LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pete Jolly, a keyboardist who was a regular on the Southern California jazz scene for 40 years and whose playing was heard on some of television's most popular theme songs, died on Saturday in Pasadena. He was 72.
The cause was complications of bone marrow cancer and irregular heartbeat, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Mr. Jolly, whose composition “Little Bird" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1963, formed the Pete Jolly Trio in 1964 with the drummer Nick Martinis and the bassist Chuck Berghofer. The group continued to play Southern California clubs until Mr. Jolly was hospitalized in August.
Jolly, who played piano, organ and accordion, can be heard on such television theme songs as “Get Smart," “The Love Boat," “I Spy," Mannix," “Dallas" and “MASH," as well as hundreds of movie soundtracks, including “The Man With the Golden Arm" and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
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