Remembering Jimmy McGriff and Earle Hagen

Well, we lost another couple of good ones over the last couple of days.

On Saturday, legendary organ player Jimmy McGriff.

Longtime jazz and blues organist Jimmy McGriff, known for his 1960s recordings of “I’ve Got a Woman” and “All About My Girl,” has died. He was 72.

McGriff’s death on Saturday from multiple sclerosis was confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday by his wife, Margaret McGriff. At the time of his death, McGriff lived in the Philadelphia suburb of Voorhees, New Jersey.

Here’s a YouTube of McGriff’s record “Turn Blue”. There is no video, a photo montage but, it’s a great song and will give you a little idea of what McGriff was all about. He could make the B3 moan, growl, sing and laugh.

As always, just hit pause on the music player to your left when playing the YouTube.

Jimmy McGriff website.

National M.S. Society website.

Then, this came came news of the passing of Earl Hagen.

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, has died. He was 88.

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

Hagen worked on many other T.V. shows and movies. There isn’t any among us who haven’t heard his work.

“He loved it,” his wife said. “The music just flowed from him, and he would take off one hat and put on another and go on to the next show.”

Hagen enjoyed the immediacy of the small screen, he told the American Society of Musicians Arrangers & Composers in 2000.

“It was hard work, with long hours and endless deadlines, but being able to write something one day and hear it a few days later appealed to me,” he said. “Besides, I was addicted to the ultimate narcosis in music, which is the rush you get when you give a downbeat and wonderful players breathe life into the notes you have put on paper.”

Here is Danny Gatton playing “Harlem Nocturne”.

As always, just hit pause on the music player to your left when playing the YouTube.