The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 (10-CD Boxet) out on Bear Family Records August 16

BUCK OWENS AND MERLE HAGGARD  HEADLINE BEAR FAMILY RECORDS’ MASSIVE BOX SET  THE BAKERSFIELD SOUND 1940-1974 Available at : Bear Family.com With more than 300 tracks on 10 discs, this comprehensive collection comes packed with classic songs along with amazing rarities and never-before-released recordings.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — When Buck Owens and Merle Haggard emerged from the dim lights, thick smoke and loud, loud music of Bakersfield, California's thriving honky-tonk scene of the ’50s and ’60s, they changed country music forever. “We represent the end results of all the years of country music in this town,” Haggard once remarked about the California city that served as home base for the two Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. But how were the twin pillars of the “Bakersfield Sound” shaped by the Central California's city’s larger musical community? Who paved the way for their successes and who were their influences? The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1974 answers these questions and more.  Out from Bear Family on August 9, 2019, this sprawling 10-CD box set is the first multi-disc anthology to cover Bakersfield's country music heritage. Diving deep into the “Bakersfield Sound,” the compilation’s 307 tracks include plenty of fan favorites as well as a vast quantity of deep cuts, alternate takes, radio recordings, demos, live material, and previously unreleased studio recordings.  The massive collection begins with ’40s field recordings of migrants who arrived in Central California to find a better life, and proceeds to trace the development of this historic country music scene all the way through 1974. A turning point year for the Bakersfield Sound, 1974 stands as the last full year Merle Haggard made his home in the city; the year of Buck Owens’ final Top 10 hit as a solo artist; and the year local guitar hero Don Rich was killed in a motorcycle accident.   Offering a glimpse into the early days of the Bakersfield Sound are rare recordings from early pioneers Tex Butler, Tex Marshall, and Ebb Pilling, along with a Bakersfield radio studio performance by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys from the mid-’40s. During this era, Bakersfield served as a regular major tour stop for this fabled Western Swing ensemble. The set reveals fascinating historic material: previously unheard work tapes of a recently-paroled Merle Haggard recording demos with only his acoustic guitar to accompany him (likely the earliest existing recording of Merle’s voice); a newly discovered Haggard session for Tally Records that was believed to have been lost and has never been issued before; and previously unknown live recordings of Buck Owens and the Buckaroos at the very last of Buck’s legendary annual Toys for Tots shows before Don Rich’s death. Included, too, are unreleased recordings by Red Simpson, Billy Mize, Bonnie Owens, and Johnny Bond; radio broadcasts from the stage of the legendary Blackboard Café; and an early Bill Woods vanity record that predates any of his previously known recorded output.

This treasure trove of Bakersfield music history also contains many significant “firsts,” from songwriting legend Harlan Howard’s first recording (for Bakersfield’s Tally Records); to Harlan’s then-wife Jan Howard’s first known demo recording (cut in Lewis Talley’s studio); to Barbara Mandrell’s very first solo recording on Mosrite Records; and legendary bandleader Johnny Barnett’s only known single (the first song written by Merle Haggard to have ever been commercially released).  Dozens of nearly-impossible-to-find recordings from local labels of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s have been assembled together for the first time. Many of the selections have never been reissued, and some haven’t seen the light of day since their initial release. In some cases, only a handful of 78 or 45 rpm records were ever pressed, and the songs have been long forgotten until now.  Known as “Nashville West,” Bakersfield proved to be a fertile musical breeding ground, boosting the careers of such nationally known country artists as Ferlin Husky, Tommy Collins, Dallas Frazier, Jean Shepard, Wynn Stewart, Tommy Duncan, Al Brumley, Dick Curless, Joe & Rose Lee Maphis, The Gosdin Brothers, Kay Adams, Clarence White, and Roy Nichols — who all can be heard on this anthology. The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1974, furthermore, reveals the impressive depth of the city’s music scene by shining the spotlight on regional stars like Cliff Crofford, Herb Henson, Jimmy Thomason, Billy Barton, Fuzzy Owen, Semie Moseley, Don Markham, Tommy Dee, Jelly Sanders, Oscar Whittington, Johnny Barnett, Vancie Flowers, Bobby Durham, Bob Morris, Bobby Austin, Gary Paxton, Ronnie Sessions, Gene Moles, Tony Booth, Freddie Hart, and David Frizzell. Besides its mother lode of music,The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1974 comes with an accompanying full-colored illustrated 220-page book featuring a plethora of photos (many shown for the first time), a foreword by Foo Fighters guitarist (and huge country music fan) Chris Shiflett, in-depth analysis by Grammy-nominated Bakersfield Sound historian Scott B. Bomar, profiles on each artist, and a track-by-track commentary. This unparalleled 10-CD collection wonderfully illuminates how a country music cottage industry transformed Bakersfield into the Country Music Capital of the West, and ignited speculation that the city could become a serious challenge to Nashville's commercial country dominance. Complete track listing may be found at: Bear Family.com

Alison Krauss performs at Merle Haggard Tribute Concert alongside Keith Richard & Willie Nelson

Alison Krauss recently joined Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves performing at a tribute concert honouring Merle Haggard.

Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard took place on the one-year anniversary of Haggard’s death at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville

"Outlaw: Celebrating The Music Of Waylon Jennings" will premiere tonight at 10pm ET on @CMT featuring performances by Alison & more. pic.twitter.com/7mLT46w2LS

— Alison Krauss (@AlisonKrauss) April 7, 2017

Billboard Boxscore

Rank: #2

Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard: Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Keith Richards

Where: Bridgestone Arena Nashville, Tenn.   | When: April 6, 2017

Sales: $1,229,400 | * SOLD OUT * 15,574 attendance
Tickets: $299.50, $25 | Promoters: Outback Concerts

Alison Krauss recently joined Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves performing at a tribute concert honouring Merle Haggard. Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard took place on the one-year anniversary of Haggard’s death at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, where Alison Krauss performed on Merle classic, ‘If I Could Only Fly’ with country artist, Jamey Johnson.

Billboard: Willie Nelson, Keith Richards & More at Merle Haggard Tribute Concert: Exclusive Photos

27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss returned this year with a brand new album, ‘Windy City’ released on Decca, to rave reviews in publications including the Mail On Sunday who made it the lead review and stated “I defy anyone not to have fallen in love…Krauss has the notes, the soul, the flavour, the lot.” To The Sunday Express who chose Alison as their ‘CD of the Week’. Other publications followed with support from Sunday Times Culture, as well as the I, Mirror, Sun and The Arts Desk.  For the iconic Krauss (who has won more Grammys than any other female artist), it was her first solo album in 17 years.

Related BLOGS:

Alison Krauss’ 'Windy City' gets its UK release

Alison Krauss - new live video for Losing You

(3 March 2017) Alison Krauss - Windy City (Decca (UMO))

10 Tracks/ Time: 34:13 | Deluxe Edition (Capitol Records) 14 Tracks/ Time: 47:41

Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com (US release 17 Feb 2017)

‘Windy City’ finds Alison at the height of her vocal powers, performing 10 classic songs carefully selected with veteran Nashville producer Buddy Cannon. The album released followed ‘Raising Sand’, her platinum 2007 album with Robert Plant that won six Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, and 2011’s ‘Paper Airplane’ with her longtime collaborators Union Station, which won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album and topped Billboard’s Folk, Country and Bluegrass charts.

Alison Krauss effortlessly bridges the gap between roots music and genres such as pop, rock, country and classical. She has released 13 albums and has sold more than 12 million records to date. With 27 wins, she is the most awarded female artist in GRAMMY history. She has received a multitude of other honors, including nine Country Music Association awards and 14 International Bluegrass Music Association awards. Alison has also contributed songs to numerous films, including ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ and ‘Cold Mountain’.

The Music of Merle Haggard an All-Star Concert Celebration

Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, John Mellencamp And Dierks Bentley To Headline All-Star Concert Celebration Honoring Merle Haggard

Sing Me Back Home: The Music Of Merle Haggard An All-Star Concert Celebration To Be Held At Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena On April 6, 2017

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 3 AT 11 A.M. CT VIA TICKETMASTER

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The family of Merle Haggard, Blackbird Presents and Willie Nelson are proud to announce Sing Me Back Home: The Music Of Merle Haggard, an all-star concert event taping at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. CT in honor of what would have been Merle’s 80^thbirthday and the one-year anniversary of his passing.

This one night-only concert event taping will bring together fans, friends and music icons to honor the life and songs of music legend Merle Haggard. Sing Me Back Home: The Music Of Merle Haggard will feature performances by Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, John Mellencamp, Dierks Bentley, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams Jr., The Avett Brothers, Alison Krauss, Ronnie Dunn, Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lucinda Williams, Ben Haggard, John Anderson, Connie Smith and Bobby Bare. 

Additional performers to be announced in the coming weeks.

In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Merle Haggard racked up an astounding 38 No. 1 country hits and every major award imaginable. Songs like “Mama Tried,” “Okie From Muskogee,” “I’m A Lonesome Fugitive” and “The Fightin’ Side Of Me” continue to inspire new generations of artists and fans alike, and as we approach what would have been a major milestone, the time has come to celebrate his truly remarkable career. He was an iconoclast who refused to bend to country music convention and helped create the indelible Bakersfield sound. He gave voice to outlaws and outsiders and in a way that few, if any, have ever equaled. 

