Merle Haggard

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Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Background information
Birth name Merle Ronald Haggard
Also known as The Hag
Born April 6, 1937 (age 70)
Origin Bakersfield, CA, USA
Genre(s) Country Music
Occupation(s) Country music singer, guitarist and songwriter
Years active 1965 – Present
Label(s) Capitol Records Nashville
Website Official Website

Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter.

Emerging from prison in the 1960s, Haggard was one of the early innovators of the Bakersfield Sound. With his hard biting electric guitar, he almost single-handedly introduced country to the electric sound. By the 1970s, he was aligned with the growing outlaw country movement, and has continued to release successful albums through the 1990s and into the 2000s. His work in familiar country themes – jail, betrayal, drinking and wandering – include a directness that reflects his own life experience. His deep, grumbling voice and his guitar work gives his country a blues-like quality in many cuts.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Haggard was born in Bakersfield, CA. His parents, Flossie Mae Harp and James Francis Haggard,[1] moved from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression; at that time, much of the population of Bakersfield was made up of economic refugees from Oklahoma and surrounding states. Haggard's father died when Merle was 9, and Merle began to rebel against his mother. Authorities put him in a juvenile detention center[citation needed]. Haggard's older brother gave him a guitar when Merle was twelve years old and he taught himself to play. In 1951, Haggard ran away to Texas with a friend but returned that same year and was arrested for truancy and petty larceny. He ran away from the next juvenile detention center to which he was sent and went to Modesto, California. He worked odd jobs - legal and not - and made his performing debut at a bar. Once he was found again, he was sent to the Preston School of Industry, a high-security installation. Shortly after he was released, 15 months later, Haggard was sent back after beating a local boy during a burglary attempt.

After his second release, Haggard saw Lefty Frizzell in concert with his friend Bob Teague and sang a couple of songs for him. Lefty was so impressed, he allowed Haggard to sing at the concert. The audience loved Haggard, and he began working on a full-time music career. After earning a local reputation, Haggard's money problems caught up with him, and he was arrested for a robbery in 1957. He was sent to prison in San Quentin for 15 years. Even in prison, Haggard was wild. He planned an escape but never followed through, and he ran a gambling and brewing racket from his cell. Merle attended three of Johnny Cash's concerts at San Quentin. Cash inspired Haggard to straighten up and pursue his singing. Several years later, at another Cash concert, Haggard came up to Johnny and told him "I certainly enjoyed your show at San Quentin." Cash said "Merle, I don't remember you bein' in that show." Merle Haggard said, "Johnny, I wasn't in that show, I was in the audience." While put in solitary confinement, Haggard encountered author and death row inmate Caryl Chessman. Haggard had the opportunity to escape with a fellow inmate nicknamed "Rabbit". Haggard passed on the chance to escape. The escape was successful. The man who escaped later shot a policeman and was returned to San Quentin and put to death. Chessman's predicament along with Rabbit's inspired Haggard to turn his life around, and he soon earned his high school equivalency diploma, kept a steady job in the prison's textile plant and played in the prison's band. He was released in 1960 and in March 1972 was pardoned by then California governor Ronald Reagan. Once released, Haggard said it took about four months to get used to being out of the penitentiary and that, at times, he actually wanted to go back in. He said it was the loneliest feeling he'd ever had.

[edit] Country success

Upon his release, Haggard started digging ditches and wiring houses for his brother. Soon he was performing again, and later began recording with Tally Records. The Bakersfield Sound was developing in the area as a reaction against the over-produced honky tonk of the Nashville Sound. Haggard's first song was "Skid Row." In 1962, Haggard wound up performing at a Wynn Stewart show in Las Vegas and heard Wynn's "Sing a Sad Song". He asked for permission to record it, and the resulting single was a national hit in 1964.

Haggard released a series of successful singles in the early 1960s, including "Just Between the Two of Us" (duet with Bonnie Owens) and "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers", both songs written by Liz Anderson. He then signed to Capitol Records and released "I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can" to limited sales. In 1966, however, his second Capitol single, "Swinging Doors", was a Top Five hit and Haggard had become a nationally known superstar. During the late 1960s, Haggard's chart success was consistent and impressive. "The Bottle Let Me Down", "The Fugitive", "Branded Man", "Mama Tried", "Sing Me Back Home", "Hungry Eyes," "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde", "I Threw Away the Rose", and "Cory Gazaway plays 2nd base for Carney Oklahoma" are among the more well-remembered titles. "Mama Tried" and "Killer's Three Theme", sung by Merle, were part of the soundtrack to the 1968 film Killers Three, which also included Haggard's acting debut.

