Joe Harnell

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Harnell's true legacy lies in the emotional power of his music. The "Lonely Man" theme from The Incredible Hulk is widely considered one of the greatest TV themes ever written, often cited in fan polls and retrospectives. His arrangement of "Fly Me to the Moon" for Frank Sinatra became a definitive version of a standard. Over 1,000 television episodes carry his musical signature. Though he never won a major award, his work has endured for decades, with new generations discovering his scores through streaming and social media.

AwardsHarnell did not win major competitive awards like Oscars or Emmys. He received multiple BMI TV Music Awards for his television scores, including for The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider, The Fall Guy, and Baywatch. He was nominated for an Emmy in 1979 for Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series and for a Grammy in 1964 for Best Instrumental Arrangement.

Honours & Distinctions

University of Miami Frost School of Music Scholarship

University of Miami·2006

Scholarship established in his name for music students.

Rankings & Lists

#Top 10

Greatest TV Theme Songs

TV Guide·2011

Magazine Covers

TV Guide

1979-03-17

The Incredible Hulk

Records & Feats

Composed music for over 1,000 TV episodes

Career Milestone·2005

Harnell's prolific output includes scoring more than 1,000 episodes across multiple series, making him one of the most prolific TV composers of his era.