You might not immediately recognize the name Plas Johnson, but you’ve almost certainly heard his saxophone. The musician behind the slinky, instantly recognizable tenor saxophone solo in Henry Mancini’s “The Pink Panther Theme” died on July 15, 2026, at the age of 94, just six days before his 95th birthday.
Johnson’s contribution to The Pink Panther was only one part of a career that spanned decades. Born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, in 1931, he grew up surrounded by music. He began singing with his family before his father, who played both banjo and saxophone, bought him a soprano saxophone. Johnson eventually transitioned to alto and tenor saxophone and made his recording debut alongside his brother Ray in 1950.
After moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1950s, Johnson became a highly sought-after session musician. His distinctive sound can be heard on recordings by some of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King, and Marvin Gaye. Though his name wasn't always known to the people listening, his saxophone certainly was.
In 1963, Johnson recorded the performance that would follow him for the rest of his life. Composer Henry Mancini was working on the score for Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther and had Johnson’s tenor saxophone sound in mind for its central theme.
“We only did two takes, I think,” Johnson later recalled. “When we finished, everyone applauded, even the string players.”
“And that’s saying something,” he joked. “They never applaud for anything.”
Johnson’s smoky saxophone riff perfectly matched the sneaky movements of the animated Pink Panther, and the theme quickly took on a life of its own. Mancini’s score earned an Academy Award nomination, while the soundtrack won three Grammy Awards.
But Johnson was much more than the musician behind one famous solo. His versatility allowed him to move between jazz, blues, R&B, pop, and scores for film and television. Later in his career, he returned more frequently to jazz under his own name, while continuing to perform and record. More than 40 years after the original Pink Panther, he even reprised his famous saxophone part for the 2006 film starring Steve Martin.
Johnson continued playing almost until the end of his life. According to his family, he performed for residents at his retirement community only about a month before his death.
For much of his career, Johnson was a musician whose sound was more famous than his name. With just a few notes of his saxophone, though, he created a tune that generations of listeners can recognize almost instantly.
Iconic saxophonist Plas Johnson died on July 15, 2026, at the age of 94, just six days before his 95th birthday.
The musician was behind the slinky, instantly recognizable tenor saxophone solo in Henry Mancini’s “The Pink Panther Theme.”
View this post on Instagram
Johnson’s versatility allowed him to move between jazz, blues, R&B, pop, and scores for film and television. He will be greatly missed.
Source: Saxophonist Plas Johnson, known for solo on The Pink Panther Theme, dies aged 94
Related Articles:
Watch a Tokyo Bluegrass Band Show Off Japan’s Surprising Decades-Long Love for the Genre
Anthony Hopkins To Release an Album of Classical Music He’s Created Throughout His Life
Heartfelt Tribute Video Imagines Rob Reiner Walking Through His Cinematic Legacy
