Plas Johnson, saxophonist on Pink Panther theme, dies at 94

Plas Johnson, the American jazz saxophonist who performed the iconic saxophone solo on Henry Mancini's 'Pink Panther Theme' for the 1963 film The Pink Panther, has died at age 94. His children announced the news. Johnson began playing jazz in the 1930s, performing in New Orleans clubs with his pianist brother Ray. In the 1950s he became James Brown's saxophonist, touring the US, and collaborated with blues, R&B, and jazz greats including BB King, Johnny Otis, Peggy Lee, and Frank Sinatra. He also composed for television. His most famous work came in 1963 when Mancini hired him to record the sinuous, instantly recognizable saxophone part for Blake Edwards' film, a piece that became a standard and was widely imitated.