Composer of Andy Griffith Theme Dies

Posted by amyclark on 08/25/2008
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5/28/2008 Katie Ball Andy Griffith Theme Song Writer Dies Earle H. Hagen, composer of the theme song to The Andy Griffith Show, along with I Spy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and many other television shows, died Monday night at the age of 88, according to the Los Angeles Times. Hagen had been sick for several months. For 33 years Hagen wrote music for 20th Century Fox along with composing several jazz pieces. He played trombone for jazz legends Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Ray Noble. Hagen first worked with 20th Century Fox in the music department, but transferred to television in 1953. He wrote music for roughly 3,000 shows and movies that appeared on television. Those shows include Gomer Pyle,, U.S.M.C., The Mod Squad and That Girl. In writing the theme to Andy Griffith, according to his book, Hagen decided the song needed to be something straightforward. During the recording of the demo, Hagen did the whistling and his son Deane snapped his fingers. This simple tune became the most popular song he wrote. In 1968 Hagen won an Emmy for I Spy. Hagen’s first wife, Elouise Sidwell, passed away in 2002 after fifty-nine years of marriage.  He then remarried in 2005 to his wife Laura. Hagen had two sons, three stepchildren and four grandchildren. Hagen retired in 1986 but will forever be remembered for his work with music in television.