American saxophonist Plas Johnson, whose tenor saxophone solo on Henry Mancini’s The Pink Panther Theme became one of the best-known instrumental performances in film history, has died. He was 94.

Johnson was one of the most prolific session musicians of the post-war era, recording on thousands of albums, film scores and television soundtracks.

Plas Johnston (1931-2026)

Born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana in 1931, he moved to Los Angeles after serving in the army and became a full-time musician, backing blues and R&B artists such as B.B. King and Johnny Otis ni the mid-1950s. He went on to work with many of the biggest names in jazz and popular music while maintaining an active career as a jazz performer. His reliability, versatility and distinctive tenor sound made him a go-to player for many composers and producers.

His best-known recording came in 1963 when he performed the opening saxophone line for Mancini’s The Pink Panther Theme. The performance became synonymous with the film series and remains one of the most recognisable themes in cinema.

Speaking to the Chicago Tribune in 2007, Plas recalled the session: “We only did two takes, I think… When we finished, everyone applauded – even the string players. And that’s saying something… They never applaud for anything.”

Johnson also released a series of albums under his own name, although he was best known as one of the leading session players of his generation. He recorded with artists including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie.

His career also coincided with the peak of Los Angeles’ studio recording industry and his playing can be heard on hundreds of pop, rock and soul recordings from artists such as The Beach Boys, Carole King, Aaron Neville, Rod Stewart, Minnie Riperton, Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs.

He joined the studio band for the Merv Griffin Show in 1970, and played with a number of jazz and swing bands of the period as well as performing at numerous jazz festivals.