Biography
W.G. Snuffy Walden earned widespread recognition as a guitarist whose understated yet memorable acoustic compositions shaped the sound of several successful television dramas, above all through his groundbreaking contributions to the landmark series thirtysomething. Born in Louisiana in 1950, he made his first public appearances at fifteen, supporting B.J. Thomas on stage, before taking the helm of the band Stray Dog for three albums issued in the mid-1970s. Session work soon followed, including a key role on Stevie Wonder’s landmark Songs in the Key of Life as well as recordings with Greg Lake and Eric Burdon. For a short time he also explored opportunities in front of the camera as an actor.
By the mid-1980s Walden was chiefly occupied with producing demonstration recordings when an invitation arrived to compose for the small screen. He quickly secured the assignment of writing incidental music for the new ABC drama thirtysomething, and together with his collaborator Stewart Levin fashioned the delicate acoustic textures that became integral to the series’ singular atmosphere. The resulting theme earned an Emmy nomination while its luminous quality was widely borrowed by other programs and commercials seeking to reach the same affluent viewers; Walden later supplied scores for The Wonder Years and Roseanne, collecting BMI Television Music Awards for both. Among his further credits stand the series I’ll Fly Away, My So-Called Life, Ellen, Cupid, and Felicity, along with the miniseries The Stand and a wide array of television films.
By the mid-1980s Walden was chiefly occupied with producing demonstration recordings when an invitation arrived to compose for the small screen. He quickly secured the assignment of writing incidental music for the new ABC drama thirtysomething, and together with his collaborator Stewart Levin fashioned the delicate acoustic textures that became integral to the series’ singular atmosphere. The resulting theme earned an Emmy nomination while its luminous quality was widely borrowed by other programs and commercials seeking to reach the same affluent viewers; Walden later supplied scores for The Wonder Years and Roseanne, collecting BMI Television Music Awards for both. Among his further credits stand the series I’ll Fly Away, My So-Called Life, Ellen, Cupid, and Felicity, along with the miniseries The Stand and a wide array of television films.
Albums
