(NBC Primetime, 1964 - 1970)
[Twentieth Century Fox Television produced this series with Fess
Parker as Daniel Boone, and singer Ed Ames his as Indian friend "Mingo."
Parker had worn a coonskin cap before in the Disney production of
Davy Crockett. Ed Ames was one of the vocal group known as "The
Ames Brothers" and was to go on to sing easy-listening music as
a solo artist.
The revival of interest in Daniel Boone may have started with a
1950 movie named "Young Daniel Boone" produced by Monogram pictures
with a young David Bruce in the title role.
Then a 1956 film named "Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer" was produced by
Republic Pictures, starring Bruce Bennett, with character actor
Lon Chaney in a supporting role.
During the 1960-61 TV season, Walt Disney had created a 4-part
mini-series named "Dan'l Boone" as part of its umbrella series
"Walt Disney Presents", starring Dewey Martin in the lead role.
But this 1964 series endured. It lasted 6 seasons, and was a hit
in the "Action-Western" genre.
A later series in 1977 named "Young Daniel Boone" was also
produced for CBS featuring newcomer Rick Moses in the title role.
But unfortunately it only lasted 4 episodes.]
[The opening used a male chorus singing the lyric:
"Daniel Boone was a man,
Yes, a bi-i-i-g man...
With an eye like an eagle
And as tall as a mountain was he!"
Although "Vera Matson" was named as the lyricist on sheet
music and in the BMI database for royalty purposes, that was
the maiden name of the wife of Ken Darby, a choral director
who actually penned the lyric. It's not clear why he had
to use a pseudonym, but no doubt it had to do with a
contract he signed somewhere. The "Ken Darby Singers"
sang the theme on the TV soundtrack.]
Composer(s): music by Lionel Newman (BMI), and
lyric by Vera Matson
[pseudonym of Ken Darby]
Original Publisher: Twentieth Century Music Corp.
2018 Publisher(s): EMI-Hastings Catalog Inc.
c/o Sony ATV Publishing
of Nashville, TN; and
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing
of Santa Monica, CA
Unpublished Copyright Date: July 2, 1964; EU 833 776.
Unpublished Renewal Date: Feb. 27, 1992; RE 580 060.
Published Copyright Date: Nov. 2, 1964; EP 194 206.
Published Renewal Date: Feb. 27, 1992; RE 580 050.
Recordings: