W.G. Snuffy Walden - wikipedia W.G. Snuffy Walden W.G. Snuffy Walden Birth name William Garrett Walden Also known as Snuffy Walden, W.G. Walden ( 1950 - 02 - 13 ) February 13, 1950 ( age 67 ) Genres Instrumental Instruments Guitar Years active 1973 -- present Associated acts Stray Dog The Eric Burdon Band Free Website www.snuffywalden.com 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 ), has been nominated for numerous Emmys throughout his career, and has received 26 BMI Awards. Contents 1 Early life 2 Early music career 3 Professional success 4 Awards and nominations 5 Discography 6 Filmography 7 References 8 External links Early Life Walden was born in Louisiana on February 13, 1950, and raised in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Lamar High School in Houston 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. 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. Early music career In the late 1960s, Walden dropped out of school, quit his job, and devoted his energies to the guitar full - time. In 1972, he formed the group Stray Dog, a blues - based rock trio, and together they moved to England. There, they were signed to Emerson, Lake & Palmer 's label Manticore records, and Greg Lake produced three songs from their first album Stray Dog. 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. 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 depped 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 was n'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. Professional success Following his successful debut as a television composer for thirtysomething, Walden was contacted by the producer on another new television show, The Wonder Years, which had the fortune of premiering right after Super Bowl XXII. Walden scored the pilot episode, and then went on to score the series, which also became a hit. For the end credits, he recorded a version of The Beatles ' song `` With a Little Help from My Friends ''. Throughout the 1990s, Walden scored numerous television series, including 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. 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 ''. In 2002, Tom Guerra conducted a comprehensive interview of Walden for Vintage Guitar Magazine. Walden announced that he would team up with a 60 - piece orchestra to compose the film adaptation of The Umbrella Academy. This will be the first time he has scored a movie since Leaving Normal. Walden is now working with YouTube artists, including Jake Coco and Sara Niemietz, to help them to produce covers and original songs. Walden serves as an artistic advisor to the BMI Foundation. Awards and nominations Emmy Awards 2007 Emmy Nomination for Music Composition for a Series ( Dramatic Underscore ) -- Kidnapped 2005 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music -- Huff 2003 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music -- Miracles 2001 Emmy Nomination for Music Composition for a Series ( Dramatic Underscore ) -- The West Wing 2000 Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music -- The West Wing 2000 Emmy Nomination for Music Composition for a Series ( Dramatic Underscore ) -- Felicity 1997 Emmy Nomination for Main Title Theme Music -- Early Edition 1997 Emmy Nomination for Music Composition for a Series ( Dramatic Underscore ) -- Early Edition 1995 Emmy Nomination for Main Title Theme Music -- My So - Called Life 1994 Emmy Nomination for Best Original Score -- Stephen King 's The Stand 1992 Emmy Nomination for Main Title Theme Music -- I 'll Fly Away 1988 Emmy Nomination for Main Title Theme Music -- thirtysomething BMI Awards Richard Kirk Ward BMI Award for Outstanding Career Achievement ( 2001 ) Men of a Certain Age ( 2010 ) The West Wing ( 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 ) The Norm Show ( 1999 ) Providence ( 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 ) The Drew Carey Show ( 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 ) Ellen ( 1994, 1995 ) Roseanne ( 1994, 1995, 1996 ) The Jackie Thomas Show ( 1993 ) The Wonder Years ( 1988, 1989, 1990 ) Discography Solo albums Music by... W.G. Snuffy Walden ( 2001, Windham Hill Records ) Stray Dog albums While You 're Down There ( 1974 ) Fasten Your Seat Belts ( 1973 ) Stray Dog ( 1973 ) Compilation albums Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 ( 2010 ) Windham Hill Chill 2 ( 2003, Windham Hill Records ) Windham Hill Chill : Ambient Acoustic ( 2003, Windham Hill Records ) A Windham Hill Christmas ( 2002, Windham Hill Records ) A Winter 's Solstice, Vol. 1 : Silver Anniversary Edition ( 2001, Windham Hill Records ) Touch -- Windham Hill 25 Years of Guitar ( 2001, Windham Hill Records ) Celtic Christmas IV ( 1998, Windham Hill Records ) Sounds Of Wood & Steel ( 1998, Windham Hill Records ) Summer Solstice 2 ( 1998, Windham Hill Records ) The Carols Of Christmas II ( 1997, Windham Hill Records ) Celtic Christmas III ( 1997, Windham Hill Records ) A Winter 's Solstice VI ( 1997, Windham Hill Records ) My - So Called Life Soundtrack ( 1995, Atlantic Records ) The Stand ( 1994, ABC Circle Music ) Babylon Minstrels ( 1992, Hollywood Records ) thirtysomething Soundtrack ( 1991, Geffen Records ) The West Wing ( 2017, Varese Sarabande ) 1973 : Still from Peter Sinfield. Snuffy Walden plays electric guitar, on this album by King Crimson lyricist Peter Sinfield, along with Greg Lake, Boz Burrell, John Wetton, Keith Tippett, Mel Collins and Ian Wallace among others. Filmography Under the Dome ( TV series ) ( 2013 -- 2015 ) Nashville ( TV series ) ( Credited as Snuffy Walden ) ( 2013 -- ) Stetson, Street Dog of Park City ( Film ) ( 2012 ) A Gifted Man ( TV series ) ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Friday Night Lights ( TV series ) ( 2006 -- 2011 ) In the Key of Eli ( 2011 ) Huge ( TV series ) ( 2010 ) Men of a Certain Age ( TV series ) ( 2009 -- 2010 ) Hawthorne ( TV series ) ( 2009 ) The Beast ( TV series ) ( 2009 ) Lipstick Jungle ( TV series ) ( 2008 -- 2009 ) A Marriage ( TV movie ) ( 2009 ) In Plain Sight ( TV series ) ( 2008 ) Quarterlife ( TV series ) ( 2008 ) Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip ( TV series ) ( 2006 -- 2007 ) Heartland ( TV series ) ( 2007 ) The War at Home ( TV series ) ( 2005 -- 2007 ) Kidnapped ( TV series ) ( 2006 -- 2007 ) Huff ( TV series ) ( 2004 -- 2006 ) The Jake Effect ( TV series ) ( 2006 ) The West Wing ( TV series ) ( 1999 -- 2006 ) Surface ( TV series ) ( 2005 -- 2006 ) The Book of Daniel ( TV series ) ( 2006 ) 1 / 4life ( TV movie ) ( 2005 ) Boomtown ( TV series ) ( 2003 ) The Lyon 's Den ( TV series ) ( 2003 ) The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire ( TV series ) ( 2003 ) The Drew Carey Show ( TV series ) ( 1998 -- 2003 ) Mister Sterling ( TV series ) ( 2003 ) Hidden Hills ( TV series ) ( 2002 ) Felicity ( TV series ) ( 1998 -- 2002 ) Once and Again ( TV series ) ( 1999 -- 2002 ) George Lopez ( TV series ) ( 2002 ) It 's Like, You Know... ( TV series ) ( 1999 -- 2001 ) Providence ( TV series ) ( 1999 -- 2001 ) First Years ( TV series ) ( 2001 ) Three Sisters ( TV series ) ( 2001 ) Rock & Roll Back to School Special ( TV movie ) ( 2001 ) The $ treet ( TV series ) ( 2000 ) Sports Night ( TV series ) ( 1998 -- 2000 ) Roswell ( TV series ) ( 1999 ) Norm ( TV series ) ( 1999 ) Cupid ( TV series ) ( 1998 -- 1999 ) Maggie Winters ( TV series ) ( 1998 ) Ellen ( TV series ) ( 1994 -- 1998 ) Early Edition ( TV series ) ( 1996 -- 1998 ) 413 Hope St. ( TV series ) ( 1997 ) Roseanne ( TV series ) ( 1993 -- 1997 ) Relativity ( TV series ) ( 1996 -- 1997 ) A Friend 's Betrayal ( TV movie ) ( 1996 ) Homecoming ( TV movie ) ( 1996 ) Ink ( TV series ) ( 1996 ) The Monroes ( TV series ) ( 1995 ) My So - Called Life ( TV series ) ( 1994 -- 1995 ) Homage ( Film ) ( 1995 ) Sweet Justice ( TV series ) ( 1994 ) The Stand ( TV mini-series ) ( 1994 ) Tom ( TV series ) ( 