W. G. Snuffy Walden

William Garrett Walden, known as W. G. Snuffy Walden (born February 13, 1950), is an American musician and composer of film and television soundtracks. Walden is an Emmy Award winner for the theme music to The West Wing (NBC),<ref name = "Emmys Bio">Template:Cite web</ref> has been nominated for numerous other Emmys throughout his career, and has received 26 BMI Awards.<ref name="allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="grey">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Early life

Walden was born in Louisiana on February 13, 1950, and raised in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas in 1967. In college he studied science and math, and he put himself through school working on a late-night radio show at KRBE in Houston and playing guitar in a strip club.<ref name="mambo">Template:Cite web</ref>

Walden's middle name was his mother's maiden name, and this was the origin of his nickname. Members of his mother's family had sometimes been called Snuffy after the Southern snuff manufacturer Levi Garrett. His family and schoolmates addressed him as Garrett, but Snuffy began to stick when he was away at summer camp and the name was preferred by fellow musicians as his career began.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

In the late 1960s, Walden dropped out of school, quit his job, and devoted his energies to the guitar full-time, picking up a bass player (Al Roberts) and drummer (Randy Reeder) to form a three-piece band named Aphrodite. They started touring and wound up in Denver, playing local clubs and opening for acts like Buddy Miles. It was in Denver that Emerson, Lake & Palmer's road manager, Neville Chesters, saw them in a club and offered them a recording contract with ELP's label, Manticore. In 1972, the group moved to England and was reformed, keeping Al Roberts and changing the name to Stray Dog. There, they were signed to Manticore and Greg Lake produced three songs from their first album Stray Dog. The new group toured with ELP as the opening act, but never really took flight, and eventually folded. Following the breakup of the band, Walden supplanted the ailing Paul Kossoff by providing guitar tracks for Free's final album Heartbreaker, which was released in 1973 (Walden plays on 'Common Mortal Man', 'Easy on My Soul' and 'Seven Angels'). He also played electric guitar in 1973, on the debut solo album Still by King Crimson lyricist Peter Sinfield. In 1975, he joined The Eric Burdon Band and performed with them for a year.<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="mambo"/>

In 1975, Walden moved to Los Angeles and spent the rest of the decade performing as a solo artist and supporting artists such as Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, and Eric Burdon. Notably, in 1975-6 he again filled in for Paul Kossoff as a session musician on Back Street Crawler's Second Street album. By the mid-1980s, television agents and producers became aware of Walden through his local performances in Santa Monica. When approached to score a new television show, Walden had mixed feelings but accepted the offer. "I could see the handwriting on the wall for touring," he would later remember, "and it wasn't pretty. I kept envisioning Holiday Inn at age 60." The television show he was hired for was Thirtysomething, which turned out to be a major hit television series and dramatically altered Walden's music career.<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="mambo"/>

Following his success as a touring and session musician and an Emmy nomination for the "Theme from Thirtysomething",<ref name="AllMusic Biography">Template:Cite web</ref> Walden scored numerous television series, including The Wonder Years, Roseanne, Ellen, My So-Called Life, Felicity, Early Edition, Sports Night, The West Wing, George Lopez, I'll Fly Away, The Stand, Huff, Once and Again, Friday Night Lights and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.<ref name="AllMovie">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the summer of 2001, Walden released a solo album of mainly acoustic guitar pieces titled Music by... W. G. Snuffy Walden. The album included expanded or full versions of many of Walden's themes, such as "Once and Again", "Eugene's Ragtop", "Thirtysomething (Revisited)", and "West Wing Suite".<ref name="grey"/>

In July 2002, Tom Guerra conducted a comprehensive interview of Walden for Vintage Guitar Magazine.<ref name="mambo" /><ref name="Guitar 2002">Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2008, Stephen J. Abramson interviewed Walden for a four-hour, multi-part video series for the Television Academy.<ref name="Television Academy Interviews 2018">Template:Cite web</ref>

Walden in 2014

In March 2018, Up to Snuff, a documentary film about Walden's career,<ref name="OC Weekly 2018">Template:Cite web</ref> won the documentary competition in its premier at the Pasadena International Film Festival.<ref name="Pasadena.com 2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Pasadena International Film Festival">Template:Cite web</ref>