In 1968, Haggard's first tribute LP Same Train, Different Time: A Tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, was released to great acclaim.

"Okie From Muskogee", 1969's apparent political statement, was actually written as an abjectly humorous character portrait. Haggard called the song a "documentation of the uneducated that lived in America at the time." (Phipps 2001). He said later on the Bob Edwards Show that "I wrote it when I recently got out of the joint. I knew what it was like to lose my freedom, and I was getting really mad at these protestors. They didn't know anything more about the war in Vietnam than I did. I thought how my dad, who was from Oklahoma, would have felt. I felt I knew how those boys fighting in Vietnam felt." Later, Alabama Gov. George Wallace asked Haggard for an endorsement, which Haggard declined. However, Haggard does express sympathy with the "parochial" or conservative way of life expressed in "Okie" and songs such as "The Fightin' Side of Me" (ibid). It should be noted, however, that after "Okie" was released, Haggard wanted to release a self-penned song entitled "Irma Jackson" about an interracial couple; the single was quashed by his record company, although Tony Booth went on to record it in 1970.

Regardless of exactly how they were intended, "Okie From Muskogee", "The Fightin' Side of Me", and "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" were hailed as anthems of the silent majority and presaged a trend in patriotic songs that would reappear years later with Charlie Daniels' "In America", Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA", and others. But other Haggard songs were appreciated regardless of politics: the Grateful Dead began performing Haggard's tune "Mama Tried" in 1969, and it stayed in their regular repertoire thereafter; singer-activist Joan Baez, whose political leanings couldn't be more different from those expressed in Haggard's above-referenced songs, nonetheless covered "Sing Me Back Home" and "Mama Tried" in 1969. The Everly Brothers also used both songs in their 1968 country-rock album Roots.

Haggard's next LP was A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (Or My Salute to Bob Wills), which helped spark a revival of western swing.

In 1972, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan gave Haggard a full pardon for his past crimes. Haggard often quips that few figures in history can become public enemy No. 1 and man of the year in the same 10-year period.

During the early to mid 1970s, Haggard's chart domination continued with songs like "Someday We'll Look Back", "Carolyn", "Grandma Harp", "Always Wanting You" and "The Roots of My Raising". He also wrote and performed the theme song to the TV series Movin' On, which gave him a further top-ten country hit. The 1973 recession anthem "If We Make It Through December" furthered Haggard's status as a champion of the working class.

Haggard was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977.

[edit] Later years

Merle Haggard with guitar.
Merle Haggard with guitar.

"If We Make It Through December" turned out to be Haggard's last pop hit. He published an autobiography called Sing Me Back Home. Although he won a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for 1984's a new kind of honky tonk had begun to overtake country music, and singers like George Strait and Randy Travis had taken over the charts. Haggard's last No. 1 hit was "Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star" from his smash album Chill Factor in 1988.

Although he has been outspoken in his dislike for modern country music, he has praised newer stars such as Strait and Travis. The Dixie Chicks paid him tribute by recording Darrell Scott's song "Long Time Gone", which criticizes Nashville trends: "We listen to the radio to hear what’s cookin’ / But the music ain’t got no soul / Now they sound tired but they don’t sound Haggard," with the following lines mentioning Johnny Cash and Hank Williams in the same vein.

In 2000, Haggard made a comeback of sorts, signing with the independent record label Anti and releasing the spare If I Could Only Fly to critical acclaim. He followed it in 2001 with Roots, Vol. 1, a collection of Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams and Hank Thompson covers, along with three Haggard originals. The album, recorded in Haggard's living room with no overdubs, featured Haggard's longtime bandmates The Strangers as well as Frizzell's original lead guitarist, Norman Stephens.

In December 2004, Haggard spoke at length on Larry King Live about his incarceration as a young man and said it was "hell" and "the scariest experience of my life."

In October 2005, Haggard released his newest album, "Chicago Wind", to mostly positive reviews. The album contained an anti-Iraq war song entitled "America First," in which he laments the nation's economy and faltering infrastructure, applauds its soldiers, and sings, "Let's get out of Iraq, and get back on track."

In 2006, Haggard was back on the radio, in a duet with Gretchen Wilson, "Politically Uncorrect". He also featured on "Pledge Allegiance to the Hag" on Eric Church's debut album.

On April 24, 2006 Haggard's former wife Bonnie Owens died in Bakersfield, CA due to Alzheimer's disease. She was 76.

