As part of the December 7, 1959 airing on NBC of a new television production of The Philadelphia Story, composer Robert Ascher wrote a melody to be associated with the character of Tracy Lord,[2] played by Diana Lynn on the TV special.
[3] Devon Music, the publishing firm of Talent Associates owned by David Susskind and Howie Richmond at the time,[1] came up with a solution.
[4] Another Ascher melody from a Talent Associates production, "Thanksgiving Day Parade" from the November 27, 1959 airing of Miracle on 34th Street, was used as the B-side.
"Jimmy" Abato (1919-2008), a one-time member of Glenn Miller's orchestra, played the hypnotic melody on the alto saxophone,[5] with the accompaniment of strings and a repeated percussion beat.
Two more Spencer Ross singles and a full-length LP, which included "Tracy's Theme" in addition to non-Mersey productions, were issued on Columbia before the end of 1960.