Hagood Hardy was born in Angola, Indiana in 1937, but was taken to Oakville as an infant.  It was there that he discovered his love of music and began to take piano lessons, both privately and in school.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College at the University of Toronto, where he first began playing the vibraphone.  By the 1960’s he was a jazz vibist working in New York with famous musicians Martin Denny, George Shearing, Herbie Mann and the pop group Montage.  In the 1970’s he was writing jingles for large corporations like General Motors, Kelloggs, Canadian Pacific, and London Life, as well as composing for TV, radio and film.  Of his many compositions for TV, he is best known internationally for “The Homecoming”, which was originally used in 1975 as a Salada Tea Jingle and eventually sold over a million copies.

But Hardy is perhaps best known for the music he composed for many television productions.  His music for Anne of Green Gables earned him a Gemini Award.  He also composed the music for Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel, as well as many episodes of Road to Avonlea.

In addition to his musical career, Hardy was a politician and humanitarian.  He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1992, which is the highest honour a Canadian can receive, and ran in Ontario’s 1995 provincial election as a liberal candidate - eventually losing against his opponent Ontario Premier Bob Rae.

Hardy continued composing music into the 1990’s, but eventually fell ill with stomach cancer.  He passed away in 1997, at the age of 59.

Viewers can actually catch a glimpse of Hagood Hardy in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel as the organ player at Diana’s wedding.