Composer Neal (Paul) Hefti died suddenly of an undetermined cause on 11 October 2008. Born 29 October 1922 in Hastings, Nebraska, he may be best known for composing the theme music to the 1960s’ television series Batman, as well as the movie and tv versions of The Odd Couple.
Hefti was first a jazz trumpeter, in the 1940s and ’50s, and an arranger, conductor, and record producer. He worked with Frank Sinatra (his death was first announced by Nancy Sinatra on the family’s web site), Doris Day, Mel Tormé, and Tony Bennett. He was also a bandleader.
In addition to Batman, his other genre credits include Alice (1990) and Futurama (1999).
His son, Paul Hefti, is quoted in The New York Times as saying, “He told me he tore up more paper on Batman than on any other work he ever did. He had to find something that worked with the lowest common denominator, so it would appeal to kids, yet wouldn’t sound stupid. What he came up with was a 12-bar blues with a guitar hook and one word.”
His wife, Frances Wayne, died in 1978, and his daughter in 1997. He is survived by his son, brother, sister, and three grandchildren.
It appears his work on Alice and Futurama was simply the reuse of earlier work of his (such as the theme to “The Odd Couple,” on Futurama).