Joe Raposo (February 8, 1937 - February 5, 1989) was a composer and lyricist, best known for his work on the children's television series Sesame Street, including the theme song.

Along with numerous Grammy and Emmy nods, his song "The First Time It Happens" from The Great Muppet Caper was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1981, only to lose to "Arthur's Theme" from the film Arthur.

Raposo passed away in 1989. Many diehard fans linked his death to the start of a constant shrinkage of the irreverence that originally helped the show's popularity.

The short-lived Sesame Street character Don Music kept a picture of Raposo on the wall; it was never actually identified as such.