Mike Post – born Leland Michael Postil on September 29, 1944, in Berkeley, California – is a producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist best known for composing some of the most popular American television themes in history including “The Rockford Files”, “Magnum, P.I.”, “The A-Team”, “Law & Order”, “Hill Street Blues” and more. Originally working with several rock and pop artists in the mid-‘60s including The Murmaids and The Outcasts, he won his first Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement on “Classical Gas”, the 1968 hit single by Mason Williams. Post also produced the first three albums by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition between 1967 and 1969. Other production credits include Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs (1981) and Van Halen III (1997). However, he’s best known for his work in the television realm, which began when he became the musical director for The Andy Williams Show in 1968. Mike Post came to prominence in 1975 with his theme from “The Rockford Files”, which he co-wrote with Pete Carpenter. The theme was so popular that it was released as a single and hit the Top 10 in the U.S. Further themes that became hit singles include “Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)” (Number 2), “The Hill Street Blues” (Number 10), and “Magnum, P.I.” (Number 25). Post won numerous Emmy and Grammy Awards for his themes, making him one of the most successful television composers of all time. He also released several albums that were not connected to his TV work including Fused (as The Mike Post Coalition/1969) and Railhead Overture (1975).
