Earle Hagen, R.I.P.
Earle Hagen, Emmy winning composer, died at the age of 88 this weekend. Hagen’s name is not likely to be instantly recognized by most music fans, but as the composer of some of the most famous television themes in history, including the whistled intro to the Andy Griffith Show, his work is an indelible part of pop culture. Prior to his soundtrack career, Hagen was a part of the Ray Noble Orchestra, where he composed the jazz standard “Harlem Nocturne” (seen above). Other television themes created by Hagen include I Spy and the big band intro to the Dick Van Dyke Show, but the Andy Griffith theme was his calling card, and as memorable as nearly any piece of music from the era. [Los Angeles TImes]
