Joseph Conlan

Composer Joseph Conlan created synthesizer-based scores for TV programs in the 1980s and 1990s. Born in Brooklyn, Conlan grew up in Los Angeles where he was inspired to pursue his future profession after reading the book "Scoring for Film" by Earle Hagen. Conlan honed his craft writing jingles for radio commercials, and eventually met Hagen. Conlan got one of his first jobs in television collaborating with composer Mark Snow ("The X-Files") on the TV series "Simon and Simon." Conlan later worked on the sci-fi Western "Outlaws" and the crime drama "The Equalizer." But his most notable work was for the 1980s Vietnam War series "Tour of Duty." Using synthesizers, Conlan created an eclectic soundscape that collaged elements of '60s rock, Southeast Asian instrumentation, and contemporary keyboard swells to forge a unique sound that was both contemporary and appropriate for its era. After the show wound down in 1990, Conlan became a prolific composer for TV movies: "A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder" (1990); "Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills" (1994); and "Every Mother's Worst Fear" (1998) are a fair sampling of that decade's offerings.