August 17, 2015
Me and My Emmy

Me and My Emmy: John Debney

Hearing his name called from the Emmy stage was music to John Debney's ears.

Primetime Emmy Tally: Three

How He Got the Gold: For outstanding achievement in music composition, for the ABC series The Young Riders (1991); for individual achievement in main-title-theme music, for the NBC series seaQuest DSV (1994); and again for music composition, for the syndicated series The Cape (1997).

Now for the Noms: A main-title-theme nomination for The Young Riders (1990); a main-title-theme nom for The Cape (1997); and a music-composition nom for History’s Hatfields & McCoys (2012).

The Tone Zone: “I like get to the heart of the emotional thread. It sometimes takes a few attempts to get the tone just right. It is always trial and error and, at some point, the right direction presents itself.”

Passion Play: “Music has been such a huge part of my life that I really can’t remember a time when I haven’t been involved with it.”

Best of the West: “The producer and director of History’s Texas Rising wanted a score in the tradition of the great western scores of the past. It ended up having about seven main themes. I knew I’d need help with this monumental project, and it was an amazing journey with one of the finest composers of our era, Bruce Broughton, who is not only a dear friend but a monumental talent. I’m very proud of the score we created.”

Emmy Memory: “My first Emmy [for The Young Riders] was the sweetest. I was a younger man, and I guess you can say that the first of anything is a sweet thing. Just being nominated is such a great honor.”

Shine On: “I keep the Emmys at my office and love seeing them. But I think they need one or two more to make a nice set [wink].”


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