Merle’s Son Ben Haggard Signs to BMI
The unfortunate passing of Merle Haggard in April has many wondering who will step up to fill his shoes. For the moment, there’s been nobody better than the fruit of Merle’s own loins—his son, and singer-songwriter-guitar player Ben Haggard.
Ben has been filling in for Merle both figuratively and literally lately. As Merle’s health began to fail him, Ben stepped up to take on more duties in the band, and recently he’s been on tour fulfilling dates booked for Merle before his passing, including select dates with Willie Nelson. The 23-year-old has been the telecaster player in Merle’s backing band The Stranger for a few years now. Merle’s other son Noel has also been helping with fill-in duty for his father.
Ben Haggard has long been seen as a promising future talent in country music himself, regularly posting videos online and garnering a significant following. And now he has taken one of the first steps towards launching his own career.
Announced this week, Ben Haggard has signed to performing rights organization BMI. Ben signed with the company on August 31st while in Nashville. BMI was also one of the long-time representatives of Merle Haggard throughout his career. Merle was a BMI Icon recipient in 2006.
Though it’s only a small first step, it’s the first move of Ben Haggard stepping out of his father’s shadow, and hopefully helping to carry the torch of country music forward to a new generation.
ClemsonBrad
September 4, 2016 @ 9:46 am
Great video. Would love to hear an album from him.
Anyone else hearing Joe Nichols in his voice? I say that as a great thing too.
Nichols recorded this song on one of his albums as well.
dave
September 5, 2016 @ 9:59 am
I don’t near no joe Nichols in his voice…. But I do hear some Merle Haggard in Joe Nichols voice….. Get my drift!
Boatwrong
September 7, 2016 @ 10:47 am
Go Tigers! (Fellow Clemson Alum 2011 and 2014 here)
Boatwrong
September 7, 2016 @ 10:48 am
Go Tigers (Fellow Clemson Alum here B.S. 2011, M.S. 2014)
Scott S.
September 4, 2016 @ 9:57 am
Hopefully he will have a good career, honoring his fathers legacy, but not lost in his shadow.
Small correction; his other son is Noel, not Noah, unless he has another son I don’t know about.
Edmond
September 4, 2016 @ 10:05 am
Please forgive my ignorance here, but can’t anyone who has written a song “sign” with a PRO? I’m guessing it’s press worthy when they snag a great talent. But if I’m not mistaken, “signing” with BMI or ASCAP is not the same as signing say, a publishing deal. Please don’t chastise me on this guys, just curious and trying to learn.
Trigger
September 4, 2016 @ 10:13 am
Hey Edmond,
No, that’s a fair observation. Pretty much anyone can sign with BMI or ASCAP. I don’t even know that you have to write a song to do so. But I think this is a significant signing to me because it symbolizes Ben Haggard stepping out of his father’s shadow and finally considering himself his own artist. I didn’t want to go too in-depth in the article about this because it’s kind of presumptive, but as I’ve been observing Ben over the last few years, it seems like he took his job as the premier understudy of Merle seriously, and took extra care to make sure not to try and steal the spotlight from his father, but enhance the spotlight on Merle during his final years. Now Merle is gone, and it’s time for Ben to begin to stand on his own two feet. Ben arguably could have done this a couple of years ago, but I think he wanted to wait until the right time so it didn’t look like he was just riding off his famous father or riding his famous name. He been patient. And now it’s time for him to take the next step to being his own artist.
At least that’s the way I’m reading it, and why I think it’s significant.
Edmond
September 5, 2016 @ 6:44 am
Thanks Trigger. I can definitely see the significance to we as fans of real music. I’m in awe of this kid. I guess I was wondering if everyone who signs with BMI or ASCAP gets the picture with the pen and the BMI guy and a write up somewhere. Probably not.
Trigger
September 5, 2016 @ 8:36 am
Probably not. But not everyone who signs is a the son of a country legend. I think both parties probably saw it as significant enough to take a picture of.
Convict charlie
September 4, 2016 @ 1:49 pm
From what I’ve been told you can sign with either of the two yes on your own. Sesac though has to ask you to sign with them. That would be the third.
Jen
September 4, 2016 @ 10:57 am
I love him! I hope he stays true to country music, and doesn’t sell out like all the others have.
albert
September 4, 2016 @ 11:31 am
Wow ….just a stirring performance ….lots of heart and intimacy in Ben’s vocals.
And yes ..I can certainly hear some Joe Nichols here.( In my opinion Joe was THE man until the bro stuff got its claws in him.)
Gena R.
September 4, 2016 @ 11:44 am
Lovely. š Best of luck to Ben!
RON G
September 4, 2016 @ 9:07 pm
Love it neighbor keep up the good work U will do it HOPE TO C U THE 7 of October
Oscar berry
September 4, 2016 @ 9:47 pm
Berry good sounds like your dad your dad was my first chose in music along with George Jones.
lizjones
September 5, 2016 @ 5:37 am
I just cried for forty minutes. This is for anyone who ever loved the Hag. Music Row: Please give them a chance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKZJFdn2xn8
Mark
September 5, 2016 @ 9:57 am
He can hold our attention, by singing a quiet ballad, accompanying himself with simple guitar playing.
He is really good.
Josh Calahan
September 5, 2016 @ 11:23 am
I’m really excited to see where Ben goes. I got to see he and Merle in Salt Lake in 2014. Was a great concert.
Corncaster
September 5, 2016 @ 1:30 pm
Good! This guy can flat out sing. Excellent control and great feeling. Go Ben, we got your back.
Christian H
September 6, 2016 @ 10:15 pm
Pure class in paying respect to his father. Refreshing from such a young man. Well played.
RWP
September 13, 2016 @ 9:15 am
Nothing about him currently opening for Toby Keith? Though we might get a look at what songs he’s playing.
Jackie
September 15, 2016 @ 8:31 pm
I follow Ben on Instagram. He does quite a few short song previews. He’s great and I will be purchasing his music when it’s available. When I was his age I was obsessed with his Dad’s music. I still have my Merle vinyls from the 70s and 80s and got his Dad’s autograph after a concert at the Oregon State Fair in the early 80’s. It’s so nice to be able to hear his Dad through him. He seems like a really neat young man, too.
janice dean
October 29, 2017 @ 11:25 am
love this song & Ben sings it well. Yes i hear a bit of Joe Nichols in his voice. Joe is my fav of the young artists.