Hager Twins
Encyclopedia
The Hager Twins, also known as the Hager Brothers and The Hagers, were a duo of American country music
singers and comedian
s who first gained fame on the TV series Hee Haw
. They were identical twin brothers Jim (died May 1, 2008) and Jon Hager (died January 9, 2009).
The Hager brothers first sang in the church choir. As teenagers, they sang on a Saturday morning WGN-TV
series targeting others in their age group. Both brothers served in the United States Army
and performed at Officers' Clubs and NCO Clubs in the United States and Europe.
They attended Maine Township High School in Park Ridge
(Class of 1959), one year ahead of Harrison Ford
and a few more years ahead of Hillary Rodham Clinton
.
After leaving the military, the Hager brothers moved to California and performed at the Ledbetter's Night Club in Los Angeles
with The Carpenters
, The New Christy Minstrels, John Denver
, Steve Martin
and Kenny Rogers
. They also worked at Disneyland, which is where Buck Owens
saw them perform and signed them to contracts. In addition to Owens, the brothers served as opening acts for Tex Ritter
, Wynn Stewart
, Billie Jo Spears
and Lefty Frizzell
.
Most of the country first came to know Jim and Jon on the CBS series Hee Haw, on which both were cast members from 1969 to 1986.
The Hager brothers signed with Capitol Records
in 1969 and hit the country charts with "Gotta Get To Oklahoma ('Cause California's Gettin' To Me)". They also charted Merle Haggard
's "Silver Wings", which was a on the B-Side of Haggard's "Working Man Blues." In all, they recorded six albums—three for Capitol, two for Elektra-Asylum
, and one for Barnaby Records
.
The brothers were featured in the second preview issue of Playgirl
, February, 1973.
Their TV appearances also include the original The Bionic Woman
, in which Jim and Jon played Verm and Dier, respectively, in the February 11, 1978, episode "Sanctuary Earth." The characters were cloned detectives.
In 1976, Jim and Jon starred, with Lillian Gish
, as Tony and Shep Thomas in the TV-movie Twin Detectives. They also appeared in TV commercials and with Florence Henderson
in Country Kitchen on TNN
.
The Hager Brothers continued to entertain, and also contributed to numerous charities.
Jim Hager died of an apparent heart attack
on May 1, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee
. Jon died in his sleep on January 9, 2009, also in Nashville.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singers and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s who first gained fame on the TV series Hee Haw
Hee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
. They were identical twin brothers Jim (died May 1, 2008) and Jon Hager (died January 9, 2009).
Biography
The brothers were born August 30, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois and adopted by Jack and Frances Hager, a Methodist minister and a schoolteacher.The Hager brothers first sang in the church choir. As teenagers, they sang on a Saturday morning WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
series targeting others in their age group. Both brothers served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and performed at Officers' Clubs and NCO Clubs in the United States and Europe.
They attended Maine Township High School in Park Ridge
Park Ridge, Illinois
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,374.6 people per square mile . There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 2,083.8 per square mile...
(Class of 1959), one year ahead of Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in...
and a few more years ahead of Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
.
After leaving the military, the Hager brothers moved to California and performed at the Ledbetter's Night Club in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
, The New Christy Minstrels, John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
and Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
. They also worked at Disneyland, which is where Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
saw them perform and signed them to contracts. In addition to Owens, the brothers served as opening acts for Tex Ritter
Tex Ritter
Woodward Maurice Ritter , better known as Tex Ritter, was an American country music singer and movie actor popular from the mid-1930s into the 1960s, and the patriarch of the Ritter family in acting...
, Wynn Stewart
Wynn Stewart
Winford Lindsey Stewart , better known as Wynn Stewart, was an American country music performer. He was one of the progenitors of the Bakersfield sound...
, Billie Jo Spears
Billie Jo Spears
Billie Jo Spears is an American country music singer. She reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit being "Blanket on the Ground", which, in 1975, became her only number one...
and Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
.
Most of the country first came to know Jim and Jon on the CBS series Hee Haw, on which both were cast members from 1969 to 1986.
The Hager brothers signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1969 and hit the country charts with "Gotta Get To Oklahoma ('Cause California's Gettin' To Me)". They also charted Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
's "Silver Wings", which was a on the B-Side of Haggard's "Working Man Blues." In all, they recorded six albums—three for Capitol, two for Elektra-Asylum
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, and one for Barnaby Records
Barnaby Records
Barnaby Records was an American record company founded by singer Andy Williams in 1963 with his purchase of soon-to-be-liquidated Cadence Records....
.
The brothers were featured in the second preview issue of Playgirl
Playgirl
Playgirl is a print quarterly adult magazine published in the United States that is marketed mainly to heterosexual women, but has also gained a considerable gay following...
, February, 1973.
Their TV appearances also include the original The Bionic Woman
The Bionic Woman
The Bionic Woman is an American television series starring Lindsay Wagner that aired for three seasons between 1976 and 1978 as a spin off from The Six Million Dollar Man. Wagner stars as tennis pro Jaime Sommers who is nearly killed in a skydiving accident. Sommers' life is saved by Oscar Goldman ...
, in which Jim and Jon played Verm and Dier, respectively, in the February 11, 1978, episode "Sanctuary Earth." The characters were cloned detectives.
In 1976, Jim and Jon starred, with Lillian Gish
Lillian Gish
Lillian Diana Gish was an American stage, screen and television actress whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 to 1987....
, as Tony and Shep Thomas in the TV-movie Twin Detectives. They also appeared in TV commercials and with Florence Henderson
Florence Henderson
Florence Agnes Henderson is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role of Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974...
in Country Kitchen on TNN
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
.
The Hager Brothers continued to entertain, and also contributed to numerous charities.
Jim Hager died of an apparent heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on May 1, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Jon died in his sleep on January 9, 2009, also in Nashville.
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Hagers | Capitol |
| Two Hagers Are Better Than One | ||
| 1971 | Motherhood, Apple Pie and the Flag | |
| 1972 | Music on the Country Side | Barnaby |
| 1974 | The Hagers | Elektra |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1969 | "Gotta Get to Oklahoma ('Cause California's Gettin' to Me)" | 41 | 9 | The Hagers (1970) |
| 1970 | "Loneliness Without You" | 74 | — | |
| "Goin' Home to Your Mother" | 50 | — | ||
| "Silver Wings" | 59 | — | Two Hagers Are Better Than One | |
| 1971 | "I'm Miles Away" | 47 | 38 | |
| "White Line Fever" | — | — | Motherhood, Apple Pie and the Flag | |
| 1972 | "Ain't No Sunshine" | — | — | Music on the Country Side |
| "The Cost of Love Is Getting Higher" | — | — | ||
| "I Just Don't Feel at Home" | — | — | ||
| 1973 | "A Fool Such as I" | — | — | single only |
| 1974 | "Love My Life Away" | — | — | The Hagers (1974) |
| "All Your Love" | — | — | ||
| 1975 | "Heartaches by the Number" | — | — | singles only |
| "Hot Lips" | — | — |