TV Composer Earle Hagen Dies at 88

Earle Hagen, who composed some of the most memorable music in TV history, has passed away.

Hagen composed the theme music for THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, and I SPY, among other classic TV programs.

Hagen compared his work on I SPY, which included traveling the world learning about the music appropriate for each of the show's international locales, to scoring an hour-long movie on a weekly basis.

Prior to his TV work, Hagen was an orchestrator at 20th Century-Fox for a number of great musicals, including CAROUSEL, DADDY LONG LEGS, and THE GIRL NEXT DOOR.

Probably everyone who reads this has whistled the ANDY GRIFFITH theme at some point in their life. Hagen was one of those relatively unsung entertainment figures whose work has had a lasting positive impact on all of us.