1994 ) Rise and Walk : The Dennis Byrd Story ( TV movie ) ( 1994 ) I 'll Fly Away : Then and Now ( TV movie ) ( 1993 ) A Place to Be Loved ( TV movie ) ( 1993 ) The Wonder Years ( TV series ) ( 1988 -- 1993 ) The Good Fight ( TV movie ) ( 1992 ) The Jackie Thomas Show ( TV series ) ( 1992 ) Wild Card ( TV movie ) ( 1992 ) Crossroads ( TV series ) ( 1992 ) I 'll Fly Away ( TV series ) ( 1991 -- 1992 ) Leaving Normal ( Film ) ( 1992 ) The Chase ( TV movie ) ( 1991 ) Guess Who 's Coming for Christmas ? ( TV movie ) ( 1990 ) thirtysomething ( TV series ) ( 1987 -- 1990 ) Burning Bridges ( TV movie ) ( 1990 ) Working Girl ( TV series ) ( 1990 ) The Outsiders ( TV series ) ( 1990 ) Roe vs. Wade ( TV movie ) ( 1989 ) Winnie ( TV movie ) ( 1988 ) References ^ Jump up to : `` Emmys : Outstanding Main Theme Title Music ''. The West Wing. NBC. 2000. Retrieved October 21, 2012. `` The West Wing '' W.G. Snuffy Walden, Winner ^ Jump up to : `` W.G. Snuffy Walden ''. Allmusic. Retrieved September 21, 2011. ^ Jump up to : Grey, Hilarie ( 2001 ). `` W.G. Snuffy Walden ''. Jazz Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` W.G. Snuffy Walden ''. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 21, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` W.G. Snuffy Walden ''. Mambo Sons. Retrieved September 21, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Nickname ''. Archive of American Television. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. Kidnapped. NBC. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. Huff. Showtime. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. Miracles. ABC. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. The West Wing. NBC. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. Felicity. WB. Retrieved October 21, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. Early Edition. CBS. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. My So - Called Life. ABC. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. Stephen King 's The Stand. ABC. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nominations ''. I 'll Fly Away. NBC. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Emmys : Awards and Nomination ''. thirtysomething. ABC. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` W.G. Snuffy Walden '' ( PDF ). GSA Music. Retrieved September 21, 2011. Jump up ^ PESSELNICK, JILL ( May 26, 2001 ). `` Walden Wins BMI Prize ''. Billboard Magazine. Beverly Hills, California. Retrieved October 4, 2012. W.G. `` Snuffy '' Walden received the Richard Kirk Award for outstanding career achievement at BMI 's Film and Television Awards. Jump up ^ Shared with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Bennett Salvay Jump up ^ Shared with Allen Reynolds Jump up ^ Shared with John Lennon and Paul McCartney External links W.G. Snuffy Walden Official Website W.G. Snuffy Walden on IMDb W.G. Snuffy Walden interview video at the Archive of American Television Los Angeles Times : He Scores TV 's Home Runs Taylor Made Studios VIAF : 4123102 LCCN : n92025907 ISNI : 0000 0000 7969 720X GND : 13489619X BNF : cb14035169s ( data ) MusicBrainz : 498a63b4 - e153 - 4117 - 8713 - 4a4664250b90 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=W._G._Snuffy_Walden&oldid=811394990 '' Categories : 1950 births Living people Windham Hill Records artists Musicians from Houston Musicians from Louisiana Hidden categories : CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown Use mdy dates from December 2014 Articles with hCards Pages using Template : Infobox musical artist with unknown parameters Articles using Template : EmmyTVLegends name Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Français Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 21 November 2017, at 09 : 52. 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Question: who wrote the theme song for the west wing
Answer: William Garrett Walden, known as W. G. Snuffy Walden