Re: How Roddenberry Screwed Over TREK Composer Alexander Courage

On 2025-03-28 10:10 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
 

One of the most important parts of any successful television series is its
theme music. Whether the theme is a song with lyrics that provide necessary
exposition to explain the show's premise (as in the case of GILLIGAN'S ISLAND)
or an instrumental that offers a catchy thematic hook (like HILL STREET
BLUES), a series' theme music is familiar, easily recognizable beacon that
signals to regular viewers week after week.

 Can we name a composer who wasn't screwed out of royalties?
 The most egregious example has got to be Johnny Carson demanding half of
Paul Anka's residuals for the Tonight Show theme song, which is why he
has a credit. Was Carson any kind of a musician?
 

I had no idea that Paul Anka wrote the Tonight Show theme.
And yes, Carson was a musician. He was an amateur drummer and close friend of Buddy Rich. And before you snort that drummers don't write lyrics, which is often true, let me remind you that Phil Collins wrote some or all of the lyrics for his songs and the ones he did with Genesis and Neil Peart wrote virtually all the lyrics for Rush.

I love how this scam is allowed in the first place. With lyrics written
never to be used, there should be no royalties to pay.
 

. . .

I agree.
--
Rhino