Artist Snapshot
Returning from Europe as military news chief of the American Forces Network during the Korean War, Stan Zabka continued his music studies in New York and earned recognition as a composer of theme music for various award-winning television specials. He's co-composer with Al D'Artega of "Chimes", the original Tonight Show theme, the marching band version of which became the signature theme of NBC Network Sports for many years. Possibly his best known popular work is "Christmas Eve In My Home Town" which he co-wrote with Don Upton when they were working as pages at NBC. Zabka's 22 years as Associate Director with NBC included five years with the Johnny Carson "Tonight Show" and the Perry Como "Kraft Music Hall". He received an Emmy as a Director of the daytime serial, "The Doctors".