Neil Argo(May 28, 1947 – August 2, 2018)[1]was an American composer for film and television working inHollywood.He is most known for his work on the nature television seriesWild America.[2]
Neil Argo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Neil Douglas Argo Jr. May 28, 1947 |
| Died | August 2, 2018(aged 71) Scottsdale, Arizona,U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of North Texas |
| Years active | 1981-2018 |
| Website | neilargo |
Early life
editArgo was born inSan Diego, California,on May 28, 1947. He studied piano and percussion in high school, and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1966. After his military duty with the North American Air Defense Band, he attended theUniversity of North Texas,and received a Bachelors of Music degree in music composition. Subsequently, he received a Masters of Music degree in theory and composition from theUniversity of Northern Colorado.[3]
Career
editWhile in Colorado, Argo was introduced toMarty Stoufferin Aspen in 1981. Stouffer had a new television series in the making,Wild AmericaforPBS.Argo composed the series theme and scored early episodes. He was awarded the first composer-in-residence grant in 1984 from theColorado Council on the Arts,funded by TheNational Endowment for the Arts.His theme forWild Americawas later orchestrated into a six-minute concert band overture, and was published in 2002 by Ludwig Music Publishers of Ohio. In 1983, theDenver Center for the Performing Artscontracted Argo to write and produce the Denver Center for Performing Arts signature theme.[4]
In 1985, he relocated to Los Angeles, California,[5]where initially he worked as an orchestrator onDynasty,The Colbys[6]and later,MacGyver[7]through Paramount television and later composed for the return television seriesMission: Impossible.He wrote additional music forBeverly Hills 90210.In 1988, Argo also scored Andy Tennant's short film,The Cat Story.[8]
He composed the score for the National Geographic's Special,Survivors of the Skeleton Coast(1993), which gave him the opportunity to score the London-based, five-part mini-seriesSkeleton Coast Safari(1997).[3][9]In 1998, Argo received the Contribution to the Arts Award by the Alumni Association of the University of Northern Colorado. That same year he donated many of his music manuscripts to the James Michener Library, Greeley, Colorado.[10]
Argo's film scores includedChavez Cage of Glorywith Steven Bauer (2013),The Legends of Nethiahwith Robert Picardo (2012),Chasing the Greenwith William Devane (2009),Bring Him HomewithEd Asner(2000), "P.J." with John Heard (2008), among others.[11]
From 2010 to 2012, Argo collaborated with Jimmy Greenspoon, band member ofThree Dog Night,on various film projects. Kronos Records released Argo's soundtrack from the motion pictureP.J.in November 2014.[12]TheWild Americasoundtrack was released in October 2015, also on the Kronos Label.[13]
Other
editIn addition to his work in film and television, Argo taught orchestration and film scoring at California State University at Northridge, and had been a guest lecturer at several colleges and universities in the United States. He was a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Media Task Force atBiola University,[3]the Society of Composers and Lyricists, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, BMI, the American Federation of Musicians andThe Recording Academy's Producers and Engineers Wing.
Death
editNeil Argo died inScottsdale, Arizona,on August 2, 2018, from heart failure. He was 71 years old.[1]
Partial filmography
edit| Year | Work |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Dynasty |
| 1984 | Zebulon Pike and the Blue Mountain |
| 1985 | MacGyver |
| 1986 | Hush Little Baby Don't You Cry |
| 1987 | The Colby's |
| 1987 | Hotel |
| 1988 | The Cat Story |
| 1988-1990 | Mission: Impossible |
| 1992 | Hearts are Wild |
| 1993 | Storytellers of Lincoln County |
| 1993 | National Geographic Specials |
| 1982-1994 | Wild America |
| 1995 | Un Incontro (An Encounter) |
| 1995 | National Geographic Explorer |
| 1995 | CBS Schoolbreak Special |
| 1997 | Skeleton Coast Safari |
| 1997 | Santa Monica: A Community of Caring |
| 2000 | Bring Him Home |
| 2003 | The Last Leaf |
| 2003 | Her Knight |
| 2005 | Mavet |
| 2006 | Girl with Gun |
| 2007 | Perfect Red |
| 2008 | P.J. |
| 2008 | Warriors... In Their Own Words |
| 2009 | Chasing the Green |
| 2009 | Little Boba |
| 2010 | Cult 11 |
| 2011 | Machete |
| 2011 | A Sister's Call |
| 2012 | The Legends of Nethiah |
| 2013 | Eduardo and Ted |
| 2013 | Chavez Cage of Glory |
| 2014 | Restoration of Paradise |
Awards
edit| Year | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Park City Film Music Festival - Silver Medal for Excellence | Girl with Gun |
| 2007 | Park City Film Music Festival - Silver Medal for Excellence | Mavet |
| 2008 | Park City Film Music Festival - Bronze Medal for Excellence | P.J. |
| 2008 | Park City Film Music Festival - Silver Medal for Excellence | Perfect Red |
| 2009 | Park City Film Music Festival - Gold Medal for Excellence | Chasing the Green |
| 2010 | Park City Film Music Festival - Silver Medal for Excellence | Cult 11 |
| 2010 | Park City Film Music Festival - Bronze Medal for Excellence | Cult 11 |
References
edit- ^abNeil Argo, distinguished alumnus of University of Northern Colorado, dies at 71.Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^"Neil Argo".Retrieved3 January2015.
- ^abc"Skelton Coast Safari". Vol. 24. Soundtrack Magazine. 2002. p. 15.
- ^"10100426 - Wild America (arr. Bettger)".Retrieved3 January2015.
- ^"Neil Argo". Denver Post. 2 January 1985. p. Section C.
- ^"The Colbys".Library of Congress.Retrieved3 January2015.
- ^"MacGYVER".Library of Congress.
- ^"Dynasty".Library of Congress.
- ^"Review: 'National Geographic Specials Survivors of the Skeleton Coast'".Variety. 14 April 1993.Retrieved3 January2015.
- ^"Record Group SC61 Neil Argo Collection".Archived fromthe originalon 7 December 2015.Retrieved3 January2015.
- ^"Neil Argo"(PDF).Retrieved3 January2015.
- ^"Neil Argo".Retrieved3 January2015.
- ^"Wild America".Retrieved3 January2015.
