The Haygoods

2004 Winner for Best ensemble at the Branson Critic Awards.

Kurt L Moore

Every good tale has a beginning and a “lived happily-ever-after” ending, with an epic journey from one point to the other. The story of the Haygoods is such a tale. It has a beginning in the tiny town of Boerne, Texas, five years after Jim and Marie Haygood had their first little Haygood, Timothy. Timothy liked to watch TV while mom Marie, scurried around their small home doing the necessary chores that ordinary folks did to live from one day to the next. One evening Timothy was watching Sesame Street and yelled to his mom to come and, “see this.” When Marie went into the room and looked, Itzhak Perlman, the great Israeli violin virtuoso was performing and Timothy said that was what he wanted to do. He wanted to play the violin just like Itzhak was doing.

In a few months Timothy, the first and oldest of the extremely talented and musical Haygoods, was taking violin lessons. No one knew at that time what the future held in store for the Haygood family, except God. He knew and he had an unbelievable plan for this particular family. If Jim and Marie Haygood had known what was in store for their future and the futures of their children, they not only would have found it hard to believe, but quite possibly, would have been too afraid to go on.

Jim and Marie Haygood, in time, would have seven more children, all talented, all musically inclined and all of whom would wind up eventually in Branson, with a hit show of their own, at the new Music City Center. That did not happen without yet another fairy tale story in the middle of the original tale. The story that Marie told me, when I asked her how they decided to come to Missouri, is a story of, what some would consider, amazing circumstances. I personally do not believe in circumstances. I believe that everything that happens to us has been planned, laid out on a master drawing board and then put into motion by the Master planner Himself. The story of the Haygood’s move to Branson has all the earmarks of one of the most cleverly designed plans ever drawn up by the Master. After hearing the story, I decided that it was much too long to put into this article; I am totally in awe of everything that transpired to get them to Branson and keep them here.

The Haygood performing troupe, consisting of seven brothers and one sister, came by their love of music honestly. James Dunn Haygood, their dad, had a background in acting and actually did what every boy in his generation wanted to do. He ran away from home, joined a circus and become a clown. When Jim and Marie married, she literally married a clown. It’s what every father of every bride thinks of his future son-in-law, and this one was true. Jim retired from clowning around the circus a couple of years after he was married and settled into raising their family.

Dolores Marie Haygood, their mother, took lessons in piano, dancing and later took singing lessons. She was active in college, singing and performing in musicals. Marie had planned to continue her performing career, but put everything on hold when she and Jim started a family. It is still on hold.

It is interesting that Marie had not studied the violin, but learned nearly by osmosis, as she went with each of her eight children when they took their lessons. When the last of the children came along, Marie had amassed enough knowledge of the violin, simply by watching and listening to the older children’s lessons, that she was able to teach basic violin to the younger ones. Then she sent them off for professional lessons.

There are many families that have a genetic makeup that allows all of them to perform as a group. Several such families are here in Branson, but I do not believe any of the others have the unique quality that the Haygoods have. The Haygoods cannot only sing up a storm, but each can play several musical instruments. They can dance, play, sing and all have the ability to have a good time when onstage.

The Haygoods have arrived in Branson. Actually, they arrived in 1993 and started performing at Silver Dollar City, on June 1st of that same year, then moved to the Branson strip in the spring of 2002. The new Music City Center suits them well, very well. The theater has the best in lighting and the best in sound, plus special effects, including pyro-effects, that can be seen a couple of times in each show. I was fortunate enough to catch the firestorms on film. They are spectacular.

The Haygoods have fans all across the country. When you go to their show, you will notice that a goodly number of fans scream when the Haygoods are performing. Sort of puts one in mind of the old Elvis concerts. Believe me when I say they have avid fans. They also have a web site, www.thehaygoods.com that tells you who they are and what they do. It is a well-planned site, done very professionally.

Aaron, 11, and Catherine, 13, the two youngest Haygoods, are already multi-talented and can perform with the best of them. Of course, they have six older brothers who take a very personal interest in them. Catherine, being the only girl in the group, is truly a standout. Already turning into a real heart breaker, she is a twinkling star when onstage.

The Haygoods are a phenomenon of sight, sound and motion. They not only sound great, but they are in constant, high energy, motion. “The Haygoods” is a show that cries out with excitement. It is excitement times eight. Eight Haygoods, with two talented and loving parents added in, is a mixture for a show that has nearly everything from Chuck Berry and the guys downtown, to the Beach Boys. “The Haygoods” is truly a feel good show. You will feel much better after seeing them. I did.

The “lived-happily-ever-after” ending to the Haygood story is not here yet. Actually, we hope the ending is a long time into the future. In the meantime, enjoy the journey along the way. That’s the very best part.

Branson Critic™

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