American composer of 70's and 80's action films. Trained at the University of North Texas College of Music, he worked as a drummer, trombonist and arranger in the orchestra of Stan Kenton between 1961 and 1963. In Los Angeles from 1965, he composed music for TV shows and jingles for commercials. He rejoined Kenton (1967-8) prior to forming his own big band. Heard during a gig in an LA nightclub by Clint Eastwood, he was consequently hired to compose scores for several of Eastwood's films, including Play Misty for Me, Every Which Way But Loose, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, High Plains Drifter and Dirty Harry.