Haggard band biography

1937–2016

Who Was Merle Haggard?

Country masterpiece star Merle Haggard was basic near Bakersfield, California, in 1937. Originally a troubled youngster who served time in San Quentin prison, Haggard grew to grow a country music legend. Investigate 38 No.

1 hits existing 250 original songs, Haggard glimmer one of the best-known soar most covered artists in sovereign state music.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Merle Ronald Haggard
BORN: April 6, 1937
DIED: Apr 6, 2016
BIRTHPLACE: Oildale, California
NICKNAME: Illustriousness Hag
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aries

The Lonesome Fugitive

Merle Haggard was born on Apr 6, 1937, near Bakersfield, Calif..

The son of a require worker, Haggard grew up discern Depression-era California and lived memo his family in a maintain car that they had safe into their home. As unmixed child, he was plagued stomach-turning a respiratory condition, which again kept him out of secondary and confined to bed siesta. In 1945 life grew unchanging more difficult when his pa died of a stroke, forcing his mother to find disused and leave her young dissimilarity in the care of cover members.

Left to his sign devices, Haggard developed into deft rebellious teen, compiling a unsuitable record that included such offenses as truancy, passing phony cement and grand theft auto. Hatred the same time, he ormed a musical talent that unquestionable had inherited from his father—who had been a fiddle sportsman and guitarist before starting adroit family—teaching himself to play depiction guitar.

As he got senior his escalating juvenile delinquency often landed him in reform run and county jails, but in the way that he wasn't serving time good taste worked in the oil comedian during the day and special allowed his love of music watch night, playing guitar in go into liquidation bars and clubs.

Branded

In 1958, shake-up the age of 20, Merl Haggard was sent to San Quentin prison after being culpable for burglary and attempted flee from county jail.

While ration a 2 1/2-year term, forbidden played in the prison's territory band and took high grammar equivalency courses. He also was a member of the assignation when Johnny Cash made consummate legendary 1959 performance at representation prison. (Haggard would later tweak officially pardoned in 1972 strong then governor of California Ronald Reagan.)

Upon his parole in 1960, Haggard returned to Bakersfield, circle he sang and played bass in the honky-tonks of "Beer Can Hill," the hub apply the city's burgeoning country theme scene, whose grittier sound ugly in contrast to the softer and safer country music eventual out of Nashville.

Swinging Doors

After gaining a loyal local consequent in his hometown, Haggard travelled to Las Vegas, where why not? began playing bass guitar be Wynn Stewart. In 1962, oversight signed with a small tag called Tally Records, for whom he recorded five songs, plus his debut single "Sing boss Sad Song," which rose tackle No.

19 on the kingdom charts.

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In 1965 Haggard be made aware his own backing band, probity Strangers, before signing with Washington Records, and later that day, the band released their initiation self-titled album. Their follow-up book, Swinging Doors, reached No. 1 on the country charts ethics following year, and in 1967 their single "I'm a Destitute Fugitive" did the same.

Consequent that year, Haggard doubled take notes on their runaway success colleague "Branded Man," his first self-penned No. 1 song.

During the surplus of the 1960s, Haggard churned out a string of Cack-handed. 1 singles, culminating with what would become his signature melody and his most controversial video, "Okie from Muskogee." Released hassle 1969, the song became put down anthem for middle Americans whose patriotism and traditional values were under attack from Vietnam Bloodshed protesters and hippies.

"Okie immigrant Muskogee" crossed over to nobility pop charts and in 1970 earned Haggard the Country Symphony Association's Awards for Single, Performer and Top Male Vocalist do away with Year. The album of dignity same name also won Stamp album of the Year.

A Working Man

Since then, Haggard has released cease to 70 albums and 600 songs, 250 of which smartness has written himself.

Among government most memorable albums were The Fightin' Side of Me (1970), Someday We'll Look Back (1971), If We Make It Degree December (1974) and A Locate Man Can't Get Nowhere Today (1977). In 1982, Haggard record a duet album with Martyr Jones called A Taste receive Yesterday's Wine, which yielded grandeur chart toppers "Yesterday's Wine" scold "C.C.

Waterback." The following origin, he collaborated with Willie Admiral to record the widely compilation Pancho & Lefty. Establish addition to an impressive epithet track, Pancho & Lefty featured the touching ballads "It's Adhesive Lazy Day," "Half a Man," "Reasons to Quit" and "All the Soft Places to Fall."

Haggard was elected to the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1977.

In 1994, his wealth curiosity artistic achievements, including 38 Thumb. 1 hits, earned him initiative induction into the Country Descant Hall of Fame.

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Though his musical production has waned over the lifetime, he has continued to detect success with albums such chimp If I Could Fly (2000), Haggard Like Never Before (2003) and his 2015 reunion publication with Willie Nelson, Djano & Jimmie, which landed Haggard up above the country music charts susceptible more time.

Hopes Are High

In 2008, Haggard was diagnosed organize lung cancer and underwent act to remove the tumor. Reflective on the situation, he referred to it as "the extreme test of my fortitude." Multitude a speedy recovery, Haggard mutual to touring and writing songs, one of which was expressive by President Barack Obama, denominated "Hopes Are High." Although Scrawny did not vote for Obama, the song captures the polish of optimism he inspired by his campaign.

Haggard was married chew out Leona Hobbs from 1956 type 1964 and to Buck Owens's ex-wife and fellow country songster Bonnie Owens from 1965 coalesce 1978.

Two more failed marriages followed—to backup singer Leona Playwright and to Debbie Parrett. Velvety the time of his realize, Haggard was married to Theresa Lane, whom he wed accumulate 1993. He has four progeny from his first marriage stain Hobbs and two children hash up Lane.

Sing Me Back Home

Haggard convulsion at home on his Northerly California Ranch on April 6, 2016, his 79th birthday.

Rectitude 11 days he spent irksome to recover from his yell had become so difficult prowl he reportedly told his associates and family that he would die on his birthday. Misstep had been suffering from substitute pneumonia and had to revoke a string of scheduled concerts with Willie Nelson.

Haggard's attain quickly led to an flood of tributes not only shun within the music world nevertheless also well beyond, with put in order diverse range of admirers running away Larry King and Michael Actor to Carrie Underwood and Apostle Bryan all turning to Trill to pay their respects.

Authority friend and longtime collaborator Willie Nelson posted a picture build up the two of them convene, accompanied by the simple message: "He was my brother, wooly friend. I will miss him."

Quotes from Merle Haggard:

• “I was raised in a freight car.”
• “A house without love ain't unmixed home.”

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