Scooby-Doo Composer's Melodies Live On

Ted Nichols, a prolific composer whose musical scores defined several Hanna-Barbera cartoons, passed away recently at the age of 97. He had a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and died in hospice care. Nichols began his tenure at Hanna-Barbera in 1963 and served as musical director for the last eight years of his time there.

He is widely recognized for his dynamic and mood-setting compositions for Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, which premiered in 1969. These musical pieces were so effective that they continued to be used in all Scooby-Doo series until 1985. His talent also extended to creating the score for the final season of The Flintstones and the feature film The Man Called Flintstone.

Nichols' musical journey began early, learning the violin at age 10 in Missoula, Montana. He served in the U.S. Navy, performing in a swing band, and later commanded the U.S. Air Force Bandsmen Training School during the Korean War. He earned music degrees from Baylor University and Texas A&I, and also directed youth symphonies and taught in public schools.

His career also included directing the band at Santa Ana Junior College and performing with the Dapper Dans of Disneyland. He later moved to Glendora, California, where he met Hanna-Barbera co-founder William Hanna. Nichols also collaborated with Hoyt Curtin on the score for Jonny Quest before becoming the primary musical director. He worked on numerous other shows, including Space Ghost and Wacky Races.

After leaving Hanna-Barbera, Nichols dedicated his time to composing operas and gospel works and served as the musical director for Campus Crusade for Christ. He is survived by his son, grandchildren, and great-granddaughters. He was married twice, losing both wives to death.