Rocco (Rocky) A. Moriana, best known for his work as sound supervisor and music supervisor for producers Danny Thomas and Aaron Spelling, died at his home in Calabasas, Calif., on February 5.Moriana’s 100-plus screen credits starting with TV Series “Hennesey” and ended with “Beverly Hills, 90210.” In between were such notables as “Hazel,” “That Girl,” “My World and Welcome to It” (for which he was honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his contribution), “Barney Miller,” “The Rookies,” “S.W.A.T.,” “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island,” “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” “Family,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “Vegas,” ” Charlie’s Angels,” “Hart to Hart,” “Life With Lucy,” “The Love Boat,” “Nightingales,” “Dynasty,” “Melrose Place,” “7th Heaven” and “Savannah.”
Moriana also worked on such telepics and miniseries as “21 Hours at Munich,” “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble,” “The Amazing Howard Hughes,” “James A. Michener’s Texas” (for which he received the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award),”The Patricia Neal Story” and “Vows of Deception.”
Born in Willoughby, Ohio, to immigrant parents, Moriana attended and played football for Ohio University. His college career was interrupted by World War II, and he served in the Navy in the Pacific, stationed on Enewetak in the Marshall Islands, where he witnessed the first A-Bomb tests. Upon returning to civilian life, he attended USC, where he majored in film.
Moriana’s Hollywood life was also highlighted by his involvement with studio sports, including the Paramount and Desilu basketball teams, the Paramount softball team (winning the 1956 Paramount Champs trophy with Donald O’Connor), the Hal Roach Studios basketball team (awarded the 1956 L.A. Municipal Minor Division Studio League Champs trophy), and serving as captain of the (Dean) Martin and (Jerry) Lewis softball team.
Moriana is survived by his wife, Ardythe; a daughter and three sons; seven grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and his brother. Rocky’s youngest son, James (Jimmy) Moriana, died last year.
MORIANO, Rocky (Rocco Anthony Moriano)
Born: 11/5/1927, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
Died: 2/5/2014, Calabasas, California, U.S.A.
Rocky Moriano’s westerns – music editor, music supervisor:
The Guns of Will Sonnett (TV) – 1968-1969 [music editor]
Yuma (TV) – 1971 [music editor]
The Trackers (TV) – 1971 [music editor]
Texas (TV) – 1994 music supervisor]