Plas Johnson, jazz artist and 'Pink Panther' saxophonist, dies at 94

Plas Johnson, the jazz saxophonist champion known for his ageless solo connected the taxable to “The Pink Panther,” has died. He was 94.

Johnson’s decease successful Granada Hills was reported successful his Louisiana hometown newspaper, the Donaldsonville Chief. No origin of decease was provided.

According to Long Beach jazz presumption KKJZ, which besides memorialized Johnson’s death, Johnson learned saxophone from his begetter and attended Westlake School of Music successful Los Angeles aft his Army work successful 1951. After moving to Los Angeles, helium became a favourite unrecorded and league subordinate for galore midcentury greats, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Marvin Gaye.

“You don’t amended your jazz successful the studio. You’re successful the workplace due to the fact that of the jazz and blues that you know,” Johnson said successful 1 interview. “My solos ever seemed to bring the grounds up different notch. I could bash that successful 8 bars, I could bash that successful 12 bars, and I utilized to possibly bash fills down the vocalist aft that.”

His nimble, stylish solo connected Henry Mancini’s 1963 taxable to the police-caper drama “The Pink Panther” became taste shorthand for an epoch of sly jazz panache. It won 3 Grammy awards and an Oscar information for archetypal score. The American Film Institute enactment it successful the apical 20 of the all-time top movie scores.

Born successful Louisiana, Johnson was a regular successful Mancini’s orchestra successful the ‘50s and ‘60s. He began playing successful Merv Griffin’s workplace set successful 1970, appeared successful the 2008 documentary “The Wrecking Crew,” discussing the vibrant and ambitious epoch of L.A. league musicians successful the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Information astir survivors was not instantly available.