‘Heat’ Music, Scat Origins

I should like to correct a naive judgment by Richard S. Kaufman in his letter about music for TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” (“Other ‘Heat’ Composers,” Oct. 2).

The use of voice as instrument was not “created” by anyone, let alone “Perry Mason’s” Dick de Benedictis, whose work has never reflected anything resembling jazz. Musician-singers, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme and an array of stars great and near-great, evolved scat singing through many decades, culminating in the be-bop era.

The thematic sound in the series was “created” by Quincy Jones for the five-Oscar-winning film, including best picture in 1967. The great composer and pianist Bobby Scott sang the riffs.

JOHNNY MAGNUSHollywood