Lorenzo Music

Gerald David "Lorenzo" Music (May 2, 1937 – August 4, 2001) was an American actor, composer, musician, performer, writer and producer. Music began his career in the 1960s with his wife, Henrietta, forming the comedy duo Gerald and His Hen. He then became a writer and a regular performer on the controversial CBS variety show The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. In the 1970s, Music co-created the sitcom The Bob Newhart Show with David Davis and composed its theme music with his wife. He also wrote episodes for The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda, and got a major voiceover role for playing the unseen, but often heard, Carlton the Doorman in Rhoda. Music gained fame in the 1980s for voicing Jim Davis's comic strip character Garfield in twelve animated specials, and later an animated series, video games, and commercials. His nostalgic, drawling voice as Garfield was imitated by later actors after his death in 2001. He was six years old when his family moved to Duluth, Minnesota because of his father's job at one of the shipyards. Music met his wife, Henrietta, in college at its Theatre Arts Department. Together, they had four children and formed a comedy duo, Gerald and His Hen, performing together for eight years, even performing at a USO show in Japan. He was a writer and story editor on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and he co-created The Bob Newhart Show with his writing partner, David Davis. The show ran on CBS from 1972 to 1978. He also co-wrote the theme song to the show with his wife.

Music continued writing for The Mary Tyler Moore Show spin-off Rhoda, which he co-developed with Davis. which made his voice recognizable to a worldwide television audience.

Music's voice could be heard on Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America Volume Two, released as a CD by Rhino Records. Music appeared on the album as James Madison and Robert E. Lee. He also appeared as an intercom announcer on an episode of The Drew Carey Show. Music served as the voice-over for commercials for Ore-Ida Potatoes and Fruit and Cream Strawberry Twinkies. He later served as the pitchman for Ruggles Ice Cream.

Personal life Music was married to composer/writer Henrietta Music for forty-two years. Together they had four children.

Death and legacy Music died from complications related to lung and bone cancer on August 4, 2001, at the age of 64. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea.

After Music's passing, Frank Welker took over as the voice of Garfield in three fully CGI films, an animated series, and the Nickelodeon crossover fighting video game All-Star Brawl. Bill Murray also voiced Garfield in two live-action films. Interestingly, Music had voiced Murray’s character, Peter Venkman, in the first two seasons of The Real Ghostbusters before being replaced by Full House star Dave Coulier. In that same series, Welker voiced Ray Stantz and Slimer. In 2024, Chris Pratt voiced Garfield in a reimagined CGI animated film, which departed from Music’s original vocal style for the character.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1976 Nickelodeon Mullins 1980 Oh Heavenly Dog Carlton 1983 Twice Upon a Time Ralph the All-Purpose Animal (voice) 1986 The Adventures of the American Rabbit Ping (voice)

Television Year Title Role Notes 1967–1969 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Regular Performer 50 episodes 1974–1978 Rhoda Carlton the Doorman 82 episodes 1975 Tattletales Himself/Contestant 6 episodes 1976 The Lorenzo and Henrietta Music Show Himself/host 35 episodes 1996 The Drew Carey Show Store Announcer Episode: "There Is No Scientific Name for a Show About God"

Animation

Video games Year Title Role 2000 Garfield's Mad About Cats Garfield

Radio Year Title Role Notes 1998 Adventures in Odyssey Mr. Smith Episode: "A Stranger Among Us"

Production credits Writer

Producer Year Title Notes 1972–1975 The Bob Newhart Show Executive producer (51 episodes)Producer (6 episodes) 1974–1975 Rhoda 33 episodes 1976 The Lorenzo and Henrietta Music Show Executive producer The New Lorenzo Music Show 1980 Carlton Your Doorman

Consultant Year Title Notes 1970–1972 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Story consultant (24 episodes)Assistant to producers (24 episodes) 1975 Rhoda Executive consultant (5 episodes) 1983 Garfield on the Town Consultant