Under the general obituaries in a day that saw film director and actor Sidney Pollack die of cancer came a little-known name:

Earle H. Hagan.

Hagan died Monday night in Los Angeles. He was 88 years old.

He began playing the trombone while in junior high school. Hagan graduated early from Hollywood High School. At age 16, he began touring with big bands.

Hagan played trombone with Benny Goodman and Tommy Doresy. He arranged for and played with Ray Noble&8217;s orchestra.

But most of us know only his whistle. Known in the business for his television themes, Hagan wrote and whistled the theme for &8220;The Andy Griffith Show.&8221;