Who Wrote the ‘Cheers’ Theme Song & Where Are They Now?
Let’s face it: if you’re a Cheers fan, you’ve always wanted to find your own bar where everybody knows your name. The iconic theme song “Everybody Knows Your Name,” written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart-Angelo, successfully captured the show’s essence in just a few lines. From the very first notes, this warm and inviting tune set the tone for the series, making viewers feel like, no matter who they were or where they lived, they were pulling up a stool at their favorite neighborhood bar, too.
The tune’s journey to becoming a legendary theme song was almost as interesting as Cheers itself. By the early ’80s, Portnoy had already penned songs for Air Supply (“I’ll Never Get Enough of You”) and Dolly Parton (“Say Goodnight”). Meanwhile, Hart-Angelo, though new to songwriting, had connections in the music world. Their collaboration started when Hart-Angelo was seated next to a Broadway producer at dinner. That chance encounter led to the creation of Preppies, a musical for which she and Portnoy composed songs.
One of those songs, “People Like Us,” caught the attention of Cheers producers Glen and Les Charles. They initially wanted it as their theme, but legal entanglements kept it tied to Preppies. Undeterred, the Charles brothers asked the duo to create something new.
After a few rejected attempts, including “My Kind of People” and “Another Day,” Portnoy and Hart-Angelo finally struck gold with “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.” Originally, the opening lines referenced the Boston Red Sox, a nod to the show’s setting, but they were later revised to have broader appeal. The final version reflected the struggles of everyday life and the universal desire for a place where people could escape their troubles which is exactly what Cheers offered its characters and audience. (Though if you’ve ever listened to the full song and lyrics … there are some pretty odd lines.)
Paramount TV/ Courtesy: Everett Colleciton.
Though the producers considered hiring a professional singer for the show’s theme, they ultimately went with Portnoy’s own vocals. To create the rich group harmony of the chorus, he recorded his own voice multiple times, layering it to achieve the full, welcoming sound. The final recording took place on August 13, 1982, at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles, and the rest is history. A longer version was recorded and became a hit on both U.S. and British pop charts. In 2004, Portnoy included the full-length version on his album Keeper, and in 2013, the EP Cheers: Music from the TV Series was released, featuring Portnoy’s original demo and other early versions of the song.
Decades later, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” continues to resonate. It was nominated for an Emmy in 1983, and in 2011, Rolling Stone readers voted it the best TV theme of all time. So, where are the songwriters now? Portnoy, now 68, has continued to write and record music, keeping the legacy of Cheers alive through various projects. Meanwhile, Hart-Angelo, though less in the public eye, remains an important part of the song’s enduring history. Together, they created a piece of television magic.
Remind 
’80s Where Are They Now
March 2023
Who can forget all the great TV shows, movies and music of the ‘80s? See what your favs are up to now!
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