One of the many fine touches on the series was the music. Here is our tribute to that music that caught the interest and imagination of so many viewers. Thank you to: Michael Small, Kevin Banks, Cal Westry, Nadine Bandler, Sharon Doyle and Michael Jaffe. Scroll down to read "behind-the-scenes" information from the production staff and for links to soundtrack listing for each episode.
NB: The series' music HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED for sale.
ORIGINAL MUSIC: MICHAEL SMALL
MUSIC EDITOR: Kevin Banks
THEME:
"Boss Boogie" | DRUMMER (original music): Terry Silverlight
Listen to "Boss Boogie"
PROMO MUSIC: "Sing, Sing, Sing"
See the video of the
Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman & Harry James performing "Sing, Sing, Sing"
PILOT:
The Golden Spiders
Original Music by Michael Small
SEASON ONE:
Read Nadine's commentary on the music from the first season
The Doorbell Rang
(Click to read the Music Cue Sheet from Sharon Doyle and Michael Jaffe
Click to read the IMDB
Soundtracks listing
Champagne for One (Parts 1 & 2)
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Prisoner's Base (Parts 1 & 2)
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Eeny Meeny Murder Mo
Click to read the IMDB
Soundtracks listing
Disguise for Murder
Click to read the IMDB
Soundtracks listing
Click to read the Supersizement lyrics, below
"The singer would have been a session
guy. Not sure if the CD would list the singer or not." -- Kevin Banks, Music
Editor for "Nero Wolfe"
Door to Death
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Christmas Party
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Over My Dead Body
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
SEASON TWO:
Read Nadine's commentary on the music from the second season
Death of a Doxy
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
The Next Witness
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
See the episode's intro, Hungarian Dance No. 5, on YouTube
Die Like a Dog
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Murder Is Corny
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Mother Hunt
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Poison a la Carte
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Too Many Clients
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Before I Die
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Help Wanted, Male
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
The Silent Speaker
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Cop Killer
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
Immune to Murder
Click to read the IMDB Soundtracks listing
"Just thought you would want to know about ITM's title music. Long story short, It was originally written by M. Small for the title in Over My Dead Body. The opening music had not yet been selected when the unfortunate news came down the pipe, and it seemed fitting to play something very Nero and unheard for the season finale."
-- Kevin Banks, Music Editor for "Nero Wolfe"
E-MAIL FROM KEVIN BANKS, Music Editor
To: Jesse Strader
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 2003 10:53:34 -0500
From: Kevin Banks
Thank you (all) for your kind words and praises.
When you get (or don't get) nominated for these kinds of things over the years, you realize how hard it is to be recognized or even win these puppies. I feel I have been extremely lucky in the past few years with my nominations, and I am grateful for the honors.
Here are some answers or corrections for some questions I've seen on the forum lately.
Richard Martinez was the right hand man for Michael Small and the scoring editor for his compositions before they were sent to the mix stage, where I would be responsible for editing them if needed, in addition to handling the needledrop music (not score). Sometimes Michael would be scoring to a rough cut, or Tim would have a different cue in mind from another show.
On the subject of title music, Tim and Aurore would always decide on a piece of music, and I would have to whittle it down to 0:59 to fit the titles (and make sense), or we would come up with a few options, and Tim would make the final choice.
In the first season, Michael composed music for DR, PB and OMDB. During the second season, there was new music for every show. On average, I would estimate a second season show (end product) would be split evenly between new music, previously established cues, and needledrop music.
My involvement in the show started with PB. In season 1 we mixed the international 48 minute version of the show, and I edited the complete sound track (conformed) to fit the picture editor's 44 minute A&E version (season 2 was the reverse).
After they liked my conform on CFO (all that tango music), and because of schedule, I became the music editor with Act 5 of DFM. The next 2 shows DTD and CP were done completely from scratch (no scoring) and DTD is still my favorite to this day.
You asked what I was doing now. You can always look me up on imdb.com for my list of projects. After NW, I did some music editing on a CBS MOW called Mafia Doctor (look for it soon), a movie called "Hollywood North" (later this year) and started working on a new series called "Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye". (PAX in the US, CTV in Canada). It's no NW (what is?); it's more of a "Scarecrow and Mrs. King " meets "Touched by an Angel"; Oh, well. I'm the Sound Effects editor on this one, although I will touch the music , if needed, during the mix. I just can't help myself.
I think that just about does it.
Thanks again, keep well.
Kevin
Music credits of Kevin Banks
"A Nero Wolfe Mystery" (22 episodes)
... aka Nero Wolfe (USA: promotional title)
- Eeny, Meeny, Murder, Mo (3 June 2001) - music editor
- Disguise for Murder (17 June 2001) - music editor
- Door to Death (24 June 2001) - music editor
- Christmas Party (1 July 2001) - music editor
- Over My Dead Body: Part 1 (8 July 2001) - music editor
- Over My Dead Body: Part 2 (15 July 2001) - music editor
- Death of a Doxy: Part 1 (14 April 2002) - music editor
- Death of a Doxy: Part 2 (14 April 2002) - music editor
- The Next Witness (21 April 2002) - music editor
- Die Like a Dog (28 April 2002) - music editor
- Murder Is Corny (5 May 2002) - music editor
- Mother Hunt: Part 1 (12 May 2002) - music editor
- Mother Hunt: Part 2 (19 May 2002) - music editor
- Poison à la Carte (26 May 2002) - music editor
- Too Many Clients: Part 1 (2 June 2002) - music editor
- Too Many Clients: Part 2 (9 June 2002) - music editor
- Before I Die (16 June 2002) - additional music editor
- Help Wanted, Male (23 June 2002) - music editor
- The Silent Speaker: Part 1 (14 July 2002) - music editor
- The Silent Speaker: Part 2 (21 July 2002) - music editor
- Cop Killer (11 August 2002) - additional music editor
- Immune to Murder (18 August 2002) - additional music editor
LYRICS FOR MUSIC "SUPERSIZEMENT"
If you'd like some kind advisement,
This is the time for you to say
Is you will or is you won't
Agrees to be ma belle?
'Cuz is you did then babe I don't
I'd urge you quite so well.
If you please then please be gone
Or else if pleases stay,
But she must make the answer known
Or if stone she'll go away.
Here we are to my surprizement,
I never thought I'd have a prayer.
If you'd like some kind advisement
