Kenyon Hopkins

Composer/arranger Kenyon Hopkins is probably best remembered today for his work as music director for the television series The Odd Couple and The Brady Bunch, but his work in music long predated and easily transcended any hit television series. Hopkins' career bridged two musical periods, from the end of the big band era into post-war filmmaking, and he was good enough to work with some of the best in both fields. But it was as a creator of instrumental mood music -- what we now call space age pop -- that he first insinuated himself on the public. Born in Coffeyville, KA, Hopkins was the son of a minister. He was raised in Michigan and studied music theory and composition at Oberlin College and Temple University, graduating from the latter school in 1933. Hopkins headed for New York City, where he soon began getting work as an arranger, primarily in association with conductor Andre Kostelanetz. He later spent three years employed by Paul Whiteman, and moved into arranging, composing, and conducting for radio and the theater. After a three-year stint in the Coast Guard during World War II, he returned to music and became an arranger/composer for bandleader Raymond Paige. As a recording artist, he was initially signed to Capitol Records, for which he cut a trio of mood instrumental albums (i.e., "bachelor's den" recordings): Ridin' the Rails, Contrasting Colors, and Swingin' Serenade. He made his biggest mark, however, with a series of atmospheric mood albums cut in collaboration with producer Creed Taylor, entitled Shock!, Panic!: Son of Shock, Nervous Beat: Lonelyville, New York, New York: The Sound of New York, and Ping Pang Pong: The Swinging Ball -- the latter an extraordinary percussion showcase record -- for ABC-Paramount in the late '50s. Hopkins was already...