There are few musicians who added so much to the great hits of the 1960s through the 1980s as Jimmie Haskell. But Jimmie was also the Composer, Music Supervisor, Musical Director, Music Conductor, Music Arranger and/or Orchestrator of approximately 31 films, 32 TV movies and 445 TV episodes. He has also worked with over 20 symphony orchestras and numerous broadway shows.
Throughout his career, Jimmie received 3 Grammy Awards, 1 Primetime Emmy Award, 2 Primetime Emmy Award Nominations and other awards. He composed, arranged, conducted and/or produced over 135 Gold and Platinum albums. He his also the winner of 3 Clio Awards, 2 Addy Awards and 1 Cable Car Award.
My first recollection of Jimmie in person was seeing him in the hallways at A&M records, with headphones on, listening to rhythm tracks while writing string arrangements for a session later that day. The list of artists he worked with is astonishing, ranging from Barbra Streisand and Michael Jackson to Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers; Simon and Garfunkel to Crosby, Stills and Nash; Gladys Knight and Tina Turner to Pearl Jam and Sheryl Crow; Elvis Presley and the Bee Gees to Sarah Brightman; KD Lang to Puff Daddy, Diana Ross to Bette Midler. And, of course, the iconic song from the era, Ode to Billy Joe with Bobbie Gentry.
But Jimmie didn’t just limit himself to the record business, composing for such TV series as Third Watch, West Wing, 9 to 5, Morning Star/Evening Star, Eye to Eye, James at 16, Land of the Lost and the Doris Day Show and orchestrating or acting as Music Director or Music Supervisor for too many show to list here.
Most of all, everyone loved Jimmie and our hearts go out to Barbara, Scottie, and his extended musical family. Rest in Peace, our dear Jimmie.