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Earle H. Hagen

Earle Hagen played trombone with the celebrated Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman big bands, and while with the Ray Noble Orchestra, composed one of the greatest standards of them all, "Harlem Nocturne."

The Emmy Award-winning television composer who wrote the memorable theme music for The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy and other classic TV programs.

The precocious teenager, graduating from high school at only age 15, found himself within weeks of leaving school, playing trombone on tour under the baton of Jacques Renard, conductor for the top-rated Eddie Cantor Radio Show. He followed this with recording studio work and then toured with The California Collegians (a group featured in the film Roberta along with their star-to-be saxophone player, Fred MacMurray).

While playing in Isham Jones's band (composer of “I'll See You in My Dreams” and “It Had to be You”), in New York City, he was spotted playing at Jack White's Club by Tommy Dorsey. Dorsey had just received a call from rival band leader Benny Goodman, who needed a trombone.

Then in the middle of his stint with Benny Goodman, Earle Hagen received a call from Tommy Dorsey, whom he'd still not met, an invitation to join the Dorsey band. Because of union rules in New York, Hagen found himself playing simultaneously with not just the two greatest bands of the era, but that of Isham Jones as well, still only in his teens. First night with the Dorsey band, it turned out that the great trombonist was off on a short vacation, and young Hagen was expected to stand up at the front of the band, playing Tommy Dorsey's trombone part.

When the Dorsey tour reached Los Angeles, Hagen's home, he decided to leave the road, and joined the Ben Pollack band, which was then on an extended stay in California. Again there were recording dates and radio too, in this case, the Burns & Allen Show.

While still working with Ben Pollack on that program, Earle Hagen joined the Ray Noble Orchestra, not just as a trombone player, but as arranger too. Once again it was a tough schedule, including recording dates and radio.

Hagen suvered a severe, near-fatal illness. Following life-saving treatment by Earle Hagen went to work for CBS as staff trombonist on variety and drama shows until 1942 when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he was stationed with the Radio Production Unit in Santa Ana.

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Earle H. Hagen Emmy-Winning TV Music Composer

Earle H. Hagen Emmy-Winning TV Music Composer

Source: Michael Ricci

Earle H. Hagen, the Emmy Award-winning television composer who wrote the memorable theme music for “The Andy Griffith Show," “The Dick Van Dyke Show," “I Spy" and other classic TV programs, has died. He was 88.

Hagen, who composed the jazz standard “Harlem Nocturne" and was a former big-band trombonist for Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Ray Noble, died Monday night at his home in Rancho Mirage, said his wife, Laura. He had been ill for several months. After spending ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

I Spy

Unknown label
2005

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