Sam Pottle

Sam Pottle (8 May 1934 – 4 July 1978) was an American composer, conductor, and musical director involved in many theatrical and television productions. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he is perhaps best remembered for his work on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, having co-written the iconic theme song for the latter. However, Sam Pottle was also involved with many theatrical productions in the 1960s and 1970s.

Pottle graduated from Yale in 1955.

He died on July 4, 1978 in New York City. His muse, partner, and fellow Sesame Street writer Charles Choset dedicated the 1982 plays Letters to Ben and The Messiah to him. His remains were donated to medical science.

Credits

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Theatre

• The Mad Show (Broadway, 1966) - conductor
• Keep Tightly Closed in a Cool Dry Place (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 1968) - composer
• Cry for Us All (Broadway, 1970) - musical supervisor
• [he Meehans (1977) - composer
• Money - musical supervisor

Television

Sesame Street

• Musical director
• Composer
  • "A Very Simple Dance" - (with Carol Hall) - 1974
  • "The Transylvania Polka" (with Tony Geiss) - 1974
  • "I Just Adore Four" (with Joseph A. Bailey) - 1974
  • "What's the Name of That Song?" (with David Axlerod) - 1974
  • "I Want a Monster to Be My Friend" (with Robert Pierce) - 1975
  • "Counting Is Wonderful" (with Emily Kingsley and David Axlerod) - 1975
  • "Proud of Me" (with Carol Hall) - 1976
  • "Como Estas" (with Charles Choset) - 1977
  • "Count Up To Nine" (with David Axlerod) - 1977
  • "Sing After Me" (with Tony Geiss) - 1977
  • "This Frog" (with David Axlerod) - 1977
  • "Keep Christmas With You (All Through the Year)" (with David Axlerod) - for Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, 1978
  • "I Hate Christmas" (with David Axlerod) - for Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, 1978
  • "Bus Stop" (with David Axlerod)

The Muppet Show

• Composer
  • "The Muppet Show Theme" (with Jim Henson), 1976

Other works

• • "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" (text by John Greenleaf Whittier) for SATB choir and piano, publ. Trigon Music, 1972
• "Jabberwocky" (text from Lewis Carroll's poem of the same name) for SATB choir, piano, harpsichord and small instruments, publ. Trigon Music, 1972

External links

• Sam Pottle at Find a Grave
• Sam Pottle at the Internet Movie Database
• Sam Pottle at the Internet Broadway Database