Les Baxter was the composer, conductor and arranger who developed an easy-going yet exotic big band style and was by some, considered the “Father of Exotica.”

Baxter composed more than 250 scores for feature films, television and radio shows; his compositions include the whistling theme for the TV series ``Lassie.''

He also worked as musical director on many albums for Capitol Records from the 1940s through the 1960s. Among his credits are the conducting of Nat King Cole's recording of ``Too Young.''

Feature scoring credits included ``The Pit and the Pendulum,'' ``Black Sunday,'' ``The Raven,'' ``Fall of the House of Usher,'' ``The Man With the X-Ray Eyes,'' ``Frogs,'' ``Beach Party,'' ``Beach Blanket Bingo,'' ``Operation Bikini,'' ``How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,'' ``Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine,'' and ``Black Sabbath.''

Baxter's career began in the 1940s playing saxophone in Los Angels jazz clubs, backing performers such as Billie Holiday. As a singer, he was a member of Mel Torme's backup group, the MelTones, and performed with Artie Shaw.

After a brief stint with RCA Records, Baxter jumped to Capitol where he enjoyed success with his own albums.

Album credits featuring Baxter as conductor-arranger-composer include ``Ritual of the Savage,'' ``Ports of Pleasure,'' ``Tamboo,'' and ``Baxter's Best.'' Baxter orchestrated and conducted Yma Sumac's debut album, ``Voice of the Xtabay.'' He also composed ``Quiet Village,'' which was a hit for Martin Denny in 1959.

He was the music arranger for the Bob Hope and Abbott & Costello radio shows, conducting his own orchestra. His television resume included ``Music of the Sixties (The Les Baxter Special),'' ``Buck Rogers in the 21st Century,'' ``Cliffhangers,'' ``The Milton Berle Show,'' ``The Tycoon'' and ``The Gumby Special.''

In the mid 1950s, he appeared in several features including ``College Capers'' (Universal, 1954) with Eileen Barton and ``Untamed Youth'' (1957) with Mamie Van Doren and Eddie Cochran.

Baxter last performed in public at the Century Club in Century City on Nov. 16, 1995.

Baxter died Monday (January 15, 1996) of a massive heart attack due to kidney failure at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach. He was 73.