Voting Station

Earle Hagen

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Composer

The Resume

    (July 9, 1919-May 26, 2008)
    Born in Chicago, Illinois
    Trombonist
    Played with the big bands of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Ray Noble
    Wrote the jazz standard 'Harlem Nocturne' (1939)
    Arranger for numerous 20th Century Fox films
    Composed theme songs for the TV series 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,' 'The Andy Griffith Show,' 'I Spy,' 'Gomer Pyle, USMC,' 'That Girl,' 'The Mod Squad' and 'Eight Is Enough'
    Won an Emmy for scoring 'I Spy' (1968)
    Wrote the textbook 'Scoring for Films' (1971) and the autobiography 'Memoirs of a Famous Composer Nobody Ever Heard Of' (2001)

Why he might be annoying:

    He described himself as 'a smartass who was competent.'
    He gave up playing for arranging and composing after his wife complimented his playing and he realized she had been listening to one of his students instead of him.
    His second wife, Laura, was 33 years his junior.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He composed music for over 3,000 television episodes.
    He did the whistling for 'The Andy Griffith Show' theme.
    His students included jazz musicians David Koz and Herbie Hancock.
    He was married to his first wife, Elouise, for 59 years until her death.
    He said, 'I enjoyed the best years of the big band era, the best years of the film business, and the best years of television.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 20 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 19 Votes: 42.11% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 46 Votes: 39.13% Annoying