FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 4, 2019

DEAR JERRY: I can't believe, what with the success of the "Mission: Impossible" movie, that I am having such a hard time finding the original TV show theme, but I am.

Not helping matters is that I do not know the artist, or orchestra. However, I am sure you have the information I'm missing. Can you help?
—Jackie Boudroux, Long Branch, N.J.

DEAR JACKIE: To accomplish the seemingly impossible mission of finding "Mission: Impossible," look for "Mission Accomplished."

Sounds wacky, but it's true. "Mission Accomplished (Themes for Spies & Cops)" (Hip-O HIPD-40017) is a CD that has the original "Mission: Impossible" theme, along with 13 other movie and TV spy themes.

FYI: the "Mission: Impossible" theme is by composer-conductor Lalo Schifrin.

DEAR JERRY: In the late '50s and early '60s, my father played drums with Joey Dee and the Starliters. Unfortunately, he died when I was only six.

Now, I would like to know if there are any recordings available that were made with dad as the band's drummer.

His name was Don Passaro, but he used Don Martin as his professional name.
—Michele Sipicsky, Holiday, Fla.

DEAR MICHELE: As you no doubt realize, there is no way for me to know specifically which tracks were made by the band with your father on drums.

However, given the general time frame you have supplied, it is safe to assume that your dad may have played on some of the tracks found on "Hey, Let's Twist: The Best of Joey Dee and the Starliters" (Rhino 70965). This collection, as the title implies, contains all of the group's best known tracks.

DEAR JERRY: My question regards "You Are My Sunshine."

Did Governor Jimmie Davis write and record "You Are My Sunshine"? If so, in what year.
—Jim Lightfoot, St. Petersburg, Fla.

DEAR JIM: In 1940, four years before being elected governor of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis co-wrote — with Charles Mitchell — You Are My Sunshine. Though the tune did not become much of a hit by Davis, himself, Bing Crosby, Wayne King, and Gene Autry all had great success with it.

When music industry publishing giant BMI began operations in 1940, they were mighty happy to see Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell come in with "You Are My Sunshine." Of the 11 pop hits they generated in their first year, "You Are My Sunshine" became the biggest.