Retro Spotlight: Merle Haggard

This past Sunday, Merle Haggard was honored with the Crystal Milestone Award at the ACM Awards. It was his 77th birthday, so how appropriate!

I figure it's time to celebrate him ourselves. His story is legendary. While at San Quentin Prison, Merle heard Johnny Cash perform and decided then and there to be a musician.

Actually, it was at a Lefty Frizzell show that Merle was "discovered". Merle was backstage and sang along to Lefty practicing. Frizzell told management that he would not sing unless Merle was allowed to go on first. After Merle performed, he decided to sing for a living and in 1956 joined the Chuck Wagon tv show as a performer. Merle didn't see Johnny Cash perform until 1958.

The other part of the legend is that Merle was in and out of jail until he was released from San Quentin. That's when he went straight. It is all true and he makes no bones about it.

Merle Haggard, along with Buck Owens was responsible for the Bakersfield sound.  Most people don't know this. Another thing people may not know is that he plays the fiddle. And, something people haven't thought of in years: Merle did great impersonations of other Country legends (see it in the video below).

The most asked question of Merle Haggard is which one of the songs he wrote is his favorite. He will always tell you Mama Tried. He tears up when he explains how he now knows what he put his Mama through with his life of crime.

Now that you are better acquainted with the great Merle Haggard, take the time to listen to some of his songs. Here are a couple to get you started. Thank you for the gift, Mr. Haggard!