Composer and conductor John Cacavas (born 13 August 1930 in Aberdeen, South… Read Full Bio ↴Composer and conductor John Cacavas (born 13 August 1930 in Aberdeen, South Dakota) is probably best known for his television scores, notably Kojak, for which he was the chief composer.
John Cacavas began his musical career when, as a 13-year old, he formed his own band in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He began college locally at Northern State University, and then went on to study music and composition at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinios, where he became active as an arranger for several varsity musicals and director of a weekly radio orchestra broadcast.
Upon graduation, he entered the Armed Forces and became an arranger with the prestigious United States Army Band in Washington, D. C. It was there that he began writing arrangements and compositions for the nation's major music publishers. He also began his long-time friendship and collaboration with Charles Osgood, lyricist (now news commentator and personality at CBS). With their writing of an oratorio, The Conversion of Paul, they won national acclaim.
Upon his discharge, Cacavas moved to New York and began pursuing his career in earnest, continuing his composing and arranging. He served as an assistant conductor at CBS under the tutelage of the esteemed Alfredo Antonini, and worked closely with Morton Gould. Cacavas went on to become Director of Publications at Chappell & Co. Inc. while continuing with his composing career.
In 1970 he and his family moved to London where he became established as a film composer. Three years later he relocated his family to Beverly Hills where he became a full-time composer for feature films and television.
Cacavas has written extensively for television. Along with his five years of scoring Kojak, and three years of Hawaii Five-0, he has written for such diverse shows as Matlock, Columbo, Quincy, Murder She Wrote, Mrs. Columbo, The Gangster Chronicles, Lady Blue, The Four Seasons, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Today's FBI, The Equalizer and Bionic Woman. His music has also appeared on Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Malcolm in the Middle, Magnum P. I., Dawson's Creek, Perry Mason, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, X-Files, Frasier and countless others.
A sample of his scores for TV movies are Time Machine, Murder by Reason of Insanity, Police Story II, Dirty Dozen II and III, The Return of Ironside, and Hellinger's Law.
His scores for mini-series include The Executioner's Song, Jenny's War, Confessional, A Death in California, and Perfect Murder, Perfect Town.
Feature motion picture credits include Airport '75 and Airport '77, Playing With Fire, Hangar 18, Satanic Rites of Dracula, Horror Express, Redneck, Pancho Villa, and the source music for King of Comedy.
Aside from films, Cacavas has been active as a guest conductor. He has appeared with the London Symphony, the BBC Orchestra of London, The Atlanta Symphony, Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, The Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra, The Dutch National Radio Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, The City of Prague Philharmonic, The Florida Symphonic Pops and the United States Army Band. He has also served as the principal conductor of the Beverly Hills Pops.
In addition, his works have been performed by many major orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, San Francisco Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, The Honolulu and Indianapolis Symphonies and countless others.
His CDs include the soundtrack albums from Airport '75, From London with Love, Phantom of the Opera and Other Broadway Hits, Gallant Men and Behind the Scenes, which is a selection of his top TV and movie themes.
Original songs and arrangements have been recorded by Nancy Wilson, Roger Williams, Sacha Distel, Telly Savalas, Ed McMahon, Les Brown, Lalo Schifrin, the Boston Pops, The Ventures, Ed Townsend and the Cincinnati Pops.
Cacavas has been a leading figure in the American school music field for many years. His published educational works total over two thousand in the areas of symphonic band, orchestra, chorus and chamber works. Many of these are published abroad where they receive extensive performances. In recognition of his musical expertise, he has been invited to guest lecture and conduct seminars around the country, appearing at UCLA, USC, Northwestern University, San Diego State and many other venues.
As a songwriter, his most recent collaboration has been with lyricist Hal David and they have two CDs currently in release by the music production firm, Zomba.
Cacavas is the author of three published books, Orchestration and Music Arranging, The Art of Writing Music and It's Not All Do-Re-Mi.
Music honors include two Emmy nominations. He was awarded the Northwestern University's Distinguished Alumni Award and received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Northern State University. In collaboration with Charles Osgood, he has won two Freedoms Foundation Awards, for The Golden Door and Gallant Men.
Cacavas is presently a member of the Motion Picture Academy's Executive Music Committee and has served as a governor of that organization. He has also served as president of the Composers Guild of America. He has been a member of ASCAP's Board of Review and most recently on the Board of Directors.
John Cacavas, along with his wife, Bonnie, an accomplished lyricist, psychiatric social worker and published author, live in Beverly Hills and also maintain a home in London. They have three children, Lisa, designer of Lisa Stewart Jewelry, and John and Jennifer who are both in the motion picture industry.
