Richard W. LaSalle

1918 - 2015

Richard W. LaSalle
January 18, 1918 ~ April 5, 2015
Carmel, CA
Richard W. LaSalle passed away on April 5, 2015 at his home in Carmel, CA. Richard was born in Louisville, Colorado. He began as a performer for local hotels as a pianist and orchestra leader between the 1940s and 50s. He had his own orchestra for over 18 years and played all over the country. In 1958 he joined the American Society of Composers and Publishers in which he started his main career in film composing. His first work was done for a 1958 movie called Tank Battalion starring Frank Gorshin. Other works of composing include Diary of a Madman, Twice Told Tales, Conflict Stage, Fort Courageous, A Yank in Vietnam, Ambush Bay, 40 Guns to Apache Pass and many more. His total work included over 400 films. Richard and his wife of 73 years, Patricia, moved to Carmel over 30 years ago. Richard was a member of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary Club and a Past Vice-President of the Monterey County Symphony. Richard and Patricia, who preceded him in death, traveled all over the world, spending over three years cumulatively on ships of Seaborne Cruise Line.
A special thank-you to Central Coast Senior Services and Hospice for their loving care at the end of Richard's life. In lieu of flowers, donations to the music program of the Carmel Youth Center would have been Richard's wish.