Sharing the nomination with Wachtler are co-writers Phil Vassar and Julie Vassar. The team worked closely with NBC's senior VP of marketing/East Coast, Frank Radice, on the idea for the theme.
"Frank came up with a great idea," recalls Wachtler. "Being a musician himself, he has one of the best ears of any producer I've worked with."
In May 2005, the popular NBC morning show produced a series of reports that chose lucky viewers and made it possible for them to realize their dreams. "Live for Today" was the upbeat and inspiring music selected from more than 100 submissions as the theme for the series and subsequently was chosen as the theme for the show.
The song was recorded by Phil Vassar on April 4, 2005 in the 615 Music studios and was unveiled in a live performance on May 2, 2005 by the Arista recording artist on the plaza outside the Today Show's Rockefeller Center studios.
Wachtler has a long history with the Today Show. In 2002, 615 Music developed and produced the theme music for the show's "Only on Today" campaign, and for the last three years, Wachtler has written the lighthearted music to accompany the popular "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" travel series.
PHOTO: Nashville songwriters Phil and Julie Vassar with 615 Music's Randy Wachtler, traveled to New York City for Phil's live, on-air performance of their song.