Alan Thicke – the late father of singer Robin Thicke – will be honoured Friday by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF), which is inducting three TV show themes he co-wrote.
The Growing Pains star, who died in 2016 at 69, penned the theme songs to ‘70s/‘80s sitcoms Diff’rent Stokes and The Facts of Life with then-wife Gloria Loring and TV producer Al Burton. He also composed “Big Wheels,” which was used as the theme to game show Wheel of Fortune until 1983.
“The Thicke Family is honoured to accept this recognition on my father’s behalf,” Robin Thicke said, in a CSHF release. “My father was a proud Canadian and although he was mostly known for his acting, hosting and philanthropic work, deep down he always wanted to be Gordon Lightfoot or Bruce Springsteen.
“There is no doubt that Alan would consider having his songs being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame as one of his life’s greatest achievements.”
Thicke was honoured by Canada's Walk of Fame in 2013.
The National Music Centre at Studio Bell in Calgary is home to the CSHF.