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Billy Barnes(1927-2012)

  • Music Department
  • Actor
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Billy Barnes in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)
Billy Barnes was known as the "Revue Master of Hollywood" in the 1950s and 1960s, creating the famous "Billy Barnes Revues", including "Billy Barnes' People", "Billy Barnes' Hollywood", "Billy Barnes' Party", and "Billy Barnes' LA". Barnes composed the ballad "(Have I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair", introduced by his then-wife, Joyce Jameson, in the original "Billy Barnes Revue" and subsequently popularized by Barbra Streisand, and the jazz standard "Something Cool", recorded by June Christy. Barnes was the musical director for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967) television show in the 1960s, and he is famous for composing "special material" - comedic and topical songs - for many of show business's greatest personalities.
BornJanuary 27, 1927
DiedSeptember 25, 2012(85)
BornJanuary 27, 1927
DiedSeptember 25, 2012(85)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys
    • 6 nominations total

Photos18

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Known for

Dick Martin and Dan Rowan in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
8.0
TV Series
  • Music Department
Cher (1975)
Cher
7.4
TV Series
  • Music Department
Melanie Griffith, Michael Madsen, Nick Nolte, Chazz Palminteri, and Chris Penn in Mulholland Falls (1996)
Mulholland Falls
6.3
  • Soundtrack("Something Cool")
  • 1996
Danny Kaye in The Danny Kaye Show (1963)
The Danny Kaye Show
7.8
TV Series
  • Writer

Credits

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IMDbPro

Music Department



  • Morgan Fairchild, Vic Tayback, and Betty White in The Shape of Things (1982)
    The Shape of Things
    4.6
    TV Series
    • special musical material
    • 1982
  • Carol Burnett & Company (1979)
    Carol Burnett & Company
    8.1
    TV Series
    • special musical material
    • 1979
  • Li'l Abner in the Dogpatch Today
    6.7
    TV Movie
    • special musical material
    • 1978
  • The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour (1978)
    The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour
    5.6
    TV Series
    • musical director
    • 1978
  • Laugh-In (1977)
    Laugh-In
    7.5
    TV Series
    • special musical material
    • 1977–1978
  • Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)
    Maude
    7.2
    TV Series
    • special musical material
    • 1975–1976
  • Cher (1975)
    Cher
    7.4
    TV Series
    • special material
    • special musical material
    • 1975
  • The Hudson Brothers in The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show (1974)
    The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show
    6.6
    TV Series
    • composer: special musical material
    • 1974
  • Monty Hall at Sea World
    TV Special
    • special musical arranger
    • 1974
  • Dick Martin and Dan Rowan in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)
    Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
    8.0
    TV Series
    • special musical material
    • composer: special musical material
    • 1968–1973
  • The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World (1971)
    The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
    8.3
    TV Movie
    • composer: songs
    • 1971
  • Burlesque is Alive and Living in Beautiful Downtown Burbank
    TV Special
    • special music material
    • 1969
  • Lucille Ball, Diana Ross, and Dinah Shore in The Dinah Shore Special: Like Hep (1969)
    The Dinah Shore Special: Like Hep
    7.7
    TV Special
    • special musical material
    • 1969
  • Playboy's Penthouse (1959)
    Playboy's Penthouse
    7.2
    TV Series
    • musician: piano
    • 1959

Actor



  • Roma Downey, John Dye, and Della Reese in Touched by an Angel (1994)
    Touched by an Angel
    6.1
    TV Series
    • Lew Poplovich
    • 2001
  • Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser in Mad About You (1992)
    Mad About You
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Mr. Edlin
    • Organ Player
    • Piano Player
    • 1997–1998
  • Dick Martin and Dan Rowan in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)
    Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
    8.0
    TV Series
    • Regular Performer - Piano Player
    • Regular Performer
    • Piano Player (uncredited) ...
    • 1968–1973

Writer



  • Paul Lynde in The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976)
    The Paul Lynde Halloween Special
    6.8
    TV Special
    • special material
    • 1976
  • Cher (1975)
    Cher
    7.4
    TV Series
    • special material by
    • 1975
  • Diana Ross, Cindy Birdsong, The Temptations, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, Mary Wilson, Dennis Edwards, and Paul Williams in G.I.T. on Broadway (1969)
    G.I.T. on Broadway
    8.5
    TV Special
    • Writer
    • 1969
  • ...and Debbie Makes Six
    TV Special
    • Writer
    • 1968
  • Danny Kaye in The Danny Kaye Show (1963)
    The Danny Kaye Show
    7.8
    TV Series
    • written by
    • co-writer
    • 1964–1967
  • The Bing Crosby Show (1964)
    The Bing Crosby Show
    TV Special
    • Writer
    • 1964
  • The Gisele MacKenzie Show (1957)
    The Gisele MacKenzie Show
    7.7
    TV Series
    • writer
    • 1957

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Provides scholarships to young musicians and keeps Billy's musical legacy alive.
  • Born
    • January 27, 1927
    • Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Died
    • September 25, 2012
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(Alzheimer's disease)
  • Spouse
    • Joyce Jameson1955 - ? (divorced, 1 child)
  • Other works
    Active on Broadway in the following productions:

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Had a rare (and very funny) recurring acting role on Mad About You (1992) in the 90s.

FAQ10

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