- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMorton Aaron Suckno
- Mort Stevens got his start in the 1950s as Sammy Davis Jr.'s arranger and conductor. He then went into composing various scores for network television, as well as becoming music supervisor for CBS in the 1960s. His many fine television scores include, "Hawaii Five-O" (Emmy winner), "Police Woman" and "Gunsmoke." He also scored some mini-series, including, "Masada" (1981) and "Wheels" (1978) (he received Emmy nominations for his work on these two productions). Just before his passing in November, 1991, he was arranging music for John Williams and the Boston Pops and was Music Director for Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli and Dean Martin concerts in the late 1980s. His contribution to television music is considered some of the finest and only lets one appreciate the art all the more.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Glenn R. Warren
- SpouseEthel Ann Sunrich(October 1957 - November 11, 1991) (his death, 2 children)
- Mort's final writing for the theme to the television series, "Hawaii Five-O" took only eleven minutes to complete. It is one of the best known themes in television history. Of all of the many network television scores he has written, Mort's favorite was, "Hawaii Five-O." He also won an Emmy Award for the "Five-O" episode, "Hookman" from the opening episode of the sixth season - (1973).
- A segment of a cue that he wrote for the television series, "Hawaii Five-0" was used as the "CBS Special Presentation" jingle of the 1970s. The cue, entited, "Call To Danger", was also featured on the original TV soundtrack album to "Hawaii Five-0", released on the Capitol Records label in 1969.
- Best known as the composer for "Hawaii Five-O," including the series' theme song and especially the track "Call to Danger," which became the "CBS Special Presentation" jingle in the mid-70s while "Hawaii Five-O" was still on the air, and would be used during the mid and late '70s and the '80s. "Call to Danger," and with it the famous "CBS Special Presentation" logo, were retired in 1990.
- Former student of Jerry Goldsmith.
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