The Flaming Nose once again is saddened to hear of the death of another television icon, this time the wonderful composer Earle Hagen. If Hagen had composed nothing else than the theme to The Andy Griffith Show -- aka "The Fishin' Hole" -- he still would have brought more sheer joy than almost any other TV music writer, merely through that jaunty whistled tune which carried us each week into Mayberry. (Click here to listen to a sultry and delightful version of the song, with vocals by Mollie O' Brien, from the website FishingMusic.com).
Hagen also composed the themes and music scores for films and for many other series, including his Emmy-winning work on the truly cool I Spy (listen to music samples from the compilation album here!), the pert and still adorable theme for That Girl:
-- the hip and hilarious opening theme to The Dick Van Dyke Show:
-- and many others.
For a loving and truly complete look at Earle Hagen's amazing career, I highly recommend spending some time perusing the tremendous website EarleHagen.net. There's a nice article about his induction just last month into the NATAS Gold Circle for his long career in television here, and another great account of a 2004 night at the Hollywood Bowl featuring Hagen's music -- wish we all could have been there!
I will leave you with an unusual but completely heartfelt and adorable version of The Andy Griffith Show theme. I think you will love it, too.
Hagen also composed the themes and music scores for films and for many other series, including his Emmy-winning work on the truly cool I Spy (listen to music samples from the compilation album here!), the pert and still adorable theme for That Girl:
-- the hip and hilarious opening theme to The Dick Van Dyke Show:
-- and many others.
For a loving and truly complete look at Earle Hagen's amazing career, I highly recommend spending some time perusing the tremendous website EarleHagen.net. There's a nice article about his induction just last month into the NATAS Gold Circle for his long career in television here, and another great account of a 2004 night at the Hollywood Bowl featuring Hagen's music -- wish we all could have been there!
I will leave you with an unusual but completely heartfelt and adorable version of The Andy Griffith Show theme. I think you will love it, too.