Jaime Mendoza-Nava, who composed music for television’s The Mickey Mouse Club and hundreds of feature films died on May 31 in Woodland Hills from complications of diabetes. He was 79.

A native of Bolivia, Mendoza-Nava was born December 1, 1925, in the capital city of La Paz, Recognized as a musical prodigy at an early age, Mendoza-Nava was encouraged to develop his talent, and by the time he was 11 he had already composed, performed and organized a children’s orchestra.

He continued his studies in Buenos Aires, at the Juilliard School in New York City, at the Sorbonne in Paris and at the Royal Conservatory in Madrid, where as a composition major, he completed the five-year program within one year and earned the Conservatory’s First Prize in 1950.

While still in his twenties, Mendoza-Nava returned to Bolivia to become musical director of the Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he quickly found work in the entertainment industry. As a member of the Walt Disney Studios music department, he scored for such TV programs as Zorro and The Mickey Mouse Club, for which he penned the memorable theme song. He later became the music director for United Productions of America, producers of the Mr. Magoo cartoon series, and went on to establish his own company.

Over the next 40 years, he composed music for hundreds of motion pictures, television productions, animated series, documentaries and commercials. His film credits include A Boy and His Dog and The Boys in Company C.

Mendoza-Nava is survived by his wife, four children and four grandchildren.