Los Angeles — He was delightful, he was delicious, he was musician, bandleader, composer and arranger Milton DeLugg, who died at his home here April 6. He was 96.MSTies will remember the incredibly catchy tune, “Hooray for Santy Claus,” which he composed, along with the entire score for the movie in episode 321- SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS.
AllMusic.com says:
Best known for his stint as bandleader for the infamous game show “The Gong Show,” composer and arranger Milton DeLugg was born in Los Angeles. After attending UCLA, he travelled to New York City to study under Tibor Serly; in 1938, DeLugg joined the Matty Malneck Orchestra as an accordionist, and following a stay with the Army Air Corps during World War II, he formed his own group. Freelance television and radio projects yielded themes for everything from “The Fred Allen Show” to “What’s My Line?” to the Junior Miss pageant; a prolific composer, DeLugg also authored songs including “Hoop Dee Do,” “The Happy Wanderer,” “Just Another Polka” and “Orange Colored Sky.”
Following the 1966 departure of Skitch Henderson, he assumed bandleading duties on NBC’s :The Tonight Show,” only to be replaced a few months later by Doc Severinsen; much longer-lived was his stay on Chuck Barris’ 1970s favorite “The Gong Show,” where he and his group were dubbed “Milton DeLugg and the Band with a Thug.” In addition to composing music for a number of children’s records released through RCA and Golden Books, in 1967 DeLugg also issued the solo album, “Accordion My Way–Ole!”
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DeLugg? Nuts!
Vaya con Dios, Milton.
RIP, Mr DeLugg. The theme from ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’ will be stuck in my head all day in tribute to you.
Not been a good week at all: James Best, Stan Freberg, and now Milton DeLugg.
I thought DeLugg’s use of the musical coffee percolator was masterful!
RIP
No article about Stan Feberg? Several of the Best Brains (especially Frank) have said that he is a huge influence on them.
In the past week or two, cinema has lost Manoel de Oliveira, James Best, Stan Freberg and now Milton DeLugg. And that’s in addition to Lee Kuan Yew.
I swear, if there were an apocalypse right now, Lupita Tovar, Norman Lloyd, Kirk Douglas, Alan Young, Queen Elizabeth, Fidel Castro and the king of Thailand would all survive it. They outlive everyone.
Ryan-
He was one of my heroes, and I loved his work. But we are constantly on guard against “mission creep” and this is an example of its temptations. But certainly no slight is meant against the great Mr. Freberg.
Lee, don’t forget Abe Vigoda.
A lot of MST related deaths lately.
AllMusic.com may be in error – I don’t think Delugg authored “The Happy Wanderer” (which was used in one of my favorite MST3K riffs in a Herc movie- “Hercu-leeee…Hercu-laaaa…Hercu-leee…Hercu-lahahahaha”). It’s an old German tune.
Dig that photo of Milton from the early sixties, dad…he looked like “Hot Lips Hannigan” from the Flintstones…scoodly wa wa wa…RIP man…
Did he ever explain the “Santy” vs “Santa” thing?
Awesome musical fella. RIP