Tickets on sale Friday, March 3, 2017 at 11 A.M. CT online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, all Ticketmaster locations and the Bridgestone Arena box office.

Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum and Theresa Haggard are the creators and executive producers of the show. Don Was, Ben Haggard and Buddy Cannon will serve as music directors and preside over a stellar house band backing the performers at this historic concert event taping. The event will be filmed and recorded for multi-platform distribution throughout traditional media (worldwide broadcast, music, and digital). A portion of the proceeds will benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation. 

"I am so very thankful for this tribute to my husband, Merle Haggard.  Please come join me and my family at this fantastic show that Merle would be so proud of," said Theresa Haggard.

“I am honored to produce a show that celebrates the life and music of Merle Haggard,” says Wortman. “His music and lyrics continue to shape the lives of musicians and millions of fans. I can't think of any better way to celebrate his 80th birthday than to honor his legacy with this extraordinary event. It’s going to be an unforgettable evening.”

FOR COMPLETE SHOW DETAILS AND OFFICIAL CONCERT WEBSITE, VISIT: http://musicofmerle.com  #musicofmerle

About Blackbird Presents: 
Blackbird Presents is a global media company that produces premium content via a range of strategies including large-scale concert events and festivals, broadcast series and specials and music releases featuring major music stars across all genres and demographics. http://blackbirdpresents.com 

Blackbird’s other recent concerts, broadcast specials, and releases include Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert, Dear Jerry: Celebrating The Music of Jerry Garcia, The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson, Outlaw: Celebrating The Music of Waylon Jennings, and All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs and Voice of Gregg Allman, the latter of which earned a 2014 GRAMMY® Award nomination for Gregg Allman and Taj Mahal’s awe-inspiring performance of “Statesboro Blues.”

Country Stars React To Passing Of Merle Haggard

Country Stars React To Passing Of Merle Haggard

Nashville, Tenn. (April 6, 2016) - Today, upon learning of the death of the legendary Merle Haggard, many country music stars have reacted expressing their love and admiration for one of the genre's greatest pioneers:

"When we lost George Jones, I said, 'Years ago someone asked Coach Bum Phillips if Earl Campbell was in a class by himself. Bum replied, 'Well if he ain't, it sure don't take long to check roll.'  The same applies for the great Merle Haggard.  I will miss my friend."

-Larry Gatlin

"Now in the presence of the One his sweet Mama told him about. We will miss you, but you won't be missing us!"

-Ricky Skaggs

"We've lost a unique voice and writer of great country songs. God Bless you Merle...I just wish you'd 'made it through December' a few more times."

-Ray Stevens

"Merle Haggard has been a huge influence in my life, to my music and my career. Thank you very much Hag and God bless you."

-Sammy Kershaw

"I don’t think it’s a hyperbole to say Merle Haggard was a national treasure.  He was.  Haggard is as American as apple pie and baseball.  He was the poet laureate of country music.  Try to find one songwriter in Nashville who didn’t idolize Hag.  You can’t.  It’s impossible."

-Pam Tillis

"I was fortunate enough to get to play several shows with Merle and he always had great advice to give me.  We have lost an icon and a legend."

-Aaron Tippin

"After meeting and being around Country legends such as Merle Haggard, it increased my respect and my desire of getting to know him, which I accomplished. His loss will be deeply mourned by everyone in Country music as well as by those of other music genres.  May he rest in peace."

-Doug Gray on behalf of The Marshall Tucker Band

"I am dumbfounded by this news. Merle Haggard was probably my greatest musical influence and my hero. I never shook his hand, but the music he made shook my soul to the core. It hurts to think about no more Haggard but honestly, we all know, that he made enough music to last us a lifetime. I just hope his passing might call attention to some of the stuff that made country music a mainstay. Maybe this generation will go back and listen to what shaped and molded the genre. I guess it's okay to veer off in a different direction but the end product needs to have the same impact. The question is, how does today's country music stack up when compared to one of the masters like Merle Haggard? Give it some thought. You don't need my help with that one. I feel confident, you'll figure it out. Thanks, Merle, for all the great songs and all the great music. It'll never be the same."

-Darryl Worley

"Merle Haggard was a 'must see' artist, a cornerstone of country.  Eloquent as a poet and singer, he was completely authentic…imitated but never equaled. Timeless music at its best. Restless Heart and all other bands owe him a great debt."

