Mark Snow

We lost composer Mark Snow on July 4th.  He was 78 years old.  When I was young, I can perfectly recall the disgust and uneasiness that my dad would project whenever a favorite Hollywood figure or big band composer would pass away.  He would yell into the other room where my mother was and say something like "Betty!  James Cagney died! I remember when he was a young man!  Everybody's dying!"

I never gave it much thought back then, as those people seemed to be some kind of relic or fossil.  My dad would add later "Never get old, boys!"  (Though he'd also often say "Never get married!...and if you DO get married, never have kids!")  

I feel like everyone who reads this blog probably has a deep love for The X-Files.  And if you feel that love, you probably know the show's composer by name.  His music was as much a part of that show as the two main characters.  I wonder if the show would have been as popular had he not scored every episode.  Would the aliens have been as horrifying?  Would those wonderful moments between Scully and Mulder have been as touching?  

Absolutely not.

Here's to a man who made an enormous impact on this guy.  

It's rough getting old and seeing your favorites pass on.

Everybody's dying.

Click below for the absolute perfect example of Mr. Snow's talents...