In September 2018, Walden starred in a 1950s style cover of "Africa" by Toto along with the musical collective Postmodern Jukebox on YouTube.<ref name="Postmodern Jukebox on YouTube">Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Awards and nominations

Emmys

Awards

• 2000 Outstanding Main Title Theme Music – The West Wing<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>

Nominations

• 1988 Main Title, Theme Music – Thirtysomething<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="gsa">Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1992 Main Title, Theme Music – I'll Fly Away<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1994 Best Original Score – Stephen King's The Stand<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1995 Main Title Theme Music – My So-Called Life<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1997 Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) – Early Edition<ref name=EarlyEdition />
• 1997 Main Title Theme Music – Early Edition<ref name=EarlyEdition>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2000 Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) – Felicity<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2000 Outstanding Main Title Theme Music – The West Wing (won)<ref name="Emmys Bio"/>
• 2001 Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) – The West Wing<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2003 Outstanding Main Title Theme Music – Miracles<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2005 Outstanding Main Title Theme Music – Huff<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2007 Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) – Kidnapped<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2018 Outstanding Main Title Theme Music - SEAL Team<ref name="Emmys Bio" />

BMI Awards

• The Wonder Years (1988, 1989, 1990<ref>Shared with John Lennon and Paul McCartney</ref>)
• The Jackie Thomas Show (1993)
• Ellen (1994, 1995)
• Roseanne (1994, 1995, 1996)
• The Drew Carey Show (1997,<ref>Shared with Allen Reynolds</ref> 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)
• The Norm Show (1999)
• Richard Kirk Ward BMI Award for Outstanding Career Achievement (2001)<ref>Template:Cite journalTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
• Providence (1999, 2000,<ref>Shared with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Bennett Salvay</ref> 2002, 2003)
• The West Wing (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
• Men of a Certain Age (2010)

Discography

Solo albums

• Music by... W. G. Snuffy Walden (2001, Windham Hill Records)<ref name="AllMusic">Template:Cite web</ref>

Stray Dog albums

• Stray Dog (1973)<ref name="AllMusic Stray Dog">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Fasten Your Seat Belts (1973) <ref name="AllMusic Seatbelts">Template:Cite web</ref>
• While You're Down There (1974)<ref name="AllMusic While You're Down There">Template:Cite web</ref>

Guest appearances

• Free - Heartbreaker (1973, Island Records)
• Rabbit (John "Rabbit" Bundrick) - Broken Arrows (1973, Island Records)
• Rabbit (John "Rabbit" Bundrick) - Dark Saloon (1974, Island Records)
• Back Street Crawler - Second Street (1976, Atlantic Records)

Compilation albums

• Still (1973, Peter Sinfield – Command Studios)
• thirtysomething Soundtrack (1991, Geffen Records)
• Babylon Minstrels (1992, Hollywood Records)
• The Stand (1994, ABC Circle Music)
• My So-Called Life Soundtrack (1995, Atlantic Records)
• A Winter's Solstice VI (1997, Windham Hill Records)
• Celtic Christmas III (1997, Windham Hill Records)
• The Carols Of Christmas II (1997, Windham Hill Records)
• Summer Solstice 2 (1998, Windham Hill Records)
• Sounds Of Wood & Steel (1998, Windham Hill Records)
• Celtic Christmas IV (1998, Windham Hill Records)
• Touch – Windham Hill 25 Years of Guitar (2001, Windham Hill Records)
• A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 1: Silver Anniversary Edition (2001, Windham Hill Records)
• A Windham Hill Christmas (2002, Windham Hill Records)
• Windham Hill Chill: Ambient Acoustic (2003, Windham Hill Records)
• Windham Hill Chill 2 (2003, Windham Hill Records)
• Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 (2010)
• The West Wing (2017, Varèse Sarabande)

