Neil Argo

Neil Argo (May 28, 1947 – August 2, 2018)[1] was an American composer for film and television working in Hollywood. He is most known for his work on the Public Broadcasting Service television series Wild America.[2]

Neil Argo
Born	Neil Douglas Argo Jr. (1947-05-28)May 28, 1947 San Diego, California, U.S.
Died	August 2, 2018(2018-08-02) (aged 71) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Alma mater	University of North Texas
Years active	1981-2018
Website	neilargo.com

Early life

Argo was born in San Diego, California, on May 28, 1947. He studied piano and percussion in high school, and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1966. After his military duty with the North American Air Defense Band, he attended the University of North Texas, and received a Bachelors of Music degree in music composition. Subsequently, he received a Masters of Music degree in theory and composition from the University of Northern Colorado.[3]

Career

While in Colorado, Argo was introduced to Marty Stouffer in Aspen in 1981. Stouffer had a new television series in the making, Wild America for PBS Television. Argo composed the series theme and early episodes. He was awarded the first composer-in-residence grant in 1984 from the Colorado Council on the Arts, funded by The National Endowment for the Arts. His theme for Wild America was later orchestrated into a six-minute concert band overture, and was published in 2002 by Ludwig Music Publishers of Ohio. In 1983, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts contracted Argo to write and produce the Denver Center for Performing Arts signature theme.[4]

In 1985, he relocated to Los Angeles, California,[5] where initially he worked as an orchestrator on Dynasty, The Colbys[6] and later, MacGyver[7] through Paramount television and later composed for the return television series Mission: Impossible. He wrote additional music for Beverly Hills 90210. In 1988, Argo also scored Andy Tennant's short film, The Cat Story.[8]

He composed the score for the National Geographic's Special, Survivors of the Skeleton Coast (1993), which gave him the opportunity to score the London-based, five-part mini-series Skeleton Coast Safari (1997).[3][9] In 1998, Argo received the Contribution to the Arts Award by the Alumni Association of the University of Northern Colorado. That same year he donated many of his music manuscripts to the James Michener Library, Greeley, Colorado.[10]

Argo's film scores included Chavez Cage of Glory with Steven Bauer (2013), The Legends of Nethiah with Robert Picardo (2012), Chasing the Green with William Devane (2009), Bring Him Home with Ed Asner (2000), "P.J." with John Heard (2008), among others.[11]

From 2010-12, Argo collaborated with Jimmy Greenspoon, band member of Three Dog Night, on various film projects. Kronos Records released Argo's soundtrack from the motion picture P.J. in November 2014.[12] The Wild America soundtrack was released in October 2015, also on the Kronos Label.[13]

Other

In addition to his work in film and television, Argo taught orchestration and film scoring at California State University at Northridge, and had been a guest lecturer at several colleges and universities in the United States. He was a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Media Task Force at Biola University,[3] the Society of Composers and Lyricists, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, BMI, the American Federation of Musicians and The Recording Academy's Producers and Engineers Wing.

Death

Neil Argo died in Scottsdale, Arizona, on August 2, 2018 from heart failure. He was 71 years old.[1]

Partial filmography

Year	Work
1981	Dynasty
1984	Zebulon Pike and the Blue Mountain
1985	MacGyver
1986	Hush Little Baby Don't You Cry
1987	The Colby's
1987	Hotel
1988	The Cat Story
1988-1990	Mission: Impossible
1992	Hearts are Wild
1993	Storytellers of Lincoln County
1993	National Geographic Specials
1982-1994	Wild America
1995	Un Incontro (An Encounter)
1995	National Geographic Explorer
1995	CBS Schoolbreak Special
1997	Skeleton Coast Safari
1997	Santa Monica: A Community of Caring
2000	Bring Him Home
2003	The Last Leaf
2003	Her Knight
2005	Mavet
2006	Girl with Gun
2007	Perfect Red
2008	P.J.
2008	Warriors... In Their Own Words
2009	Chasing the Green
2009	Little Boba
2010	Cult 11
2011	Machete
2011	A Sister's Call
2012	The Legends of Nethiah
2013	Eduardo and Ted
2013	Chavez Cage of Glory
2014	Restoration of Paradise

Awards

Year	Work
2006	Park City Film Music Festival - Silver Medal for Excellence	Girl with Gun
2007	Park City Film Music Festival - Silver Medal for Excellence	Mavet
2008	Park City Film Music Festival - Bronze Medal for Excellence	P.J.
2008	Park City Film Music Festival - Silver Medal for Excellence	Perfect Red
2009	Park City Film Music Festival - Gold Medal for Excellence	Chasing the Green
2010	Park City Film Music Festival - Silver Medal for Excellence	Cult 11
2010	Park City Film Music Festival - Bronze Medal for Excellence	Cult 11

References

1. Neil Argo, distinguished alumnus of University of Northern Colorado, dies at 71. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
2. "Neil Argo". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
3. "Skelton Coast Safari". 24. Soundtrack Magazine. 2002. p. 15.
4. "10100426 - Wild America (arr. Bettger)". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
5. "Neil Argo". Denver Post. 2 January 1985. p. Section C.
6. "The Colbys". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
7. "MacGYVER".
8. "Dynasty".
9. "Review: 'National Geographic Specials Survivors of the Skeleton Coast'". Variety. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
10. "Record Group SC61 Neil Argo Collection". Archived from the original on 7 December 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
11. "Neil Argo" (PDF). Retrieved 3 January 2015.
12. "Neil Argo". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
13. "Wild America". Retrieved 3 January 2015.