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Books Published More The band ranged in number from three to ten over the years, incorporated such atypical country instruments as trombones, trumpets, and saxophones, and included long-respected players such as Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, Biff Adam, and Clint Strong. Ironically, Haggard was inextricably linked with a casual ditty that shifted attention from his soaring musicianship to his politics.
His business acumen was notoriously erratic, and he was married five times. He had six children, four by his first wife, Leona Hobbs, and two by his fifth wife, Theresa Lane. Just as Johnny Cash had done by moving to rock- and rap-oriented American Records, Haggard inspired a flurry of media attention with his choice for a label home. Haggard kept recording well past retirement age, issuing a tribute to early country recordings with The Peer Sessions and to acoustic mountain music with The Bluegrass Sessions Although in and out of the hospital in his last years with heart and respiratory issues, Haggard kept touring until his death from pneumonia on his 79th birthday, April 6, After taking second place at a local talent contest, Haggard was asked to become a relief singer for a band led by Johnny Barnett at one of the most popular Bakersfield clubs, Lucky Spot.
Soon, Merle was making enough money playing music that he could quit his ditch-digging job. While singing with Barnett , he gained the attention of Fuzzy Owen , who owned the small record label Tally Records. Owen and his cousin Lewis Talley were instrumental in establishing Haggard 's musical career. Owen made the first recording of Haggard , cutting a demo version of one of the singer's first songs, "Skid Row.
Talley was able to land Haggard a job at Paul's Cocktail Lounge, which led to a slot on a local music television show. During this time, Bakersfield country was beginning to become a national scene, largely due to the hit singles of Buck Owens. At a time when mainstream country was dominated by the lush, smooth countrypolitain sound of Nashville, Bakersfield country grew out of hardcore honky tonk, adding elements of Western swing.
Bakersfield country also relied on electric instruments and amplification more than other subgenres of country, giving the music a hard, driving, edgy flavor. During the late '50s, Tommy Collins and Wynn Stewart were two of the Bakersfield artists to have hits, and both were influential on Haggard 's career, musically as well as professionally. Haggard had admired Stewart 's vocal style, and it helped shape his phrasing.
Stewart was not at the club, having left to find a replacement bass player. During the show, one of Stewart 's guitarists remembered Haggard and invited him to sing a couple of songs on-stage. Stewart walked in while Haggard was singing and was impressed, asking him to join his band as a bassist. For six months in and , Merle performed with Stewart 's band. During this time, Haggard heard Wynn 's song "Sing a Sad Song" and asked the star if he could record it. Stewart gave him the song and Merle recorded it for Tally Records in Although Tally had minimal distribution, the record became a national hit, climbing to number 19 on the country charts early in The single wasn't a success, scratching into the Top 50, but his next single, "Swinging Doors," was a smash hit, rocketing to number five in the spring of Late in , Haggard began recruiting a backing band and named them the Strangers.
Haggard became a genuine country superstar in , with three Top Ten hits, including "Swinging Doors. Haggard 's songwriting was beginning to blossom and audiences embraced his music, sending his "I Threw Away the Rose" to number three early in , beginning a remarkable streak of 37 straight Top Ten hits, including 23 number one singles. With the exception of "Bonnie and Clyde," the songs represented a change in Haggard 's songwriting, as he began to directly address his troubled history.
By , he was talking about his time in San Quentin in the press, yet these songs represented the first time he had mentioned his past directly. Each single was a bigger hit than the previous song, which encouraged Haggard to continue writing in a more personal style. Later that year, he recorded his first conceptual album, Same Train, Different Time. Released in early , the record was not only an affectionate salute to one of Haggard 's heroes, it reflected a fascination with American history and a desire to expand his music by adding stronger elements of Western swing, jazz, and blues.
Merle released three singles in -- "Hungry Eyes," "Workin' Man Blues," and "Okie from Muskogee" -- and all three reached number one. In particular, "Okie from Muskogee" sparked a tremendous amount of attention. An attack on the liberal hippies who represented American pop culture in the late '60s, the song struck a chord in audiences across the country, just missing the pop Top Because of the song, Haggard was asked to endorse George Wallace, but he refused.
Haggard released a sequel to "Okie" called "The Fightin' Side of Me" at the beginning of , and it also shot to number one. He definitely transcends the country genre. He was born April 6th, near Bakersfield, California, two years after his family moved west from Oklahoma during the great dust bowl migration.
By his own estimate, Haggard was locked up more than a dozen times, on charges including robbery, truancy, petty larceny, shoplifting, check forgery and car theft. He credited music as his salvation: At 14, Haggard went to see country star Lefty Frizzell perform in Bakersfield. Haggard cited that encounter as the moment he fell in love with performing.
He was sentenced to five years in San Quentin State Prison. In , Johnny Cash visited San Quentin. Haggard, then 20, was in the audience. He chewed gum, looked arrogant and flipped the bird to the guards—he did everything the prisoners wanted to do. He was a mean mother from the South who was there because he loved us. When he walked away, everyone in that place had become a Johnny Cash fan. I realized what a mess I made out of my life, and I got out of there and stayed out of there.
Never did go back.
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