" Johnny 's Theme " earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance , losing to " Top Gun Anthem " at the awards presentation in 1987 . '' The Tonight Show Band '' was honored for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance , Big Band . In 2005 , Doc Severinsen , Carson 's bandleader starting in 1967 , said the song worked so well because it was " accessible . People could understand what it was , and it was associated with Johnny . " Larry King called it " one of the most familiar themes in American television history . " Paul Anka said the song was played for only a short time each night , " but everybody knows it . Simplicity is indeed royal . " '' The Washington Post '' in 2008 said the days of the television theme song were fading into nostalgia , though they " used to abound " , with or without lyrics . For example , " Anka 's '' Tonight Show '' theme was inseparable from late night and Johnny Carson . " " Johnny 's Theme " has been included in numerous films , including '' This Is My Life '' , '' Is n't She Great '' and '' Talk to Me '' . The song has been performed live by musicians at varying skill levels , from student to professional . Iowa State Cyclones men 's basketball coach Johnny Orr came onto the court pumping his fist as the pep band played " Johnny 's Theme " before games at the Hilton Coliseum . Orr 's tenure ran from 1980 to 1994
Grammy Award
29th Annual Grammy Awards
Johnny's Theme