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Merle Haggard

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Country legend Merle Haggard has died, Bakersfield, California TV station ABC 23 reports. He was 79 years old. Today was his birthday. Earlier this year he was hospitalized due to pneumonia.

Haggard was born in 1937 near Bakersfield, California. His father died when he was young. Throughout his youth, he spent time in juvenile detention centers, and throughout the 1950s, he spent a significant amount of time in jail. His first single, “Sing a Sad Song,” was released in 1963. By 1967, he was a huge country star with 37 songs charting in the Top 10 that year. His 1969 single “Okie From Muskogee” went No. 1 and stirred controversy for its anti-hippie sentiments.

Since the 1960s, Haggard has been a fixture in country music, recording and performing consistently over the years. Along with his band the Strangers, he’s considered one of the most instrumental artists in establishing the Bakersfield sound. His last album was 2015’s Django and Jimmie—a collaboration with his longtime friend Willie Nelson.

* I saw Merle perform at the Du Quoin State Fair a while back and even got to meet him for a brief moment before he took the stage. He didn’t put on any “golden oldies” show that night. He had new stuff, his voice was strong and his band played brilliantly. And despite his now infamous line in “Okie from Muskogee,” I think I may have detected a whiff of green smoke when his tour bus door opened. “Well,” a friend observed, “He’s not in Muskogee, so I guess it’s still true.”

* Dwight Yoakum once said “The only thing that vies with Haggard’s poetic genius is the gift he has as a singer who delivers those songs with one of the most pure and profoundly powerful voices in music.”

Born in a boxcar, saw Johnny Cash perform while doing hard time at San Quentin Prison (for sticking up a roadhouse), pardoned by President Reagan, always on the side of the working man, he slayed that modified Telecaster Thinline right up to the end.

A pro-war patriot during Vietnam who wrote a song protesting the Iraq War. He had his contradictions and his personal failings, but he was always honest with his audience and that’s all we ever wanted…

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:13 pm

Comments

Really sorry to see this. I played his songs for years back when I started out as a young Country Western disk jockey and have followed his work ever since.

Comment by Jak Tichenor Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:22 pm
Saw Merle at Riot Fest last fall. 90% of the crowd was hostile kids in black t-shirts. They were impatiently waiting to see System of a Down and had absolutely no interest in listening to “an old man”. But between his banter, his songs and his musicianship, Merle won ‘em over without compromising even one little bit.

Merle: This next song is about marijuana…
[Crowd cheers]
Merle: I didn’t say I was going to give you any.

A great musician and songwriter who was also a masterful performer.

He will be missed.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:25 pm
I had fraternity brothers who would only listen to Merle Haggard. Sort got me hooked on country music.

RIP

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:28 pm
Very Sad
This does confirm today is pretty boring

Comment by Annonn'' Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:28 pm
George Jones said it best…who’s gonna fill their shoes?

Nobody.

Comment by Old Shepherd Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:29 pm
I knew his older sister, who used to live in the Chicago suburbs and then moved east of Omaha. Merle lived with her and her husband in CA for a short while after he was released from prison. Wished I’d got to see him while he was alive.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:32 pm
“Honest” is the key word. He and Buck, with that Bakersfield sound, never a false note or word (except that bit about not smoking weed in Muskogee).

So many songs, so many stories. Willie has a new book out, and there’s a picture of him and Merle playing poker on the bus; stacks of hondos, and about a bale of what you know must be killer-mind-freak weed on the table.

This one always reminds me of my old man.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEYColElk7w&nohtml5=False

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:36 pm
–Saw Merle at Riot Fest last fall…–

My 16-year old was there.

She and her crew came home and asked about him. I got to be the cool Dad for a couple of hours, shell out for pizza, hang and spin tunes and babble on about Merle, Willie, JC and Waylon.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:52 pm
As someone who grew up with the music of the late 60’s and early 70’s and saw changes over many years, I found it impossible to get into Disco and some of the other trends. I discovered Country and the music of Merle, Waylon and Willie among others - still some of my favorites.

Guess I’m just what the Bellamy Brothers referred to as being an being and Old Hippie.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 1:59 pm
I hated the man’s music when forced to listen to it on my parents car radio growing up.
Now I have a greatest hits album, and can sing many songs of his from memory. I guess that’s what getting older does to you–in a good way!

Comment by train111 Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:05 pm
Sad news. When my father took me riding on his motorcycle when I was around 6 or 7, he played a lot of Merle Haggard while on the road. Great memories with him and ol’ Merle. Hearing this news reminds me that my father is getting up there in age, as well…gonna give him a call while I still can.

Comment by Yiddish cowboy Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:06 pm
The poet of the working man and the everyday person.

Comment by forwhatitsworth Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:08 pm
From the Washington Post obit: “While in San Quentin, Mr. Haggard sold home brew to other inmates, an activity that landed him in solitary confinement.”

May he rest in peace, in the Great Beerhouse in the Sky.

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:19 pm
Looks like an Austin City Limits backdrop. Excellent program, partially supported by tax dollars.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:22 pm
A country singer who typified the crowd from the 60’s and 70’s. A hard-scrabble, difficult early life, he found his place. When he sang you knew he had walked a troubled path and he resonated with you. They don’t come like that any more. An era is passing.

Comment by The Professor Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:32 pm
been to a lot of concerts my 1st was Jimmy Hendrix I also was at the DuQuoin concert but the best concert I”ve ever seen was Merle and Kris K. at the Fox in StLouis about 4 years ago. Who will replace all of the greats

Comment by jw Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:34 pm
The man could write them, and he could sing them, and he was among the very best at both.

Comment by Linus Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:44 pm
Who’s gonna fill those shoes?
Damn.
Ellis. Robert Ellis.
That’s who!
New album June 3.
Will be in St. Louis 6/7.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:47 pm
And so the story ends we’re told.

So long Lefty.

Comment by Leave a Light on George Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:51 pm
I always wondered what people would answer to the question he posed in “Are the good times really over for good?” Or was it a question?

Comment by Otis Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:53 pm
The Highwaymen.

That’s all I can say.

Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 2:58 pm
“And I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole.”

Comment by Business Unfriendly Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 3:34 pm
Sing me back home Merle.

His music, especially his lyrics, put much of today’s music, from all genres, to shame.

Comment by Sir Reel Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 3:47 pm
Mama tried to raise him better . . .but he’s with mama now.

Comment by Political Animal Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 4:01 pm
I grew up on Merle, a lot of memories fishing with my Father listening to the local AM station out of his old red station wagon at Lake Truman. I guess he finally found free Bubble Up and is eating Rainbow Stew. RIP Mr. Haggard.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 4:44 pm
This was posted on an email I got today-

“Lay in the weeds and wait, and when you get your chance to say something, say something good.” -Merle Haggard

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 4:58 pm
I was fortunate to see him three times. He got better each time. He changed with the times, yet sang the old songs in a way that was a great tribute to the past. Gonna miss Merle.

Comment by Blago's Hare Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 6:07 pm
I pledge allegiance to the Hag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00IEK9KdWgE

Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Apr 6, 16 @ 10:00 pm