Merle Haggard

born in a converted Box Car (railway carriage to you and I) in Bakersfield, California

born in a converted Box Car (railway carriage to you and I) in Bakersfield, California.  His family originally from Oklahoma but like lots of Okies they had been hit hard by the depression. 

Merles father died when he was nine years old, he ran away when he was 14, he drifted for several years doing odd jobs, hoboing committing petty crimes and listening to country music, his favourites were Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell and Jimmy Rodgers.

merle haggard

It was Frizzell who was touring through the area in 1953 that convinced a young Haggard to get on stage and sing a song.

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San Quentin Prison

6 Months to 15 Years sentence

1957 saw a complete change for Merle convicted of an attempted burglary charge he received a 6 months to 15 years sentence at the notorious San Quentin Prison The experience convinced Merle that he had to change his ways. 

He became a model prisoner working in the textile shop and playing in the Warden's band and after 2 years and 6 months he was released under parole. (Later Ronald Reagan the governor of Califorinia was to grant him a full pardon.)

He returned to Bakersfield and worked at his music playing in local clubs and backing other singers, he met Bonnie Owens who was the former wife of the legendary Buck Owens.  Recording a duet together they gained national attention.

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Signed by Capitol Records

Swingin' Doors, The Bottle Let Me Down,

In 1965 the duo signed for Capitol Records and formed a backup band the Strangers named for his first Solo hit with All my friends are gonna be Strangers. This followed with a string of hits Swingin Doors, the Bottle Let Me Down, Sing Me Back Home, Sing Me A Sad Song, and Today I Started Loving You Again, most were his own compositions.

1969 saw a momentous leap forward when he recorded Okie From Muskogee this song hit the country at the perfect time it was taken up by the anti war movement and strangely the pro war movement, nobody was sure which side it was meant to be on so both claimed it. But for Merle it had his name on everybody's lips.

Being astute enough to ensure he wasn't labelled a one hit wonder he recorded some of his most diverse music at this time a tribute album to Jimmie Rodgers a gospel set he also performed at country churches across America.

He then recorded Irma Jackson a single song dealing sensitively with interracial love and a song that was never released as a single 'The Farmers Daughter' a father's soliloquy on the eve of his daughters wedding to a city boy.

He followed this with another string of hits and a tribute to Bob Wills which resulted in him being invited to sing at the last of the Playboys recording sessions. During the 70's Merle acted in the Series Centennial sang a duet with Clint Eastwood.  History I'm sure will show Merle Haggard as one of the greats of Country Music.

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