Background music composer for Hogan's Heroes, The Tonight Show, and The Flintstones, et al. dead at 78

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**Background music composer for Hogan's Heroes, The Tonight Show, and The Flintstones, et al. dead at 78**

Composer Will H. Schaefer died of cancer Saturday, June 30, in a nursing home in Cathedral City near Palm Springs, California. Schaefer was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and was the arranger and assistant conductor with the U.S. Fifth Army Band during the Korean War. During his service he wrote music for "Radio Free Europe" and "The Voice of America." During his prolific career, Schaefer composed and recorded music for over 700 commercials, earning three Clio Awards for his work. Schaefer also created background music for TV shows, including Super Friends, Hogan's Heroes, The Jetsons, The Tonight Show, The Flintstones, Scooby Doo, and The Flying Nun. His music for the Disney TV movie The Skytrap earned Schaefer an Emmy Award nomination, and his concert piece for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, "The Sound of America," earned him a Pulitzer Prize nomination. Schaefer was 78.

Sources: imdb.com, Associated Press, Variety.com