He recurred as a pianist background character on DAYS from 1977-1993, while scoring the show with various beautiful themes. He was also a composer for GH/PC, and in primetime his work is best known from ER. Susan Seaforth Hayes posted this tribute to Marty Davich about his passing ...

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Bill & Susan Hayes (@billsusanhayes)

Here's an obituary announcing his passing.

I'd also like to remind everyone that a generous soul posted a full album of tracks that he composed for DAYS on Youtube ...

They are all lovely, but this one "Roman's Death Theme" immediately brings me to an emotional place.

 

Edited March 7Mar 7 by Bright Eyes

I don't think people realize how integral music was to the storytelling on DAYS in the '70's and '80's, and how soulless the show has been without it ever since.

RIP Mr. Davich, and thank you so much for the contributions you made, not just to DAYS, but to GH and PC as well.

Edited March 7Mar 7 by Khan

RIP.

DAYS never had good background music again after he left, IMO. His GH background music was also great.

When he started composing for ER, I immediately knew it. This, in particular, still stands out and makes me want to cry uncontrollably:

 

I first discovered his work on GH before viewing the classic DAYS episodes on YouTube. These themes are seared in my brain from GH in the 90’s. 

Sonny and Brenda’s theme is also a big highlight for me:

Carly’s theme:

Stone’s death theme:

 

16 minutes ago, Khan said:

I don't think people realize how integral music was to the storytelling on DAYS in the '70's and '80's, and how soulless the show has been without it ever since.

RIP Mr. Davich, and thank you so much for the contributions you made, not just to DAYS, but to GH and PC as well.

Coming back to the show as a regular viewer as I did in late fall, I went in with the knowledge that most areas were pared down considerably, and through the enjoyment I get from the show (yes, it's there), one of the biggest difficulties I have day-to-day is the horrible scoring they now. There's especially one that's very 'honky tonk' cheap and embarrassing and completely anti-soap opera, like it's being used as a repellent against all viewers.

The fact that Marty Davich started after Bill Bell had already left, who we all know was a master at incorporating music, and probably one of the few to use it at a consistent and successful level, to the point where it became part of its brand, only adds to the strength of Davich's talents that he had that simple throughline from a time before his own.

15 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

RIP.

DAYS never had good background music again after he left, IMO. His GH background music was also great.

When he started composing for ER, I immediately knew it. This, in particular, still stands out and makes me want to cry uncontrollably:

 

If you know of any of his GH work out there, I would love to listen to it.

Which brings about a question I have: Does anyone know who would own the music rights to the scores he composed on the soaps? It's a shame his tv work isn't on Spotify, to my recollection. It's certainly not on his artist's page.  

Edited March 7Mar 7 by Bright Eyes

1 minute ago, Bright Eyes said:

If you know of any of his GH work out there, I would love to listen to it.

Posted some clips that got merged with my original post above. 😉 

2 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

Posted some clips that got merged with my original post above. 😉 

Lovely, I'll get stuck in. Thank you.

I always wondered the story behind why he left DAYS. Did he not get along with Tom Lagan?

When Shelley Curtis returned to GH, she brought him with her. 

I loved his work at GH/DAYS and he was one of my favourite daytime composers.  I especially loved Sonny and Brenda's theme. 

RIP Marty. 

1 hour ago, Bright Eyes said:

They are all lovely, but this one "Roman's Death Theme" immediately brings me to an emotional place.

This tune still runs through my mind all the time. For me, it’s the most memorable of all of Marty’s great pieces. RIP.

I think he was at AMC too for bit - I can't source it though because AMC, for some reason, didn't list their music composer, just music supervisor and music directors. 

In the first post of the "Soap Opera Background Music Thread," I posted this: Sounds like Marty Davich's piano cues: 0:57 - 2:15; 2:49 - 3:38; 5:54 - 6:38: 

 

 

1 hour ago, Bright Eyes said:

They are all lovely, but this one "Roman's Death Theme" immediately brings me to an emotional place.

 

This is probably my favourite of his DAYS work.  Such a beautiful piece. 

Very sorry to hear of his passing. I didn't know a great deal of his work, so I appreciate all the links. 

I was too young to ever see the best of DAYS. When I read the comments about it from those who were there at the time I see how much I missed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGzDi57SmjC/
hannahdavich
On Feb 22nd, my sweet dad passed away. He was everyone’s favorite person; to know him was to love him. He had an uncanny ability to make every person he interacted with feel like the most wonderful person in the world, including (or even especially) strangers. I will do my best to carry on your beautiful legacy. I will never not miss you papa.

 

(Ms Davich has embedding disabled for her IG account).
If you click on the link, there are lovely family photos.

Edited March 7Mar 7 by janea4old

Mary Beth Evans and Marty Davich were friends off the set. 

https://x.com/SteveKaylaGroup/status/1897688591930732996

Mary Beth shared this video last year of Marty with her grandchild. What a treat to see him play the piano#RIP #MartinDavich #Days #ER pic.twitter.com/fzMtEjGZY7

— Steve&KaylaFans (@SteveKaylaGroup) March 6, 2025

 

A genius, in every sense of the word 

RIP

This theme was used for the scene where John finds out he is Roman and on the Pier.