-Dave Innis on behalf of Restless Heart

Reactions To Merle Haggard's Passing From The Country Music Community And Beyond

Reactions To Merle Haggard's Passing 

We've lost one of the greatest writers and singers of all time. His heart was as tender as his love ballads. I loved him like a brother. Rest easy, Merle. -- Dolly Parton

We’ve lost another hero. Now he doesn’t have to be in pain anymore. I know he’s not suffering anymore. I just can’t imagine a world without Merle. It’s so hard to accept, but I’ll continue honoring him on stage just as I do during every show. We played a lot of gigs together through the years, but some of my fondest memories were hanging out in a natural setting, like the time we sat there by the river in his backyard and ate bologna sandwiches. Merle was a simple man with incredible talent like no other. And now he’s up there singing with George [Jones] and all the angels. Love you, Merle. -- Tanya Tucker

Merle Haggard was an original. Not just a singer, not just a songwriter, not just another famous performer. He was your common everyday working man. I remember when I was 15 years old on tour with Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard. They both were wondering which one of the two was going to make it. Well, they both made it. Today, ole Merle joined Waylon, George, and daddy to sing in the Heavenly choir. -- Hank Williams, Jr.

My heart is broken over the loss of one of the greatest country singers ever. He was an icon to me. He took me to school with his phrasing, his songwriting and style - and he was undoubtedly one of my greatest influences. Getting to sing with him several times over the years will be memories I cherish forever. He was such a great man, on stage and off. -- Gene Watson


Merle Haggard was one of the greatest songwriters, performers and story-tellers that ever lived. I grew up on his music and am I'm so saddened by his passing. -- Kiefer Sutherland

I am deeply saddened to hear of Merle’s passing. He was a dear friend, I remember touring with him at various points throughout the 90’s and those are memories that I will always cherish. I hate that he lived so far away from us these last few years, but definitely understand it. My hope is that he passed a happy and content man. I learned so much from this kind man about singing, when Merle Haggard sang you paid attention. He is about as close to perfection in country music as we will probably ever have. -- Lorrie Morgan

I am devastated over the loss of Merle Haggard. He was my absolute favorite of ALL time. I have listened to him since I was a kid. His poetry, his voice and his pure country music style will live forever. I am listening to him sing Sweet Jesus with The Oak Ridge Boys as I write this. SO honored to have recorded this Dove Award winning song with my HERO! Rest Easy Hag… Until The Day…“Jesus… Sweet Jesus…You love me just as I am… Jesus… Sweet Jesus… I’ve been washed in the Blood of the Lamb!” -- Joe Bonsall / Oak Ridge Boys

A few years ago Merle sent me a song he wanted The Oak Ridge Boys to record. He’d written it with Kenny Vernon. When I heard it, I felt there was no way we could do it unless we asked Merle to do it with us.
His response was, "Anything you ‘Boys’ want.”
So, we recorded “Sweet Jesus,” and it won a Gospel Music Association Dove Award for Best Country Song. It was a huge honor to sing with one of our biggest heroes, Merle Haggard.
May he rest in peace in the arms of Sweet Jesus. -- Duane Allen / Oak Ridge Boys

Merle was a singer's singer, a musician's musician, and a songwriter's songwriter. He set the feelings of the everyday common man to music, creating songs that will outlive us all. I feel privileged to have toured with him and known him as both a great artist and as a friend. His passing leaves a big hole in country music and in the hearts of the millions who loved him and his artistry. -- Bill Anderson

Merle always treated me like a true friend treats his true friends. We had great fun every time we worked together. He was one of the good ones. Getting to see God's face on your birthday, what a wonderful gift! -- T. Graham Brown

George and I loved Merle so much. George would always say nobody could ever sing like Merle Haggard. Merle was one of our Country Heroes. Now, George and Merle are together again singing with the Angel Band. -- Nancy Jones

We join the world of the broken hearted hearing of the death of Merle Haggard. One of the first things John and I realized we had in common was our love of Haggard songs. What a blessing to have had a chance to get to know him and work with such a legend in our career. Merle, guess you finally are on the ultimate Natural High. We will have your music in our hearts and souls and honkytonk nights forever! God Bless the great Merle Haggard. May you fly with the Angels. -- 'Big Kenny' Alphin / Big & Rich

"Mighty" Merle Haggard was the greatest country songwriter of ALL TIME. We shared many great memories, and I will miss him. Merle set the bar so high no one will ever top it. He refused to bend and turn to the whims of the music industry throughout the decades, and instead remained a steady ship of constant greatness that every artist could look up to and aspire to be. I had the distinct honor of becoming his friend and spent priceless time picking guitars on the back of his bus, doing videos together, and I soaked up every drop of soul from him every chance I got. You take your hat off when you shake hands with Merle Haggard. You listen and pay attention and realize that you are in the company of one of God's prize creations. I will miss him. I bet Heaven has swingin' doors today. -- John Rich / Big & Rich