On December 19, 2006, the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved a citizen led resolution to re-name a portion of 7th Standard Road in Oildale "Merle Haggard Drive." Merle Haggard Drive will stretch from North Chester Avenue west to Highway 99. The first street travelers will turn onto when they leave the new airport terminal will be Merle Haggard Drive. The name change, however is conditional in that $41,100 be raised by private funds to pay for the new road signs that will go up on county surface streets and along Highway 99. Haggard's Oildale home, made from a converted box car, is still lived in just south of Norris Road.

Haggard is working on a bluegrass album, which is due for release in 2007.

[edit] Equipment

Merle Haggard is a player of Fender guitars, both the Stratocaster and Telecaster, of which he has a signature model. He also plays six string acoustic models.

[edit] Albums

Chicago Wind (Capitol Nashville, 2005)
Chicago Wind (Capitol Nashville, 2005)
Year Album
1965 Strangers
1966 Just Between The Two Of Us (with Bonnie Owens)
Swinging Doors
1967 I'm A Lonesome Fugitive
Branded Man
1968 Sing Me Back Home
The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde
Mama Tried
1969 Pride In What I Am
Same Train, Different Time
A Portrait Of Merle Haggard
The Instrumental Sounds of Merle Haggard's Strangers
Okie From Muskogee (Live)
1970 Introducing My Friends The Strangers
Getting To Know The Strangers
The Fightin' Side Of Me (Live)
A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (Or My Salute to Bob Wills)
1971 Hag
Someday We'll Look Back
Strangers and Friends, Honky Tonkin'
1972 The Land Of Many Churches (Live)
Let Me Tell You About A Song
It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)
1973 I Love Dixie Blues... So I Recorded "Live" In New Orleans (Live)
Totally Instrumental... With One Exception
Merle Haggard's Christmas Present
1974 If We Make It Through December
1975 Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album
Keep Movin' On
1976 It's All In The Movies
My Love Affair With Trains
The Roots Of My Raising
1977 A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today
Ramblin' Fever
My Farewell To Elvis
1978 I'm Always On A Mountain When I Fall
1979 Serving 190 Proof
1980 The Way I Am
Back To The Barrooms
1981 Rainbow Stew: Live at Anaheim Stadium (Live)
Songs For The Mama That Tried
Big City
1982 A Taste of Yesterday's Wine (with George Jones)
Going Where The Lonely Go
Goin' Home For Christmas
Pancho & Lefty (with Willie Nelson)
1983 Heart To Heart (with Leona Williams)
That's The Way Love Goes
The Epic Collection (Live)
1984 It's All In The Game
1985 Kern River
Amber Waves Of Grain (Live)
1986 A Friend In California
1987 Out Among The Stars
The Seashores Of Old Mexico (with Willie Nelson)
Chill Factor
1989 5:01 Blues
1990 Blue Jungle
1994 1994
1995 Greatest Hits - Finest Performances
1995 Classics
1996 1996
Down Every Road
1998 16 Biggest Hits
1999 For The Record: 43 Legendary Hits
Merle Haggard Live at Billy Bob's
2000 New Light Through Old Windows
If I Could Only Fly
2001 Cabin In The Hills
Two Old Friends (with Al Brumley Jr.)
Roots Volume 1
2002 The Peer Sessions
2004 Haggard Like Never Before
40 #1 Hits
Unforgettable Merle Haggard
Ol' Country Singer: Live at Billy Bob's Texas
I Wish I Was Santa Claus
2005 Chicago Wind
2006 Kickin' Out the Footlights...Again (with George Jones)
2007 Last of the Breed (with Willie Nelson and Ray Price)

[edit] Soundtracks

Year Album
1968 Killers Three
1980 Bronco Billy
1997 Wag The Dog

[edit] Gold & Platinum Albums

Certification Date Album Certified Record Label
04/30/74 The Best of the Best of Merle Haggard Gold Capitol Records Nashville
12/03/91 The Best of the Best of Merle Haggard Platinum Capitol Records Nashvile