For relaxation, Cacavas is an avid and accomplished cook and also enjoys painting.
John Cacavas began his musical career when, as a 13-year old, he formed his own band in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He began college locally at Northern State University, and then went on to study music and composition at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinios, where he became active as an arranger for several varsity musicals and director of a weekly radio orchestra broadcast.
Upon graduation, he entered the Armed Forces and became an arranger with the prestigious United States Army Band in Washington, D. C. It was there that he began writing arrangements and compositions for the nation's major music publishers. He also began his long-time friendship and collaboration with Charles Osgood, lyricist (now news commentator and personality at CBS). With their writing of an oratorio, The Conversion of Paul, they won national acclaim.
Upon his discharge, Cacavas moved to New York and began pursuing his career in earnest, continuing his composing and arranging. He served as an assistant conductor at CBS under the tutelage of the esteemed Alfredo Antonini, and worked closely with Morton Gould. Cacavas went on to become Director of Publications at Chappell & Co. Inc. while continuing with his composing career.
In 1970 he and his family moved to London where he became established as a film composer. Three years later he relocated his family to Beverly Hills where he became a full-time composer for feature films and television.
Cacavas has written extensively for television. Along with his five years of scoring Kojak, and three years of Hawaii Five-0, he has written for such diverse shows as Matlock, Columbo, Quincy, Murder She Wrote, Mrs. Columbo, The Gangster Chronicles, Lady Blue, The Four Seasons, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Today's FBI, The Equalizer and Bionic Woman. His music has also appeared on Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Malcolm in the Middle, Magnum P. I., Dawson's Creek, Perry Mason, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, X-Files, Frasier and countless others.
A sample of his scores for TV movies are Time Machine, Murder by Reason of Insanity, Police Story II, Dirty Dozen II and III, The Return of Ironside, and Hellinger's Law.
His scores for mini-series include The Executioner's Song, Jenny's War, Confessional, A Death in California, and Perfect Murder, Perfect Town.
Feature motion picture credits include Airport '75 and Airport '77, Playing With Fire, Hangar 18, Satanic Rites of Dracula, Horror Express, Redneck, Pancho Villa, and the source music for King of Comedy.
Aside from films, Cacavas has been active as a guest conductor. He has appeared with the London Symphony, the BBC Orchestra of London, The Atlanta Symphony, Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, The Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra, The Dutch National Radio Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, The City of Prague Philharmonic, The Florida Symphonic Pops and the United States Army Band. He has also served as the principal conductor of the Beverly Hills Pops.
In addition, his works have been performed by many major orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, San Francisco Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, The Honolulu and Indianapolis Symphonies and countless others.
His CDs include the soundtrack albums from Airport '75, From London with Love, Phantom of the Opera and Other Broadway Hits, Gallant Men and Behind the Scenes, which is a selection of his top TV and movie themes.
Original songs and arrangements have been recorded by Nancy Wilson, Roger Williams, Sacha Distel, Telly Savalas, Ed McMahon, Les Brown, Lalo Schifrin, the Boston Pops, The Ventures, Ed Townsend and the Cincinnati Pops.
Cacavas has been a leading figure in the American school music field for many years. His published educational works total over two thousand in the areas of symphonic band, orchestra, chorus and chamber works. Many of these are published abroad where they receive extensive performances. In recognition of his musical expertise, he has been invited to guest lecture and conduct seminars around the country, appearing at UCLA, USC, Northwestern University, San Diego State and many other venues.
As a songwriter, his most recent collaboration has been with lyricist Hal David and they have two CDs currently in release by the music production firm, Zomba.
Cacavas is the author of three published books, Orchestration and Music Arranging, The Art of Writing Music and It's Not All Do-Re-Mi.
Music honors include two Emmy nominations. He was awarded the Northwestern University's Distinguished Alumni Award and received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Northern State University. In collaboration with Charles Osgood, he has won two Freedoms Foundation Awards, for The Golden Door and Gallant Men.
Cacavas is presently a member of the Motion Picture Academy's Executive Music Committee and has served as a governor of that organization. He has also served as president of the Composers Guild of America. He has been a member of ASCAP's Board of Review and most recently on the Board of Directors.
John Cacavas, along with his wife, Bonnie, an accomplished lyricist, psychiatric social worker and published author, live in Beverly Hills and also maintain a home in London. They have three children, Lisa, designer of Lisa Stewart Jewelry, and John and Jennifer who are both in the motion picture industry.
For relaxation, Cacavas is an avid and accomplished cook and also enjoys painting.