We’ve lost another great one. Merle leaves a great legacy behind, the songs, the styling, the phrasing….to study Merle’s musical style was to immerse yourself in the heart of Country. For months we’ve been planning a Tribute to Merle, the guest have been invited and Merle had it on his calendar. We will miss him greatly. Now the tribute will be a honoring of the man his songs, his music and his life. -- Larry Black, Larry’s Country Diner

He was the genius of the last half century in country music and we will all miss him and nobody can replace him. -- Leroy Van Dyke

It was a tremendous opportunity to be able to sing duets with Merle and for that to be a part of my life. What a great difference it made to me to be able to work on Merle's records. It was like a dream come true... I never would have imagined to be able to sing duets with all the great artists that I've worked with. Merle has been such a special part of my life, I'm just proud to have great memories of working with him. -- Janie Fricke

He’s my hero and I’ll never forget recording ‘Don’t Sing Me No Songs About Texas’ with Merle. To hear hear him on the same track as me was amazing. Merle was the master. The ultimate writer, musician and singer. He did it all. And I will miss him so much. -- Moe Bandy

Merle Haggard’s death not only signifies the passing of the greatest singer Country Music has ever known, but also resonates hard with us personally. At our house we considered Merle almost a family member, from the early days when our dad would wake us up for school by playing one of his albums to years later when we played many shows together with Merle on tour. The first show we played with Merle - he came barreling on to our tour bus looking for a place to hide while the police were searching his bus. By the time that incident got cleared up we'd become friends. We let him know he could hide out on our bus anytime he needed to and we continued to tour many more times with him and collect lots more Merle stories over the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today and may God rest his soul. -- David and Howard Bellamy, The Bellamy Brothers

He did our Statler Brothers TV show a few times and I got to know him over the years. He was one of the most influential people in this business. He is going to be sorely missed. Heaven’s band just got another great member much like so many of our other heroes who have passed. We will miss him dearly. -- Jimmy Fortune

It’s a very sad day for the world to lose the great Merle Haggard. I still can't believe it. The last time I saw him was just outside of the Station Inn here in Nashville. We stood in the middle of the road and laughed and talked. I can still see the sparkle in his eye. He had such a beautiful spirit. I treasure that memory. Even beyond his amazing songs and music, it was easy to see why Merle was so loved. He will missed forever. -- Deborah Allen

I have lost a dear friend, but Country music and its fans have lost one of its greatest treasures. One of my greatest memories of Hag was always speaking on Christmas and catching up, as well as having toured and sang with him. -- T.G. Sheppard

I am still sitting here processing the news I just learned of the passing of Merle Haggard and ironically on his birthday. Remembering precious memories of meeting him just one year ago, sitting on his bus, talking about how he continued to write songs each and every day. He even mentioned he had a song for me. How special it was, as he listened to us sing, and after he even played Hunter's fiddle. His music will live forever! Our sincere condolences to his family. Rest In Sweet Peace "Mighty Merle"!! -- Rhonda Vincent

Being that I was a huge Merle Haggard fan, he was one of the ones that I did a couple of shows with early in my career. He welcomed me into the music industry. It's extremely sad when you see people like "The Hag" leave us – he's been huge, the industry is what it is today because of great musicians/artists/songwriters like him. -- Mark Wills

My friendship goes back to 1963 when Merle was voted Most Promising Male Vocalist and I was voted Most Promising Female Vocalist by VIP, which later became the ACM Awards. When I first met Merle, I was a little intimidated because my mom warned me of anybody who had been in prison. I got over my fears and we became very close through the years. He recorded two of my songs “Life of a Rodeo Cowboy” and “My Love For You.” And I sang backup for him on “Ramblin Fever” and “Always On A Mountain When I Fall.” His passing is such a loss to not only me personally, but our entire industry. We all loved the Hag. -- Jeannie Seely

Merle Haggard (1937 – 2016) dies aged 79 on his birthday

BBC NEWS Country music legend Merle Haggard dead at 79.

(Updated 12 April 2016)

Born: April 6, 1937 Oildale, California, U.S.  Died: April 6, 2016 (aged 79)

"We need to have music that contributes to the well-being of the spirit. Music that cradles people’s lives and makes things a little easier. That’s what I try to do, and what I want to do. You don’t want to close the door on hope.”- Merle Haggard

American country music legend Merle Haggard has died of pneumonia on his 79th birthday, his manager confirmed.

Mr Haggard's former publicist Jim Della Croce told the BBC that the singer was as influential as the Beatles in country music.
"He was the bottom line in country music and the gold standard to which every country artist measured himself," he said. "He was a nice guy with a great sense of humour. He was a very literate man." He is credited with helping to define the "Bakersfield sound", country music with a distinctive twang and lack of sophisticated production. Musicians gave their tributes to Mr Haggard on Twitter shortly following the news of his death.


