The answer is: TV’s famous daytime talk-show king, Merv Griffin. Griffin died in Los Angeles on August 12, 2007, after losing his ten-year battle with prostate cancer.
Griffin, born in San Mateo, CA in 1925 as Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr., hosted the popular Merv Griffin Show from 1962 to 1986.
While Merv Griffin is primarily known for his long-running television show and his creation of the two biggest TV game shows in history, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, Griffin actually started in show business as a singer and his recording of “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts” with Freddy Martin and his Orchestra reached #1 on the Hit Parade (precursor to the Billboard Charts) in 1950.
Ironically, though portrayed by some as less than gifted as a musician and songwriter, Griffin’s success as both was remarkable.
“Music might not be the first thing you think of when someone mentions talk show host and entrepreneurial powerhouse Merv Griffin, but he earns more in royalties from his television themes than most musicians do from their whole catalog…He had his first huge [game show] hit with the premiere of Jeopardy! in 1964, and the Griffin-penned [theme song] ‘thinking music’ became one of the most recognized and most lucrative songs ever (all 14 seconds of it). In 1975, Griffin’s second great production hit, Wheel of Fortune, premiered with the opening theme ‘Big Wheels,’ written by Alan Thicke. The Thicke theme was used until 1983 when Griffin’s more popular ‘Changing Keys,’ replaced it. Another welcome contribution to the music world came in the ’80s when Cal Ruddman of the record industry tip sheet Monday Morning Quarterback became a regular guest on Griffin’s show. Ruddman brought along guests like Devo, A Flock of Seagulls, and the Fixx, artists that were too ‘edgy’ at the time for most television shows. Griffin sold his production company, Merv Griffin Enterprises, in 1986 to Columbia Pictures Television for $250 million…On May 14th, 2003, he received BMI’s President’s Award in honor of his achievements in songwriting.” —Allmusic.com
“…[Griffin] pocketed millions in royalties for composing the catchy Jeopardy! theme. New technology, such as cellular phones, has meant more money for the song…In a June 2006 Rolling Stone interview, he recalled receiving a ‘huge’ check in the mail…’I couldn’t think what it was for,’ he told the magazine. ‘I had to ask the young people in my office, “What does this ‘ringtone’ mean?'”‘ —USAToday.com
Educated at San Mateo Junior College and the University of San Francisco, 1942-44; honorary L.H.D. from Emerson College, 1981. Married Julann Elizabeth Wright, 1958 (divorced 1976), children: Anthony Patrick. Singer, San Francisco radio station KFRC, 1945-48; vocalist, Freddy Martin’s Orchestra, 1948-51; appeared in motion pictures for Warner Brothers, 1953-54; headlined quarter-hour twice-weekly musical segments for CBS, 1954-55; hosted CBS’ Look Up and Live, 1953; radio show host, ABC, 1957; host of daytime game show Play Your Hunch, 1958-61, host of Merv Griffin Show, 1962-63; founded Merv Griffin Productions which began producing Jeopardy, 1964, and the Griffin-hosted Word for Word, 1963; hosted the Merv Griffin Show for Westinghouse, 1965-69, CBS, 1969-72, and syndication, 1972-86; chair of the board of Merv Griffin Productions; Recipient: numerous Emmy Awards. —Museum of Broadcast Communications