Filmography

Year		Type	Role / notes	Source
1979	Laverne & Shirley: The Fourth Annual Shotz Talent Show	Episode	guitarist	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1987	thirtysomething	TV series	Emmy nomination	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
1988	Winnie	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1988Template:Ndash1993	The Wonder Years	TV series	music by, theme composer	<ref name="Smith 2009">Template:Cite web</ref>
1989	Roe vs. Wade	TV movie	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1990	The Outsiders	TV series
1990	Working Girl	TV series
1990	Burning Bridges	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1990	Guess Who's Coming for Christmas?	Film
1991	The Chase	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1991	Shoot First: A Cop's Vengeance	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1992	Leaving Normal	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1991Template:Ndash1992	I'll Fly Away	TV series	Emmy nomination	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
1992	Crossroads	TV series
1992	Wild Card	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/><ref name="Variety TV REV 1991-92 17 1994 p. 444">Template:Cite book</ref>
1992	The Jackie Thomas Show	TV series
1992	The Good Fight	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1993	A Place to Be Loved	Film
1993	I'll Fly Away	TV series
1993Template:Ndash1997	Roseanne	TV series	music by, theme composer	<ref name="Smith 2009"/>
1994	Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story	Film	music by	<ref name="Sandler Sandler 1994">Template:Cite web</ref>
1994	Tom	TV series
1994	The Stand	miniseries	Emmy nomination	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
1994	Sweet Justice	TV series
1994Template:Ndash1998	Ellen	TV series	musical score	<ref name="Smith 2009"/>
1995	Homage	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1994Template:Ndash1995	My So-Called Life	TV series	Emmy nomination	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
1995	The Monroes	TV series
1995Template:Ndash2004	The Drew Carey Show	TV series	music by	<ref name="Scott Scott 1995">Template:Cite web</ref>
1996	A Friend's Betrayal	Film
1996	Homecoming	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1996	Ink	TV series
1996Template:Ndash1997	Relativity	TV series
1996Template:Ndash1998	Early Edition	TV series	Emmy nomination	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
1997	413 Hope St.	TV series
1998	Maggie Winters	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1998Template:Ndash1999	Cupid	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1998Template:Ndash2000	Sports Night	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1998Template:Ndash2002	Felicity	TV series	Emmy nomination	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
1999	Norm	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1999Template:Ndash2000	Roswell	TV series	composer (score)	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1999Template:Ndash2001	It's Like, You Know...	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1999Template:Ndash2001	Providence	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1999Template:Ndash2002	Once and Again	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2000	The $treet	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2001	Rock & Roll Back to School Special	Film
2001	Three Sisters	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2002	George Lopez	TV series	music composer	<ref name="Muir 2007 p. 210">Template:Cite book</ref>
2002	Hidden Hills	TV series
2003	Mister Sterling	TV series
2003	The Brotherhood of Poland	TV series
2003	The Lyon's Den	TV series
2003	Boomtown	TV series
2003	Miracles	TV series	Emmy nomination	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
2005, 2008	Quarterlife	Film	music composer	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961">Template:Cite web</ref>
2005Template:Ndash2007	The War at Home	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2005	Surface	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2006	The Book of Daniel	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
1999Template:Ndash2006	The West Wing	TV series	Emmy award	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
2006	Huff	TV series	Emmy nomination	<ref name = "Emmys Bio"/>
2006Template:Ndash2007	Kidnapped	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2007	Heartland	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2006Template:Ndash2007	Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2008Template:Ndash2009	Lipstick Jungle	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2008	In Plain Sight	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2009	A Marriage	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2009	The Beast	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2009	Hawthorne	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2009Template:Ndash2010	Men of a Certain Age	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2010	Huge	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2011	In the Key of Eli	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2011	Serving Live	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="AllMovie"/>
2011	Friday Night Lights	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2011	A Gifted Man	TV series	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2012	Stetson, Street Dog of Park City	Film	composer (score)	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013Template:Ndash2015	Under the Dome	TV series	music by	<ref name="Lowry 2013">Template:Cite web</ref>
2012Template:Ndash2013	Nashville	TV series	music by	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014	Guilt By Association	Film	composer (score)	<ref name="Hollywood Elite Composers 1961"/>
2017	Seal Team	TV series	music by	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2018	Up To Snuff	Film	music by	<ref name="Pasadena.com 2018"/>

External links

• Template:Cci
• W. G. Snuffy Walden Official Website