Ian Freebairn-Smith was a composer and arranger who created music for television series and films. He worked on theme music for Magnum, P.I., and other scored many other series including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Fame and Airwolf. Smith composed music for television movies "Deadly Lessons," "For Love and Honor" and "Three on a Match," and films such as "The Strawberry Statement" and "The Muppet Movie." He also collaborated on dozens of commercial jingles.

His father Thomas Freebairn-Smith was the first executive secretary of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (now the Television Academy) from 1952-1968.