Saxophonist Plas Johnson, known for solo on The Pink Panther Theme, dies aged 94

Jazz saxophonist – who recorded with artists Frank Sinatra, BB King and more – died in Los Angeles, reports say

The US jazz saxophonist Plas Johnson, best known for his solo riff on the timeless classic The Pink Panther Theme, has died at the age of 94, according to reports.

The native of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, died on 15 July, according to a report from the Los Angeles jazz radio station KKJZ.

Johnson’s hometown newspaper, the Donaldsonville Chief, added in a separate report that he died in Granada Hills, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. Social media posts from users identifying themselves as Louisiana family members of the musician also shared word of Johnson’s death.

“My cousin Mr Plas Johnson passed away,” one Donaldsonville-based Facebook user said on 17 July. The post added: “RIP Cuz.”

He was most famous for his performance on The Pink Panther Theme, which he recorded in 1963 alongside the late US composer Henry Mancini. The score to that movie was later ranked 20th on the American Film Institute’s list of greatest film scores ever.

It also won three Grammy awards and was nominated for an Oscar for best original score at the 37th Academy awards.

“We only did two takes, I think,” Johnson once said, according to the Donaldsonville Chief. “When we finished, everyone applauded, even the string players.”

Johnson, who performed the classic’s tenor saxophone solo, added jokingly: “And that’s saying something … They never applaud for anything.”

He began his musical career singing with his family before his father, who played both the banjo and saxophone, bought him a soprano saxophone.

Johnson made his recording debut in 1950 alongside his brother, Ray, for DeLuxe Records before touring with the singer and pianist Charles Brown.

After switching from soprano to alto and tenor saxophone, Johnson moved to Los Angeles in 1954, where he became a session musician, recording with artists who, beside Mancini, included BB King , Johnny Otis , Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye and Nat King Cole.

“My solos always seemed to bring the record up another notch,” Johnson said . “I could do that in eight bars, I could do that in 12 bars and I was used to maybe do[ing] fills behind the vocalist after that,” he added.

Johnson died six days shy of his 95th birthday, according to KKJZ and the Donaldsonville Chief.