The 1987 theme for CBS Evening News marked the first time the program used an orchestral composition. Prior to this, CBS News adhered to a policy, imposed by CBS-TV President Frank Stanton, that prohibited the use of music. This policy had its roots in the early days of television news when many newscasts relied on syndicated footage accompanied by inexpensive production music. To distinguish itself and demonstrate that it used original footage, CBS chose to forgo music entirely. At the time, their music library consisted largely of tracks used for old radio soap operas, which were deemed inappropriate for news programming. For several years, CBS used a simple ticker sound for the opening, bumper, and closing of Evening News, and from 1984 to 1987, the program featured no music at all.

However, as CBS’s ratings began to decline and NBC’s Nightly News theme, composed by John Williams, gained popularity with viewers, CBS executives decided to revisit their policy. They commissioned composers John Trivers, Elizabeth Myers, and Alan James Pasqua to create a new theme. The music was recorded at 20th Century Fox’s soundstage and took six hours to record.

This theme was retired in 1991, but made two comebacks. When Scott Pelley became anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2011, CBS executives wanted to “reach back into the DNA of CBS News” and decided to bring the theme back. The original recordings were used, though they were slightly remastered. In 2025 when Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson took over as co-anchors, the theme once again returned.

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News close

In the late ’80s they used different openings, but here you can find the one they used quite often. The opening that they have been using since 2011 is a bit different. It’s actually a remixed version of the last part of the long credit close above.

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News open (2011 version)

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News open (1987 version)

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News headlines

This is an especially beautiful version, called the pastoral bumper. It has been used for funerals and broadcasts with particular gravitas.

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News close

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News open (2011 version)

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News open (1987 version)

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News headlines

Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News pastoral bumper