Talk:Pete Carpenter

some personal observations
As the son-in-law of Pete Carpenter, I can attest that "Pete" was merely his nickname; he was never named "Peter," though that was the name he gave to his son. "Clarence" was his given name, but I don't remember if he had a middle name. (Incidentally, the name of his wife, "Maybeth," was a contraction of "Mary Elizabeth." Her mother, actress Mary Carr, wanted to name her "Maybeth" but because she was a Catholic, she felt compelled to use the two saints' names instead.)

I don't remember knowing where Pete was born, but I know he graduated from Torrance High School in California. I remember that because I recall his attending his class's 50th reunion around 1985 or 1986. I'm pretty sure he never attended college. He was raised in a Quaker family but had no religious affiliation in his later life.

Pete spent most of his early musical career as a trombone player and met his wife, Maybeth, when she was singing for a band with which he was playing. By 1965, when I first met him, he was working constantly as a studio musician and on other gigs, which occasionally even included playing the trombone in marching bands at places like Disneyland. During the late 1960s, he toured Japan several times as a member of a big band led by a Decca recording artist whose name presently escapes me, even though I met the fellow. (He was pretty big name at the time, but he's not on Wikipedia's list of big band leaders.)

Pete got his start in TV composing under Earl Hagen during the mid- to late 1960s. He frequently wrote for GOMER PYLE, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, and I SPY. I can remember watching episodes with him, as he anxiously awaited the show's credits to see if his name was listed. As the article states, he started composing for shows with Mike Post. In addition to TOMA--which essentially ended after one year when star Tony Musante foolishly left the show and Robert Blake replaced him, transforming the show to BARETTA and bringing in new composers--and another short-lived show, PINS AND NEEDLES.

Pete and Mike worked together closely until Pete's health started failing badly during the mid-1980s. They did most of their composing work together in a tiny studio room with an upright piano behind the garage of Pete's Sherman Oaks home. For many years, they both smoked so heavily that the air in that room was dense with smoke. One year, I gave Pete an electric air filter that made a big difference, but eventually they both stopped smoking. Not surprisingly, however, the cause of Pete's death was lung cancer. He had a miserable last few years, but I never heard him complain. He was an amazing person.

Meanwhile, HILL STREET BLUES was offered to both Pete and Mike, but Pete declined, and Mike went on to write the show's theme by himself. It was some of his best work, but he was always quick to credit Pete's influence on his compositions. Incidentally, when TV movies of THE ROCKFORD FILES were produced during the years following Pete's death, Mike always made sure that Pete's name appeared in the credits.

(I have pictures of Pete I would be happy to post on this page, but the process for uploading images looks far too complicated for my blood.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.84.217.243 (talk) 18:19, 28 March 2010 (UTC)


 * Great contribution. Do you know where Peter was buried? --84.190.207.249 (talk) 17:22, 17 September 2018 (UTC)
 * I am currently working on a fan video series, later book, based around Cannell Productions (actually it's linchpin is 'The A-Team', taking in the development of Cannell Productions with it). Would you be able to e-mail me pictures of Pete at all; as I only am able to source one or two after much searching. Mousepower1978 (talk) 23:03, 13 May 2023 (UTC)