Dennis McCarthy
For the costumer with the same name, see .
For the  crewman, see .
For the Starfleet captain, see .
Dennis McCarthy  is a composer who has written many Star Trek-related musical scores, including the  main title theme and the  end credits theme. He also composed the music for  and many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,  and Star Trek: Enterprise. He scored the pilots and finales of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Enterprise. McCarthy also wrote and conducted the music for the Star Trek: The Experience movie Borg Invasion 4D and the computer game Star Trek: Borg. Some of McCarthy's TNG and DS9 scores were released as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Collection, Volume One and the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Collection.

McCarthy was nominated for nine Emmy Awards for his work, winning in the "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music" category for his Deep Space Nine title theme. He also won (or shared) nine ASCAP Awards, all for "Top TV Series" except for his award for , which won in the "Top Box Office Films" category.

McCarthy was once a member of 's backing band, which came up while he was scoring the episode  which featured two Dick Dale tunes, "" and "". Ronald B. Moore suggested the first song and remembered, "I was told that [McCarthy] heard the music and said, 'I used to be a Deltone.' This is a small world. He suggested that they close the show with another Dick Dale song. They got to [do that]." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 103)

McCarthy started his career as music arranger and moved shortly after this to the position of music composer. His first assignment was the television spinoff series Enos (1980-1981), followed by the series Private Benjamin (1982), Gun Shy (1983), Goodnight, Beantown (1983-1984), and The Barbara Mandrell Show. In early 1984, McCarthy was asked to redo the score for the second and the third part of the television mini series V: The Final Battle, just two weeks before the airdate. His successful scoring for V: The Final Battle including the "Visitor March" lent him to the assignment scoring the following television series V (1984-1985) as well as projects such as Trapper John, M.D. (1986), The Love Boat (1986), Mike Hammer (1986), The Colbys (1985-1987), The Twilight Zone (1986-1987), Dynasty (1985-1989), Falcon Crest (1989), and MacGyver (1985-1991).

Media

Star Trek credits 
 
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 Main title theme (all episodes)
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 Archer's Theme (Closing credits) (all episodes)
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  (with Kevin Kiner)
  (with Kevin Kiner)
  (with Kevin Kiner)
  (Season 4) (with Kevin Kiner)
  (with Kevin Kiner)
 (with Kevin Kiner)
  (with Kevin Kiner)
  (with Kevin Kiner)
  (with Kevin Kiner)
  (with Kevin Kiner)
  (with Kevin Kiner)
  (Archer's Theme, uncredited)
 
What We Left Behind

Awards for Star Trek 
McCarthy received the following awards and nominations for his work on Star Trek:
  Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the episode 
  Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the episode 
  Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the episode 
  Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the episode 
  Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
  Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the episode 
  Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the episode 
 1995 ASCAP Award in the category Top TV Series for Star Trek: The Next Generation
 1995 ASCAP Award in the category Top Box Office Films for 
  ASCAP Award in the category Top TV Series for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
  ASCAP Award in the category Top TV Series for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
  ASCAP Award in the category Top TV Series for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, shared with Jay Chattaway
  ASCAP Award in the category Top TV Series for Star Trek: Voyager
  ASCAP Award in the category Top TV Series for Star Trek: Voyager
  Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the episode 
 2001 ASCAP Award in the category Top TV Series for Star Trek: Voyager, shared with Jay Chattaway and David Bell
  ASCAP Award in the category Top TV Series for Star Trek: Enterprise, shared with Jay Chattaway, David Bell, Paul Baillargeon, and Diane Warren
  Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the episode

Star Trek interviews 
 "Dennis McCarthy – Music of the Stars", , interviewed by David Hirsch
 TNG Season 2 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Two: Production" ("Music"), interviewed on 
 TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Starfleet Moments & Memories Year Seven" ("A Unique Family"), interviewed on 5 October 2001
 In Conversation: The Music of Star Trek - The Next Generation ()

External links 
 
 

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Composers
Video game production staff
Emmy Award winners
Emmy Award nominees
ASCAP Film and Television Music Award winners