I always told the people at Cal Arts that if they wanted me to do Jazz studies, first of all, there couldn't be a big band within 500 miles and that I could do what I wanted to do. And they said I could.

Eventually he set his sights on Los Angeles and to save money for the trip took a job as house bassist for ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee in Springfield Missouri. His first recordings were made that year with Paul Bley. Family
His son Josh Haden is a bass guitarist and singer.

Charles Edward Haden (born August 6 1937 Shenandoah Iowa) is an American jazz musician. Haden is also known for his signature lyrical bass lines.