[edit] 40 #1 Hits

  1. Branded Man
  2. The Fugitive
  3. Mama Tried
  4. Sing Me Back Home
  5. The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde
  6. Hungry Eyes
  7. Okie from Muskogee
  8. Workin' Man Blues
  9. The Fightin' Side of Me
  10. Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)
  11. Carolyn
  12. Grandma Harp
  13. It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)
  14. Everybody's Had the Blues
  15. I Wonder if They Ever Think of Me
  16. If We Make It Through December
  17. Old Man from the Mountain
  18. Things Aren't Funny Anymore
  19. Always Wanting You
  20. It's All in the Movies
  21. Kentucky Gambler
  22. Movin' On
  23. Cherokee Maiden
  24. The Roots of My Raising
  25. I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink
  26. I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall (made it only to # 2 on billboard)
  27. If We're Not Back in Love by Monday (made it only to # 2 on billboard)
  28. Bar Room Buddies
  29. My Favorite Memory
  30. Big City
  31. Yesterday's Wine (with George Jones)
  32. Going Where the Lonely Go
  33. Pancho and Lefty (with Willie Nelson)
  34. You Take Me for Granted
  35. Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room
  36. Someday When Things Are Good
  37. That's the Way Love Goes
  38. A Place to Fall Apart
  39. Natural High
  40. Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Star

[edit] Awards

Year Award
2006 Grammy Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award
2004 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year
1998 Grammy Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, Hall of Fame Award
1994 Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame
1990 TNN / Music City News Living Legend
1984 Grammy Best Male Country Vocal Performance
1983 Country Music Awards Vocal Duo of the Year
1982 Academy of Country Music Song of the Year
1981 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist
1980 BMI Songwriters/Publishers of the Year
1977 Elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
1976 BMI Songwriters/Publishers of the Year
1974 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist
1972 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist
Country Music Awards Album of the Year
1970 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist
Country Music Awards Album of the Year, Entertainer of the Year,
Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year
1969 Academy of Country Music Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Top Male Vocalist
1968 Academy of Country Music Top Vocal Duet
Music City News Country Male Artist of the Year
1967 Academy of Country Music Top Vocal Duet
Music City News Country Male Artist of the Year
1966 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist, Top Vocal Duet
1965 Academy of Country Music Top New Male Vocalist, Top Vocal Duet

[edit] Miscellany

  • In 1976 Merle appeared as country singer Red Turner in the Waltons. In "The Comeback" (Season 5 Episode 3) Red, who had given up on music following the death of his son from leukemia, is persuaded by Jason to make a comeback at the Dew Drop Inn.
  • On the 1995 Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross, Haggard corrected the usual story that it was his mother who put him in juvenile detention, saying that in fact it was the local authorities.
  • Darrell Scott wrote and first performed "Long Time Gone"; the Dixie Chicks recorded it years later.
  • Merle is referred to frequently in the popular British TV comedy/drama series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (second series). Where the Character 'Oz', portrayed by actor Jimmy Nail claims to have met him in Nashville TN while vacationing there. In a later episode of the same series Jimmy Nail, who later went on to become a moderately successful singer himself, performs one of Merle's songs "I can't be myself".
  • In the graphic novel Sin City, Haggard is referenced as one of Marv's favorite singers.
  • Neotraditional country newcomer Blaine Larsen refers to Merle in his song If Merle Would Sing My Song from his 2006 album Off To Join The World.
  • Pure Prairie League honored Merle Haggard with their 1975 re-recording of Blues-Rocker Nick Gravenites' "I'll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle".
  • In October 2004 Always Wanting You appeared on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on fictional country music station K-ROSE.
  • "As I drove down on 65 I was crusin' down that ole grapevine, well I must have been doin' at least about 95. Right there on the side of the road I broke down and who do you think was a'standin' around but the Greatest Country singer alive! I'll fix your flat tire Merle. Don't get you sweet country-pickin' fingers all covered with erl. Cause you're a honky I know but Merle you got soul, and I'll fix your flat tire, Merle." – N/A
  • Played the role of Cisco Calendar in Centennial (miniseries). He also sang John Denver's "I Guess he'd Rather be in Colorado" in the miniseries.
  • In the Bloodhound Gang's country-and-western parody A Lap Dance Is So Much Better When The Stripper Is Crying, the narrator describes a night when he was 'lonelier than Kunta Kinte at a Merle Haggard councert'.
  • CMT in 2003 ranked Haggard #6 in CMT's 40 Greatest Men in Country Music.
  • In 2005 he appeared as himself in Michael Mabbott's pseudo-rockumentary The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico. Haggard is attributed with giving the fictional Canadian musician a black eye before a big television appearance.
  • In french, the world "merle" means "blackbird".

[edit] References

  • Di Salvatore, Bryan. (1998). "Merle Haggard". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 222-4.
  • Aron A. Fox, "White Trash Alchemies of the Abject Sublime: Country as 'Bad' Music", in Christopher J. Washburne and Maiken Derno (eds.), Bad Music: The Music We Love to Hate, New York: Routledge, 2004 (ISBN 0-415-94366-3).

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ http://www.wargs.com/other/haggard.html

[edit] External links

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