Ben Haggard is Merle's youngest son. Ben began playing with the strangers at the age of 15 and toured with his father Merle Haggard playing lead guitar. Since the death of his father, now, at 27, Ben tours with his brother Noel and The Strangers finishing his father's dates. Ben's largest influences include Roy Nichols, Reggie Young, James Burton, Grady Martin, and of course his father, Merle.