The Man of the ‘Moon’ : Dream-Maker Henry Mancini Thinks That He May Indeed Be a Songwriter

Here’s a puzzler: For years, long after he’d knocked out such evergreens as “Moon River,” “The Days of Wine and Roses,” “Mr. Lucky” and “Charade,” Henry Mancini didn’t consider himself a songwriter.

The prolific 69-year-old--who has written hundreds of songs, scored more than 70 films, recorded 80 albums and been awarded four Oscars and 20 Grammys--says:

“I don’t know if I’ve ever written a song that wasn’t on assignment . All the things that were successful were title or love themes from films. I’ve never gone to a singer with a song and said ‘why don’t you try this?’ or tried to get a record like that. My head just wasn’t there. I was always trying to be a quote, unquote, film composer.”

But these days, due perhaps to the sheer aesthetic weight of the tunes he has produced, he is finally relenting. “I guess I am getting to be a songwriter in my old age,” he said during a recent interview--even though he’s still doing program music. He was on the phone from Gstaad, Switzerland, where he is working on a theatrical adaptation of his music from “Victor/Victoria.”

Mancini--a Cleveland native who was raised in the small enclave of West Aliquippa, Pa.--appears tonight and Saturday with the Pacific Symphony at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa as part of the orchestra’s pops series.

The program consists of familiar Mancini pieces and some works from his most recent film, 1993’s “Tom and Jerry”; there will also be a medley of tunes associated with Fred Astaire. Mancini will conduct the orchestra at some points and will play piano at others.

“I play citified Count Basie piano,” the Juilliard-trained musician said, tounge-in-cheek. “As few notes as possible, my left hand in my pocket, that kind of stuff.” It’s hard to have a conversation with Mancini and not bring up “Moon River,” first heard in the 1961 Blake Edwards film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” sung in a whisper by Audrey Hepburn.

The number, with lyrics by the nonpareil Johnny Mercer (“Satin Doll,” “Autumn Leaves” and hundreds of others), won a best song Oscar. Mercer and Mancini got another the next year for “The Days of Wine and Roses.”

Mancini says the great thing about “Moon River” was that it brought him together with Mercer. “He thought the tune was pretty, a nice little waltz, having no idea what would happen,” Mancini recalled, referring to the song’s blockbuster success (in addition to the Oscar, it won 1961 Grammys for record of the year and song of the year, and has been recorded more than 1,000 times.) “It spawned that nice run I had with Johnny, being in that class for a while.”

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In his autobiography (“Did They Mention the Music?,” written with Gene Lees and published in 1989 by Contemporary Books), Mancini says he spent a month thinking about the “Moon River” tune and then wrote it in half an hour. “It’s simple,” he said. “In the key of C. You can play it all on the white keys.”

He noted that a lot of his songs have come quickly, and he says part of the reason is his heritage. “Being Italian didn’t hurt. I grew up hearing that kind of melody all over. I heard it when I played piccolo in the Sons of Italy marching bands, playing those warhorses like selections from Verdi’s ‘Aida.’ I guess it rubbed off.”

His favorite composition, he said, is his theme from Stanley Donen’s 1967 film “Two for the Road.” “A lot of jazz people have picked up on that one. I like it because they liked it,” he said with a laugh. “It kind of starts out of nowhere, and then takes off from there--a stream of consciousness piece that doesn’t remind me of anything I’ve heard before.”

For “Two for the Road” Mancini was teamed with English lyricist Leslie Bricusse (“What Kind of Fool Am I?,” “If I Ruled the World”). They worked together again in 1981 on Edwards’ film “Victor/Victoria,” winning Mancini yet another Oscar.

They are now collaborating (after doing five tunes for “Tom and Jerry”) on 18 songs for the stage production of “Victor/Victoria,” to be directed by Edwards and slated to open on Broadway in the fall with Julie Andrews reprising her leading role.

The collaboration is a major challenge, says Mancini, noting that he hasn’t done music for live theater before. “It’s not easy. Broadway is intimidating. Don’t think it’s not. I’m learning, building on my old bones.”

* Henry Mancini plays with the Pacific Symphony tonight and Saturday night at 8 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $22-$50. (714) 556-2787.