Cool News
Farewell and adieu Tommy Johnson, the lungs behind one of the most famous themes ever!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with some sad news for JAWS freaks like me. I may never have known the name Tommy Johnson, but I have heard him at least 400-500 times in my life... if not more when you factor in the spoof-usage of his work. He was the tuba player in John Williams' orchestra when recording the soundtrack for my favorite movie of all time, JAWS. That famous duh-duh duh-duh shark theme started as breath in his lungs.
Mr. Johnson died in Los Angeles at the age of 71 from cancer and kidney failure. Like most of these thankless talents in the business, when you do a little digging you find that they wove in and out of some amazing projects, lending their talent as invisible contributors to some of the greatest works of all time. Mr. Johnson not only played music for JAWS, he also recorded for Coppola's THE GODFATHER, the STAR TREK films and Cameron's TITANIC. He performed regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and even the Academy Awards Orchestra.
My thoughts are with you, good sir, on this day. Thank you for your work. It'll live on as long as there are ears to listen to it.
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Godspeed sir!
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RIP, Mr. Johnson.
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TU-BAd Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. No disrespesct to the dead of course.
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May I extend my regards on to this man's family and friends
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He deserves the recognition. Best wishes to his family.
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The man who once held the door open for Harrison Ford on the set of Raiders of the Lost Ark was found dead today from heart failure. He was 84 years old.
Sorry to seem glib but a lot of these obits seem overly dramatic. I am sure the guy was a decent bloke and all, but at least try for some perspective here....people die all the friggin time! -
Damn you Michael Bay
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on reflex, my first reaction was the same as yours. Then I thought about it for a minute. Maybe this guys grandson reads this here and thinks....hey....people kinda dug what my gramps did, thats cool. Who knows? Besides.....how did it detract from your life at all to have this obit posted here?
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I really do appreciate it when TPTB at AICN post these obits for people like this. Unknown (to the majority) but who's performance in whatever capacity (lighting, makeup, tuba playing) leaves a lasting impression on the films we love. Its good to see these people get some acknowledgment.
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... is what makes AICN so unique. the closeness of it all. the people behind this site hold the simple view that everyone who works on movies is part of the magic. so everyone should get a mention when the time comes. im sure the team would put up an obit for every single person who every worked on a movie if they could, but it would be a huge undertaking. but having these simple elegant reminders that theres more to a movie than the big names means a lot. these are people who affected all of our lives (or you wouldnt come on this site everyday) and they deserve as much respect as anyone.
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PeanutGallery = Douchebag.
I mean, seriously- "I am sure the guy was a decent bloke and all..." and you couldn't just leave it at that. You had to show all of us here how much better you are at life than a corpse. Oh well. I guess we'll all just smile in our knowledge that you're jealous there's a dead guy out there that did more in his life than just make rude comments about dead guys. -
it makes me depressed how big of an asshole someone can be over a man's death, especially someone who influenced our lives as much as this. cmon, who here has not attempted to play this theme on a piano, having had no prior lessons? the answer: no one
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I just would like to pass on my deepest sympathy to his family and friends! Also to say i am very impressed that a site this big still recognises the work of people who perhaps didn't spend their time in the public eyes but offered just as much if not more than those who did!
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When you make a contribution that equals what this man did for movies, then spew all you want. Until then... SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Nice to see the musicians getting the accolades they deserve.
RIP Mr. Johnson. -
Because one less jerkoff in the world is a reason to celebrate.
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Don't take it that I don't sympathize here - shit no - I just think that it is very arbitrary who get an obit around here. A tuba player from a soundtrack? Why stop there! Christ this site will be nothing but obits if that logic is followed. No disrespect to the deceased at all. Jesus you act like I killed the guy.
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You know what, I take back all I said, I just stopped and thought about it...your right, who does it hurt? No one. Sorry all. RIP
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This wasn't a guy who held open the door for a celebrity, you brat, this was a guy whom was integral in cinema history. Fuck you, Peanut. Fuck you right in your ear.
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There are so many people involved in the creation of a film that 99 percent of them get overlooked in favor of the director/producer duo but kudos to AICN for shining the light on those that truly deserve it.
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Mr. Johnson played an intergral role in cinema history, and it's great that Quint and Ain't It Cool News alerted us to the contribution of this person; otherwise, many of us may not have even known. To PeanutGallery.... that's disrespectful, because yes people do die every day, but to dishonor their memory just ain't cool.
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I suggested in the last AICN-obit-TB for AICN to create a separate obits page. I think it was Spock's mom or something. Before that, Cleopatra Jones took down her last jive turkey. SHAZAAM!
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I'm glad there's a site that's chronicling "lower profile" showbiz deaths... I'm sure their loved ones appreciate it, too... thanks for the info...
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He may not have appeared in the film, but man, that tuba rings in my ears every time I go swimming. I'm glad to know the name of the man who has sent chills down my spine since my youth. Thanks AICN.
As for the bickering and BS... Someone died, show some respect. May not have been a movie star, but he was someones father, husband, brother... He touched my life, and I never knew his name. -
Takes a big man/woman to step back and admit when he's/she's wrong. Kudos. I will not follow your example, however, and admit I was harsh. I am a petty man. A small petty man.
RIP Tommy Johnson. Classic work. -
Tommy Johnson was a respected educator, and a great promoter of his instrument. Aside from his long time freelance work in the greater L.A. area, he ran the Tuba studio at USC for many years. As a second generation TJ student, I know that he will be missed by many. The Tuba community, and the film music community, has lost one of its giants.
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Well I can take it Womb2dooM - when it is deserved it's easier to digest.
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r.i.p.
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You missed one of the most famous thematic ideas in movie score history!!! He played the big bass notes for the sound communication in Close Encounters. The one that sounds like a tuba... The man is a legend in the business, and he will be sorely missed. Not only as a performer, but also as a teacher who had an influence on some of the great tuba players in the world today. I am lucky enough to say that I was able to know him, unfortunately not very well, during my time as a student at USC. Thank you TJ!
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what about the teamsters who unionized those gaffers. what about them? or the security guards at the gate. i cant type anymore. ive gotta go-
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His work will live on. Best to his family.
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Who? Well Tom Bell was one of those actors who you saw in amny a movie (mainly UK flicks) but was instantly recognisable. He died on 6th Oct this year. Here's his imdb page: http://tinyurl.com/u72k5
My thoughts are with his family and the family of Tommy Johnson. RIP -
how someone working in the obscure regions of entertainment can have a huge influence on the rest of us. Take heart, all you struggling musicians out there. You, too, may someday be singled out to create a cultural icon. And thank you, Mr. Johnson - you had me from the opening note.
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The man was at the very pinnacle of his chosen profession. For your reference, Peanut-head, he was getting more in residuals alone annually than most physicians can hope to earn in a year. But far more important, he earned the love and respect of thousands of musicians - tubists, fellow studio artists and composers - and countless other folks in the entertainment biz. Next time you see ET, or just about any other John Williams-scored film other than Star Wars IV - VI (played by John Fletcher and LSO), listen for the tuba. That's Tommy.
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