The Haygoods are Good!

 

 

In mid-February, 2014, the Haygoods kicked off their 21st season in Branson at The Clay Cooper Theatre. Starting their musical careers at Branson’s Silver Dollar City back in 1993, the family honed their talents for numerous instruments, choreography, and sweet harmonies. They took a chance—eight children and Mom and Dad Haygood—moving from their home in Boerne, Texas, to accept a summer contract performing daily shows at Silver Dollar City. Their “gig” extended through Christmas. Each year, Mom Haygood said they sat down as a family and decided if they were going to commit to make music for another season—or catch the big yellow school bus as it passed each morning. The decision was unanimous for the life of musicians. For the next eight years, the family grew up in the theme park, performing five shows a day, five days a week while squeezing in instrument and dance lessons, as well as completing schoolwork. The drive and persistence of oldest brother Timothy resulted in the family show become the most successful, highest rated show in the history of Silver Dollar City. Youngest brother Aaron Haygood, who arrived in Branson as an infant, summed up the experience. "I started on stage when I was two years old, so my earliest memories are of applause and hard work. Oh, and getting to ride the roller coasters every day!" The Haygoods completed over 10,000 shows during their time at Silver Dollar City.

With a generous loan from their grandmother, the Haygoods took a giant risk and opened their own show on the Branson strip in 2001. The move from a theme park to the entertainment town was more than a location change. The three oldest Haygoods also took creative and financial control of the show and began to make their mark on the show’s presentation and on Branson’s music scene. The Haygoods became the youngest performing family to ever open their own show on the Branson strip.

Dominic & Catherine Haygood

At the end of their first full season, the Haygoods reached a crossroads; they had to decide to push ahead despite financial hardships or to give up the music business and seek so-called normal lives. But music was in their blood. The siblings had known since they first played fiddles and sang at nursing homes and fairs back in Texas that they were destined to make music. They set about making their “town” show the most exciting on the Branson strip. With Dominic as music director, they began to take classic songs like "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "Eleanor Rigby" and add their own musical twists. Familiar songs from Motown were updated with modern dance moves and unique harmonies. At the same time, the energetic Haygoods began reclaiming their childhood by filming their wild BMX and paraplane stunts, which made them a You Tube sensation. "We finally started to realize everything was going to be OK. We loved playing our music together and we felt like we had achieved a measure of success," said Shawn Haygood.

Michael warms up
the audience.

In 2009, the Haygoods took yet another chance on themselves and their music, staking everything they had in their own theater on the Branson strip. By this time, the Haygood boys had become men and the decision to buy the Americana Theatre was an investment in their musical future.

At the same time, the Haygoods set about creating their own original music with the hope of reaching a national audience. Daily jam sessions and boxing matches led to recording studios and bringing in producers to help refine their music. Their first album "Leaving It All Behind" was released in 2010. Without any radio support, record label support or even digital downloads, the album sold over 10,000 physical copies in its first two months of release.

In the fall of 2011, The Haygoods teamed up with the RFDTV network, a cable channel distributed in over 50 million homes in the United States, and many more worldwide, to create a reality/music television show. In addition, The Haygoods moved their live show to the RFDTV Theatre on the corner of Shepherd of the Hills Boulevard and the famous Highway 76 Strip. At the same time, they retained the Americana Theatre and booked morning, matinee, and evening shows on its stage. Cassandre’, Voice of an Angel, continues to anchor the Americana’s line-up.

The television show called “Adventures of The Haygoods” did well on the RFDTV network and garnered good Nielson ratings, especially for a completely unknown group. New seasons developed, and re-runs continue to air.

The Haygoods opening Outlaw Run
at Silver Dollar City ~ April 2013

The Haygoods completed their 2012 and 2013 seasons at the RFDTV Theatre. In announcing their move to the Clay Cooper Theatre, Catherine Haygood said: “We have been looking at investing in new technology and production equipment to take our show to the next level. We needed a long term commitment to make sense financially, longer than the year-to-year lease we had at the RFDTV Theatre. Clay Copper has our vision for the future, and he gave us the commitment we were looking for. Also, our fans know we have been experimenting with new music for fun. We wanted to try out that music on the road on Fridays and Wednesdays. Again, the schedule at Clay’s theatre worked out great for us to do that.”

“We have invested in new lights, sets, and special effects and this year’s show will be our best ever,” said Michael Haygood, lighting designer and guitarist for The Haygoods. To be even better is a huge boast since the Haygoods are already one of Branson’s longest running and most successful shows. The group, now five brothers and one sister, is known throughout the Midwest for their incredible high energy productions. Combining their talents, they play over 20 instruments, sing with harmony, both powerful and pure at the same time, tap dance like they are on fire, and entertain crowds with a state of the art show featuring all styles of music from the 60s through today.

The Haygoods performing at Silver Dollar City.
(Photo by Arline Chandler)

“These guys know how to put on a super exciting, high energy show and that’s why they draw large crowds year after year,” said Clay Cooper, owner of the Clay Cooper Theatre. “I’m turning them loose in my theatre, so audiences, hang on to your seats. It’s gonna be a wild ride.”

When asked what audiences could expect out of The Haygoods this year, Dominic Haygood replied with a huge grin, “New routines, new music, a bigger production, and lots of surprises. Our lasers and new special effects will put it over the top, but the new music is what excites me.”

For information and tickets call the box office at 417-339-4663 or go to: http://www.thehaygoods.com/