Mission Accomplished: Legendary Composer Lalo Schifrin Passes at 93
Legendary Composer Lalo Schifrin Dies at 93: The Man Behind the Iconic Mission: Impossible Theme
The music world is reeling with the shocking news that Lalo Schifrin, the Argentine maestro behind the iconic theme song of the hit TV series and film franchise Mission: Impossible, has passed away at the ripe age of 93. According to sources close to the family, Schifrin died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday, surrounded by loved ones, due to complications from pneumonia.
But what makes this news even more devastating is that it marks the end of an era for a man who left an indelible mark on the world of music. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin to a Jewish family in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lalo's journey to stardom was nothing short of remarkable. As a classically trained musician, he studied law and harmony at the Paris Conservatory, where he learned from the legendary Olivier Messiaen.
Schifrin's big break came when Dizzy Gillespie, the jazz legend, heard him perform and asked him to become his pianist, arranger, and composer. The rest, as they say, is history. Schifrin went on to work with some of the biggest names in music, including Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and George Benson.
But it was his collaboration with Bruce Geller on Mission: Impossible that cemented his place in pop culture history. In 1966, Schifrin wrote a different piece for the theme song, but series creator Geller liked another arrangement he had composed for an action sequence so much that he decided to use it as the show's iconic logo. And thus, the rest of the world was introduced to the Mission: Impossible theme that has become synonymous with high-stakes espionage and Tom Cruise.
Schifrin's influence didn't stop there. He went on to compose scores for over 100 films and TV shows, including Cool Hand Luke, The Fox, Voyage of the Damned, The Amityville Horror, and The Sting II. His work earned him four Grammys and six Oscar nominations, including five nods for original score.
But Schifrin's most iconic achievement might be his grand finale musical performance for the 1990 World Cup championship in Italy, which featured a legendary trio of tenors - Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and José Carreras. The work became one of the biggest sellers in classical music history.
The list of luminaries Schifrin performed with is a veritable Who's Who of music legends, including Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim, and others. And his genre-bending abilities allowed him to seamlessly transition between jazz, classical, and tango, winning him a Grammy for Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts in 1965.
In a statement to The Scholarly Note.com, Schifrin's son Ryan confirmed the news, saying, "We're devastated by Dad's passing, but we're also incredibly grateful for the life he lived and the music he shared with the world."
Schifrin is survived by his wife Donna, children Ryan, William, and Frances, and a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers alike.
