Plas Johnson, the saxophone behind 'The Pink Panther,' dies at 94

NPR | By Zephyr Weinreich,

Jason Fuller, Janaya Williams

Published July 22, 2026 at 2:58 PM CDT

Plas Johnson, the saxophonist behind "The Pink Panther Theme," has died at 94. We remember the Hollywood session legend whose playing shaped decades of music.

Zephyr Weinreich

Jason Fuller

See stories by Jason Fuller

Janaya Williams