The Hagers
Biographie The Hagers
The Hagers
Country music has produced countless brother acts, but the Hagers offered a new twist: They were identical twins. Best known for their long stint on the TV show Hee Haw, Jon and Jim Hager were adopted by a minister as infants, and as they grew up in Park Ridge, IL, their new parents passed along their love of country music. The brothers began performing together as teenagers, appearing at local venues and on a Saturday morning TV show aimed at other teens. After college, they served in Vietnam, primarily as entertainers for their fellow soldiers. Upon returning home, they spent a year and a half performing around Chicago, then moved to Los Angeles. There they were hired by Randy Sparks of the New Christy Minstrels to appear regularly at his Ledbetter's club. A performance at Disneyland won them a fan in Buck Owens, who became their manager and added them to his touring revue for two years. Signed to Capitol, the Hagers released their debut single, "Gotta Get to Oklahoma (Cause California's Gettin' to Me)," in 1969, and followed it with their self-titled debut album the next year. What started as an engagement to perform two songs on Hee Haw in 1970 turned into an 18-year association; the Hagers became regulars both as musicians and comedians. They released three albums total for Capitol, as well as minor hit singles like "Silver Wings" and "I'm Miles Away," but television proved to be their primary medium. They cut an album for Barnaby in 1972, and another self-titled effort for Elektra in 1974, without much commercial success. Settled into their roles, the Hagers began moonlighting in other acting roles, including the 1976 TV movie Twin Detectives, with Lillian Gish; they also worked as standup comics for a time. In 1987, they left Hee Haw and co-hosted the TNN show Country Kitchen with Florence Henderson; a proposed comedy show never got off the ground. In 1990, they filmed their first music video for the single "I'm Wishin' I Could Go Fishin' Forever." (Steve Huey, AMG)
