Whistling Dixie

Poor Abby:

Earle H. Hagen, who co-wrote the jazz classic “Harlem Nocturne” and composed memorable themes for “The Andy Griffith Show,” “I Spy,” “The Mod Squad” and other TV shows, died Monday. He was 88.

“The music just flowed from him,” wife Laura said of composer Earle Hagen.

Hagen, who is heard whistling the folksy tune for “The Andy Griffith Show,” died at his home in Rancho Mirage, his wife, Laura, said Tuesday. He had been in ill health for several months.

When Abby was about a day old, I was holding her in the hospital room. The Braves were in a rain delay and they were showing the Andy Griffith Show. When the theme song came on, I whistled along with it. Abby’s eyes went wide open and she looked around for the sound. To this day, if I whistle the tune, she gets a great big grin on her face. The other day, the played it on The Simpsons and she started looking around for me.