This Old Man
John Cacavas Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'This Old Man' by these artists:
All 4 Kids This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on his…
B.Aishwarya He looks just like a normal guy But he never looks…
Baby Genius This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on…
Barney This old man, he played one He played knick-knack on my…
Beluga and Friends Look down on me if you want to, oh baby You…
Blippi Verse 1 This old man, he played one He played knick knack…
Bob Dylan This old man, he played one He played knick-knack on my…
C & The Shells I would spend my money Making your life sunny Just like…
Cedarmont Kids This old man, he played one He played nick nack on…
Countdown Kids This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on my…
Dane Warrel ""I remember this old man and the wisdom he shared…
David and The High Spirit I want to be an old man Holding your hand and…
Debra Davis He has no skin to cover his bones He lives in…
Dr. D I left my home to proof myself But I'm not…
Fiddler's Green This old man, he played one He played knick-knack on my…
Fisher-Price We talk about the weather cnd how it is today. We talk…
Fred Penner This old man he played one He played knick knack on…
Genius Products well a long long long long time ago before…
Greg & Steve I went into the bar on a Friday night To drink…
Guardian Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme Remember me? 'Member me? This ol…
Joanie Bartels Ah HF in the building. Where ma hommies at Alright I see the…
Judy & David I want to be an old man Holding your hand and…
K. Epperly There's this man I love, he's not mine at all He…
Kids - Female This old man, he played one He played knick-knack on my…
Kids Choir Lyrics for Jesus Lyrics forJesus Christian Song Lyrics, Mu…
Kidsongs This old man, he plays one He plays knick knack on…
Kidzone This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on my…
Kinderlieder-Club One This old man, he played one He played knick-knack on my…
Larry Groce and the Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus This old man, he plays one He plays knick knack on…
Lee I once knew a man Been everywhere in the world Gave me…
Les Humphries Singers Now once there lived an old man with a very…
MC Frontalot I keep gettin' older and hairier on my neck, back, and…
Mike & Peggy Seeger My old man was a good old man Skilled in the…
Miro Žbirka This old man he play one He play knick knack on…
Mother Goose Club One! This old man, he played one. He played knick-knack on m…
Mr. Eric & Mr. Michael The old man he catches the fish in the morning He…
Mr. Quimbley Man gets old but no change Life there's nothing i…
Mr. Tommy Boiled beef and carrots, Boiled beef and carrots, That's the…
Music For Little People Tu tu hai wahi dil ne jise apna kaha Tu hai…
Music For Little People Choir Tu, tu hai wahi Dil ne jise apna kahan Tu hai jahaan Main…
Neva Eder This old man, he played one He played knick-knack on my…
Nursery Rhymes DVDsCDs and BooksDownloadsKid′s TubeFree Stuff Since 1985 …
Peggy Seeger My old man was a good old man Skilled in the…
Pete Seeger This old man, he played one, He cut back in Washington, With…
Peter and John II'm moving out of Tombstone, yeah with the sun behind…
Pinkfong Hey! See my magic show? Doo doo doo doo, this old…
Purple Reign [Refrain:] Nick nack, Pattywack, Give the dog a bone. [End R…
Raffi This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on my…
Raffi (Family) This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on my…
Sarah Greene & The Children's Company Band & Choir It's a well of pure water when I'm thirsty and…
Steve Harley One, two, one, four You gotta be a dreamer to unleash…
Styx This Old Man He worked for thirty years with Two strong hand…
The Birthday Bunch This old man, he plays one He plays knick knack on…
The C.R.S. Players I'm low around the way, change the posse global Fuck friends…
The Children Of Four Marks Church Of England Primary School With The New World Orchestra This old man, he played one. He played knick-knack on my…
The Countdown Kids This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on my…
The Hit Crew This old heart of mine been broke a thousand times. Each…
The Kiboomers There was an old man And he had an old sow Sow,…
The Nurseries This old man, he plays one He plays knick knack on…
The Rainbow Collections This old man, he played one He played nick-nack on my…
The Rent This what happens when You finally reach an old age You're n…
The Wiggles This old man, he played one He played knick-knack on my…
Tiago Poggere Tiago Poggere - This Old Man Do you see this old…
Tori Amos this old man he played one he played knick knack on my…
Various Artists Various Artists Sesame Street Sing-Along! This Old Man This …
Various Artists/Susie Tallman Well my friends, I see your face so clearly Little bit…
VeggieTales This old man He played one He played knick-knack on my thumb…
Warrel Dane I remember this old man and the wisdom he shared…
Yellowman Now dedicate this one to all the children In jamaica and…
[unknown] This old man This old man, number one He played knick-knack…
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