Ben Haggard (Merle's youngest son and lead guitarist in Merle's band, The Strangers) shared on Facebook: A week ago dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn't wrong. A hour ago he took his last breath surrounded by family and friends. He loved everything about life and he loved that everyone of you gave him a chance with his music. He wasn't just a country singer.. He was the best country singer that ever lived.

Merle Haggard MONTAGE
Click to ENLARGE

Rolling Stone magazine has described him as "the backbone of one of the greatest repertoires an all of American music, plain-spoken songs populated by the kinds of working people Haggard grew up with: farmers, hobos, convicts, widows, musicians and drunks".

Revisit Merle Haggard's 12 most badass songs about prison https://t.co/N078lGOV71 pic.twitter.com/nBtovc43PB

— RS Country (@RScountry) 6 April 2016

Country musician Luke Bryan tweeted that "a true hero was lost". "Literally just fell to the floor. Can't believe we lost the hag. RIP Merle Haggard,"tweeted country musician Dierks Bentley. 

.@MerleHaggard knew he’d die on his birthday, his son says. Learn more: https://t.co/c6Bz4HlJpu pic.twitter.com/GV3Sr5FdrM

— Taste of Country (@TasteOfCountry) 6 April 2016

Obituries
The Tennessean Merle Haggard dead at 79 

American Songwriter Merle Haggard, 1937-2016 Billboard: Country Legend Merle Haggard Dead at 79: overcame a youth of deprivation and imprisonment to become one of the enduring figures in hardcore country music...
Merle Haggard Dead at 79

Billboard Feature (11 April 2016)
CLICK to ENLARGE

Billboard: Merle Haggard: An Outsider Who Became A Culture Spokesman: Merle Haggard’s remarkable transformation from an outcast to a cultural icon is celebrate

Country Weekly: Merle Haggard Dead at 79

Country Weekly Merle Haggard: From Convict to King of the Hill (1994)

Music Row Legendary Merle Haggard Passes at 79

New York Times: Merle Haggard, Country Music’s Outlaw Hero, Dies at 79

Daily Mail (Associated Press): Country icon Merle Haggard, champion of the underdog, dies

Merle Haggard Dies On His 79th Birthday: He was dubbed “The Poet Of The Common Man.” With the passing of Merle Haggard – on his 79th birthday – this morning, one of the most distinctive song stylists in musical history takes his final bow.
Over the course of his five-decade plus recording career, Merle Haggard sang songs for those in good times – and bad. When he sang about prison, it was a life that he knew – having served time in San Quentin. When he sang about heartbreak, he had the scars – and four marriages to prove it...(by Chuck Dauphin) Read More Sounds Like Nashville
The Guardian: Merle Haggard obituary: ‘all he really wanted to do was fish and write songs’

Merle Haggard: 'Sometimes I wish I hadn’t written Okie from Muskogee': 
Instead his lasting legacy as a songwriter is likely to be the controversial 1969 composition, Okie from Muskogee, which was co-written with the late Roy Edward Burris. But is the song a celebration of simple American life, a satirical joke at right-wing America or a protest song about hippie counter-culture? The Telegraph traces the timeline of a song that means different things to different listeners – and seemingly to Haggard himself.

Haggard Audio Tribute (BENZTOWN Dir./Programming & Imaging) 



650 AM WSM (The Most Famed Country Music Station In The World)

There was a special Merle Haggard tribute show, presented by Eddie Stubbs, held on Monday, April 11 from 7pm - Midnight (-6 hrs GMT)
Listen Live online at wsmonline.com

You can listen to Eddie Stubbs achive interview 

The Eddie Stubbs Show: Tribute - Merle Haggard - Part 1 broadcast 11th April 2016

The Eddie Stubbs Show: Archive Interview with Merle Haggard from 24th Oct 2012

2010 CMA International Country Broadcaster Award winner Mr. Brian Clough pays his personel tribute to Merle Haggard in this radio special
Playlist: 
"Troubadour", "Sing a Sad Song", "I’m A Lonesome Fugitive", "Mama Tried", "The Fighting Side Of Me", "Old Man From The Mountains", "The Roots Of My Raising", "Frankie and Johnnie", "My Love Affair With Trains", "Leonard", "Merle’s Impersonations", "Working In Tennessee", "Today I Started Loving You Again", "It’s All Going To Pot" (with Willie Nelson)
Click play wait a few seconds for the audio to buffer.

