HER STORY
ABOUT LAURA
HER STORY
Born and raised in Chatsworth, California, in the northwest San Fernando Valley, she is a second-generation Californian with deep roots in the American West. A self-described middle child with something to prove, she channeled that early drive into a lifelong habit of excellence — determined to be the very best at whatever she set her mind to.
LAURA
Her love of music was sparked by her grandmother, a warm and gifted pianist who taught her to sing at an early age. That seed grew steadily — through high school choir and musical productions, garage band performances, and eventually a professional career as a jazz and big band vocalist. She booked engagements at country clubs, restaurants, conventions, and private events across the desert, building her own PA system and leading ensembles ranging from intimate duos to 17-piece big bands.
On New Year’s Eve 2002, fate intervened. After performing at Morningside Country Club in Palm Desert, she met legendary composer Earle Hagen — the brilliant mind behind some of television’s most beloved themes, including The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gomer Pyle, Mod Squad, I Spy, That Girl, and Harlem Nocturne. The two married within two years. Earle introduced her to a world of haute couture, fine dining, and gracious living, while she devoted herself to him — and ultimately to preserving his extraordinary musical legacy.
THE STORY CONTINUES
DISCOVER WHAT’S NEXT
When Earle passed on Memorial Day 2008, she stepped into the formidable role of protecting his catalog. What followed were twelve years of complex legal battles to safeguard his intellectual property. The ordeal tested every part of her — and in 2011, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She faced it with characteristic resilience, survived chemotherapy and radiation, and emerged with a deeper commitment to self-care and purpose. In 2017, she successfully placed Earle’s catalog with A-Train Entertainment, restoring a historic body of American music in television and film to its rightful legacy.
Today, she lives in La Quinta, California, where she is a proud grandmother of five — including a West Point graduate — and great-grandmother of two. She has served as Vice President of The Palm Springs Women’s Press Club, is a Founder of the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, and is a patron of Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage.
She is the founder of The Players’ Club – Charity Through Entertainment, a 501(c)(3) devoted to championing live music, entertainers, and cultural vitality in the Coachella Valley. In 2026, she launches her new book, Between The Notes – A Legendary Composer’s Love and Tales from the Greatest Generation, a tribute to Earle Hagen’s life and the golden era of American music.
Her life stands at the intersection of history, performance, and cultural preservation — and she intends to keep the music playing on.
Laura Hagen
