John Parker
While Jerrold Immel created the famous Dallas main title, John Parker helped shape the emotional and dramatic sound inside the episodes themselves. Parker scored 60 episodes of Dallas, bringing character-driven themes, tension cues, and melodic storytelling to the series. This page highlights his background and presents a collection of Parker’s Dallas music cues to play directly on the page.
A gifted composer, arranger and conductor, John Parker brought sophistication and dramatic range to television scoring. — Dallas background score archive
John Parker and Dallas
John Parker taught in the Film Music Department at the University of Southern California for seven years and was widely respected for his gifts as a composer, arranger, and conductor. A brilliant writer of film and television music, he brought both sophistication and versatility to every project he touched.
Formerly the musical director for Arthur Godfrey, Parker began his work on Dallas in 1978, the year the series premiered, and went on to score 60 episodes of the award-winning series. He also scored 87 episodes of Gunsmoke and all of the music for Trapper John, M.D., in addition to contributing scores for The Love Boat, M*A*S*H, and many other television productions.
Beyond his television work, Parker enjoyed a distinguished career in recording and orchestral arranging, arranging and conducting albums for an extraordinary roster of major artists, including Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, Merv Griffin, Carol Lawrence, Connie Francis, and Rosemary Clooney. His career reflected the rare combination of strong dramatic instincts, technical mastery, and musical range that made him a valued presence in both Hollywood scoring and the recording industry.
Dallas Background Score Audio
| No. | Track | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Main Theme | |
| 2 | The Loyal Foreman Ray Krebbs | |
| 3 | The Adultress Sue Ellen | |
| 4 | Gusher! Ewing Family Theme | |
| 5 | The Only Lovers Bobby and Pam | |
| 6 | The Heiress Lucy’s theme | |
| 7 | The other woman Jenna Wade | |
| 8 | Vintage Swine JR’s theme | |
| 9 | Mother of the Year Sue Ellen holds John Ross for the first time | |
| 10 | The Runaway Lucy runs away | |
| 11 | I’m still loving you Ray Krebbs in Rodeo |
Summary
- John Parker scored 60 episodes of Dallas and helped define the show’s dramatic underscore.
- His television work also included major runs on Gunsmoke and Trapper John, M.D., plus credits on many other series.
- Parker’s arranging and conducting career extended far beyond television, with work for major recording artists across pop and jazz.
- The audio cues on this page highlight how character themes and story moments were shaped musically in Dallas.