Former Country Music People writer and Maverick Magazine founder and editor and CMA Wesley Rose winner Mr. Alan Cackett writes:

"Merle Haggard, possibly the greatest country singer and songwriter of all time—certainly of my generation"

Read Alan Cackett's Merle Haggard Obituary here 
+ Merle Haggard in-depth feature first published in Country Music People March-April 1978
- Part One - Part Two

Wembley Festivals

On Monday, March 27th 1978 The International Country Music Awards was a feature at the Wembley Festival. Before the show came to a grand finale with Moe Bandy, Ray Lynam & The Hillbillies and Merle Haggard!

Merle Haggard also played the International Wembley Country Music Festival in London in 1988:
Watch recorded YouTube videos from his Wembley setlist: 
>> "Miss the Mississippi"  from his 1969 album titled, Same Train Different Time
>> "Makeup and Faded Blue Jeans" 
>> "Chill Factor" 
Merle Haggard & Tammy Wynette >> "Today I Started lovin' You Again" 

Source CMA CLOSE UP Obituary : Merle Haggard (1937 – 2016): 

Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle Haggard, born April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, Calif., passed away Wednesday, April 6. He was 79. 
In an era when journalists and fans often saw Country artists through a prism of sub-genres – Outlaw, honky-tonk, Western swing, traditional, and so on – Merle Haggard was one of the few who defied easy categorization. More than that, his gifts as a songwriter stood him apart from nearly all of his contemporaries and earned him a place in Country Music’s most select company of performing balladeers, with Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams, and very few others among his peers.

“Merle Haggard defined a generation and gave a new identity to the genre,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Country Music would not be what it is today without his musical influence, trailblazer spirit, outlaw mentality and undeniable talent. Our deepest condolences are with his family, friends, and fans around the world.”

David Cantwell's fine 2013 book:

Merle Haggard: The Running Kind (American Music (University of Texas)) Paperback - Amazon UK - Amazon.com

Discographies
UK iTunes - Amazon UK - Amazon.com  

A country music legend whose presence & impact felt far beyond numerous Gold & Platinum albums. See his full career award tally at riaa.com
His accomplishments were many. His catalog included nearly 600 songs, almost a third of them conceived without cowriters. Thirty-eight of them topped the Country charts, beginning with “The Fugitive” in 1966; one of these, “Today I Started Loving You Again,” has been covered nearly 400 times.

He was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame with its inaugural inductees in 1997 and in 2007, to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. And in 1994, the Country Music Association’s anonymous board of selectors bestowed the genre’s greatest honor by welcoming him into the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Along with dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones, composer Jerry Herman, Paul McCartney, and Oprah Winfrey, he was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 2010. His other accolades include a 1984 Grammy Award (Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “That’s the Way Love Goes”) and six CMA Awards, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award in 1970.


Little in Haggard’s early years suggested that his destiny was to become an American music icon. Born in Bakersfield, Calif., Haggard was the son of Oklahoma transplants. 

His father,

Merle Haggard (1944)
with his father and dog

a carpenter for the Santa Fe Railroad, earned just enough to house his family in an old boxcar they’d turned into living quarters. 

The elder Haggard’s sudden death from a stroke precipitated the 9-year-old boy’s slide into a life of rebellion and eventually crime. 

He ran away from home for the first time at age 10, riding a freight train as far as Fresno.

At 15 he was briefly jailed when falsely convicted of robbery. 

Just five years later, in 1958, convicted this time of burglary and attempted escape from a county jail, he was sentenced to two and a half years at San Quentin.




Merle Haggard performed Friday, June 20th in The Working Man’s Show and George Jones joined him as a special guest during the 26th Annual Fan Fair 1997, The World’s Biggest Country Music Festival in Downtown Nashville.

Library Photo with George Jones

Haggard put his time there to good use, taking high school equivalency courses and playing with fellow inmates in a Country band. 

When released in 1960, he returned to Bakersfield and committed himself full-time to music. 

Two years later, Haggard got a gig playing bass with Wynn Stewart in Las Vegas; his first single, a Stewart composition titled “Sing a Sad Song,” followed in 1964 on the Tally Records imprint. And when he broke into the Top 10 with one of his own songs, “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers,” Capitol Records took note and signed him. (In later years, he would record for Curb, Epic and MCA, among other labels.) His first No. 1 singles came in 1967: the Casey Anderson/Liz Anderson song “The Fugitive” and a Haggard original, “Branded Man.”

