– Buy a Nightmare (1960)
– Tinge of Red (1960)
– Amateur Night (1960)
– Man on the Ledge (1960)
– The Junket (1960)
See all 13 episodes »
 
1960 Mel-O-Toons (TV series)
– Gosomer Wump (1960) (uncredited)
 
1958 Love That Jill (TV series)
 
1957 The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown
 
1957 Bernardine (uncredited)
 
1956 The Jaywalker (short)
 
1955 Tara the Stone Cutter (short)
 
Show ShowMusic Department (37 titles)
2011 The Green Hornet (composer: original theme)
 
2004 Beyond the Sea (music arranger, orchestrator)
 
1999 The Stan Freberg Commercials (video) (conductor: "The Great American Soup!", music arranger: "The Great American Soup!")
 
1991 For the Boys (music adaptor - uncredited)
 
1991 The Rocketeer (additional orchestrator)
 
1991 Once Around (orchestrator)
 
1989 Field of Dreams (additional orchestrator)
 
1988 Cocoon: The Return (orchestrator)
 
1987 *batteries not included (orchestrator)
 
1985 Cocoon (orchestrator)
 
1984 All of Me (orchestrator)
 
1984 Swing Shift (orchestrator: Patrick Williams)
 
1984 Racing with the Moon (orchestrator)
 
1983 After MASH (TV series) (orchestrator - 1 episode)
– Little Broadcast of '53 (1983) (orchestrator)
 
1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (dance orchestrator)
 
1981 Pennies from Heaven (conductor, music arranger)
 
1978 The Cheap Detective (orchestrator)
 
1974 The Front Page (music adaptor)
 
1969 Mitzi's 2nd Special (TV movie) (music arranger)
 
1968 Lady in Cement (orchestrator)
 
Batman (TV series) (composer: Batgirl theme - 25 episodes, 1967-1968) (composer: theme music - 1 episode, 1967)
– Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires (1968) (composer: Batgirl theme)
– The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra (1968) (composer: Batgirl theme)
– The Joker's Flying Saucer (1968) (composer: Batgirl theme)
– I'll Be a Mummy's Uncle (1968) (composer: Batgirl theme)
– The Great Train Robbery (1968) (composer: Batgirl theme)
See all 26 episodes »
 
1967 Tony Rome (conductor)
 
1966 The Green Hornet (TV series) (composer: theme music - 1 episode)
– Give 'Em Enough Rope (1966) (composer: theme music)
 
1966 A Fine Madness (orchestrator - uncredited)
 
1964 The Pleasure Seekers (orchestrator)
 
Naked City (TV series) (composer: theme music - 49 episodes, 1960-1962) (conductor - 1 episode, 1961)
– Hold for Gloria Christmas (1962) (composer: theme music)
– Goodbye Mama, Hello Auntie Maud (1962) (composer: theme music)
– Memory of a Red Trolley Car (1962) (composer: theme music)
– The Rydecker Case (1962) (composer: theme music)
– The King of Venus Will Take Care of You (1962) (composer: theme music)
See all 49 episodes »
 
1961 Acapulco (TV series) (composer: theme music)
 
1957 The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (music conductor)
 
1957 Bernardine (orchestrator)
 
1957 This Could Be the Night (orchestrator)
 
1956 A Kiss Before Dying (orchestrator)
 
1956 Nightmare (music arranger, vocal arranger)
 
1956 Screen Directors Playhouse (TV series) (arrangements - 1 episode)
– It's a Most Unusual Day (1956) (arrangements)
 
1955 Daddy Long Legs (orchestrator)
 
1951 The Woody Woodpecker Polka (short) (composer: song - uncredited)
 
1946 Home, Sweet Homicide (orchestrator - uncredited)
 
1944 Meet Miss Bobby Socks (orchestrator - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (31 titles)
2012 21 Jump Street (writer: "Lookin' Fly")
 
2011 I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat (short) (lyrics: "I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat")
 
2011 The Green Hornet (writer: "Green Hornet Theme")
 
2009 Romaine 30° Below (writer: "Five Bottles Mambo")
 
2008 Pride and Glory (performer: "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer")
 
2007 Mad Men (TV series)
– Nixon vs. Kennedy (2007) (writer: "Gopher Mambo" - uncredited)
 
2006 Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland (documentary) (writer: "Honorable Honk Kong Rock")
 
2005 Just Friends (performer: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer")
 
2005 Rebound (writer: "Hands Up")
 
2004/I Taxi (writer: "Hands Up")
 
2003 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (writer: "Green Hornet")
 
2003/I The In-Laws (writer: "Gopher Mambo")
 
2002 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (writer: "Gopher Mambo")
 
2002 Two Weeks Notice (writer: "Mais Oui Mambo" / performer: "Mais Oui Mambo")
 
2002 Death to Smoochy (writer: "Goomba Boomba")
 
2000 Ordinary Decent Criminal (music: "Gopher Mambo" / lyrics: "Gopher Mambo")
 
1999 The Bachelor (performer: "Hernando's Hideaway")
 
1999 Soft Fruit (writer: "Gopher Mambo")
 
1999 Happy, Texas (writer: "Gopher Mambo")
 
1995 The Critic (TV series)
– From Chunk to Hunk (1995) (music: "Green Hornet Theme" - uncredited)
 
1985 Morons from Outer Space (performer: "AMERICAN PATROL")
 
1967 Tony Rome ("Something Here Inside Me", "Hard Times")
 
1967 Batman (TV series)
– Louie, the Lilac (1967) (writer: "Batgirl Theme" - uncredited)
– The Wail of the Siren (1967) (writer: "Batgirl Theme" - uncredited)
 
1966 The Newlywed Game (TV series) (performer: "Be My Host")
 
1961 Teenage Millionaire (writer: "Teenage Millionaire")
 
1958 Naked City (TV series)
 
1957 Bernardine (music: "Jack's Blues" - uncredited)
 
1952 Billy May and His Orchestra (short) (performer: "Don't Blame Me" - uncredited)
 
1951 The Woody Woodpecker Polka (short) (music: "The Woody Woodpecker Polka" / lyrics: "The Woody Woodpecker Polka")
 
1942 Orchestra Wives (music: "Boom Shot" - uncredited)
 
1941 Sun Valley Serenade ("In the Mood" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowActor (3 titles)
1942 Orchestra Wives
Band Member (uncredited)
 
1941 Sun Valley Serenade
Orchestra Member (uncredited)
 
1935 Traveling Saleslady
Announcer (uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (6 titles)
2004 Fever: The Music of Peggy Lee (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1995 ABC News Nightline (TV series)
Himself
– A Man Called Sinatra (1995) … Himself
 
1989 The Glenn Miller Band Reunion (TV movie)
Himself - Conductor
 
1959 The Milton Berle Show (TV series)
Himself - Guest
– Episode dated 21 January 1959 (1959) … Himself - Guest
 
1952 Billy May and His Orchestra (short)
Himself - Band Leader
 
1930 Free and Easy
Himself (uncredited)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Musical director, Time-Life Records: "The Swing Era". See more »

Publicity Listings:

6 Articles  | See more »
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Musical director for CBS Radio's "The Stan Freberg Show" (1957). See more »

Star Sign:

Scorpio