Jazz saxophonist Plas Johnson, 94, dies July 15

Plas Johnson, the acclaimed jazz saxophonist whose nimble solo defined the iconic "Pink Panther Theme," died on July 15 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 94. His death was confirmed by his family and reported by multiple outlets, including his hometown newspaper and a Los Angeles radio station.

Johnson's career spanned more than six decades, establishing him as a versatile and highly sought-after session musician. He was a key member of the informal collective known as The Wrecking Crew, a group of Los Angeles studio players renowned for their ability to deliver hits efficiently for a wide array of artists. His work appears on recordings with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Nat King Cole, Marvin Gaye, and The Beach Boys, on whose landmark 1966 album "Pet Sounds" he performed.

His most famous contribution came in 1963, when composer Henry Mancini wrote the slinky theme for the detective comedy "The Pink Panther" specifically for Johnson's tenor saxophone. The theme, led by Johnson's instantly recognizable solo, went on to win three Grammy Awards and earn an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. The American Film Institute later ranked it among the top 20...