PBS's Great Performances pays homage to 100 years of Henry Mancini

As executive producer of Great Performances on PBS, David Horn has his hands full.

It all comes down to timing to capture the moments that happen live while paying homage to the music featured in each episode.

For the holiday season this year, Horn and his crew decided to honor the music of Henry Mancini.

The hour-long episode, “Henry Mancini 100 at the Hollywood Bowl,” will air at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, on New Mexico PBS, channel 5.1. It will also be available to stream on the PBS app.

PBS's Great Performances pays homage to 100 years of Henry Mancini

“We are proud to honor the iconic composer, Henry Mancini, with a concert appropriately staged at the Hollywood Bowl,” says Horn. “His music inspired so many musicians and we’re excited to showcase his work through performances by some of today’s music industry titans.”

During his lifetime, Mancini was nominated for 72 Grammy Awards and took home 20.

He was also nominated for 18 Oscars — winning four.

Horn says Mancini created many memorable film scores including “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Pink Panther,” “Days of Wine and Roses,” “Hatari!,” “Charade,” “Victor/Victoria,” “10,” “Darling Lili,” “Arabesque” and “The Glass Menagerie.”

He also wrote for a number of television films including “The Thorn Birds” and “The Shadow Box,” as well as television themes including “Peter Gunn,” “Mr. Lucky,” “NBC Election Night Theme,” “Newhart,” “Remington Steele” and “Hotel.”

Mancini recorded over 90 albums with styles varying from big band to jazz to classical to pop, eight of which were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Mancini was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 16, 1924. He was introduced to music and the flute at the age of eight by his father, Quinto, an avid flutist. The family moved to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, where at age 12 he took up piano, and within a few years became interested in arranging.

After graduating from high school in 1942 Mancini enrolled in New York’s Juilliard School of Music, but his studies were interrupted the next year when he was drafted, leading to overseas service in the United States Army Air Forces and later in the infantry.

In 1952, Mancini joined the Universal-International Studios music department.

During the next six years he contributed to over 100 films. He eventually left Universal-International in 1958 to work as an independent composer/arranger.

Henry Mancini died in 1994. His wife, Ginny, and their three children — Chris, Monica and Felice; and two grandchildren — Christopher and Luca — continue the Mancini legacy.

The Great Performances special is hosted by Jeff Goldblum and features performances by Cynthia Erivo, Michael Bublé, Dave Koz, Monica Mancini and more.

Horn says the program also goes behind the scenes of the recording of the 100th anniversary album featuring John Williams, Arturo Sandoval, Herbie Hancock, Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil, Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, James Galway and the last televised appearance of the late Quincy Jones.

“Supplementing the concert are interviews with stars from Mancini-scored movies, archival footage and still photos,” he says.