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' comic strip character Garfield in twelve animated specials, and later an animated series, video games, and commercials. His distinctive drawling voice of Garfield was emulated by later actors following 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.