Photo (Below) Merle Haggard (1951) Frizzell | Merle Haggard (1966) The Strangers
Flip through photos (Michael Ochs Getty) of Mr. Haggard, including shots with Nixon, Cash, Willie and more at Rolling Stone Country



Many more were to follow, a good number of them now considered classics. Real-life themes threaded through Haggard’s works – themes of desperation (“Hungry Eyes”), regret (“Mama Tried”), restlessness (“White Line Fever”), and fury over life’s injustices (“Workin’ Man Blues”). Few songs in any genre drew as deeply from the heart’s capacity for sorrow over the loss of love (“Silver Wings”) and life itself (“Sing Me Back Home”). Few captured that volatile blend of irony, resignation, and anger that simmers in the heat of neon saloon lights as evocatively as Haggard (“Swinging Doors” and “The Bottle Let Me Down”).  Whether defiant (“The Fightin’ Side of Me”) or humorous (“Okie from Muskogee”), his lyrics spelled out his beliefs with conviction and plain-spoken eloquence.

Like his singles, Haggard’s album catalog offers plenty of releases made memorable not just by their consistent excellence but also by their eclecticism. These include duo projects with George Jones (A Taste of Yesterday’s Wine, 1982) and Nelson (Pancho & Lefty, 1983) and celebrations of Jimmie Rodgers (Same Train, a Different Time), Bob Wills (A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World), traditional jazz (I Love Dixie Blues), and bluegrass (The Bluegrass Sessions).

The singer/songwriter also left his mark with “Sing Me Back Home,” an autobiography written with Peggy Russell, and several appearances as an actor on television (“Centennial,” “The Waltons”) and in film (“Killer Three” and in a singing duet with Clint Eastwood in “Bronco Billy”).

Merle Haggard accepts the Crystal Milestone Award
49th ACM Awards 6 April 2014

Merle Haggard & Theresa Ann Lane (5th Wife)
Backstage at the 49th ACM Awards 6 April 2014

Haggard battled health issues in his final years, though he also kept a busy working schedule. In 2008, he underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his lungs but was back onstage just two months later. 
In this stage of his career his output included songs that were inspired by the possibilities (“Hopes Are High”) and bitter over the failures (“That’s the News”) of modern politics. 

He defended the Dixie Chicks when they were assailed for their views of President Bush, developed a fascination with UFOs and snarled his outrage in a Rolling Stone interview over DEA agents who insisted on flying over his California property to check out exactly what he was growing.

He was to the end a singular figure in and beyond Country Music, a bard blessed with the gift of turning his extraordinary story into songs that nearly everyone could embrace as if they had written each one themselves.

“I’ve probably got 300 to 400 songs that I haven’t released that I collected over the years.
As first reported in May of 2015, in an interview  with Broadway of Country 92.5 in Connecticut, Merle has a massive cache of songs that have yet to be released. 
We call it ‘The Archive.'” And we haven’t released anything from that. When I get unable to record or sing anymore, or get killed or something, well they’ll probably put it out,” said Merle. Though Merle released a record with Willie Nelson last year called Django & Jimmie, his last proper solo release was October 2011’s Working in Tennessee.


Merle Haggard first & only UK Chart Entry

Willie Nelson (82) and Merle Haggard (78) together the country legends logged the oldest duo ever to have a chart album, on the Official UK Top 100 Album Chart (week ending June 13, 2015) thanks to their new (sixth) collaboration DJANGO & JIMMIE. The title track was a nod to jazz great Django Reinhardt and country singer Jimmie Rodgers, both of whom died tragically young. The album made a debut at No.66 (1,506 sales) bringing - despite their enormous experience (recording careers in excess of 50 years) Nelson his fourth UK chart album (all since 2012) and Haggard his first.

Capitol Hill. The White House. National Politics:

.@POTUS in 2010: "Merle's power has always come from the truth he tells." #MerleHaggardhttps://t.co/D1CdgZxCx8

— CSPAN (@cspan) 6 April 2016

The Country Industry and Worldwide Artists react to Haggard's passing on Social Media: 
#merlehaggard

Fresh flowers placed below Merle Haggard's plaque in the Rotunda Hall at The Country Music Hall of Fame. #Nashville pic.twitter.com/Z5z6APBIkk

— Natalie Neysa Alund (@nataliealund) 6 April 2016

Aubrie Sellers: ‏God bless Merle Haggard. We will be singing your songs forever 
Bob Harris (OBE; BBC Radio 2) The poet of the common man has passed away. #RIP merle haggard
Billy Currington thank you for all the great music u blessed us with. we will play it forever
Billy Dean So bummed to lose my number one influence in country music #merlehaggard. I got to tour with him and #clintblack... http://fb.me/72n4gA8hZ 
Billy Yates  R.I.P. Mighty Merle. There'll never be another! http://fb.me/Zmr19lPf 
Billy Yates This man, along with a few others have been the soundtrack to my life. Most of my heroes are gone now but their... http://fb.me/xE73FocH 
BigMachine Country Music lost a legend today… RIP @merlehaggard
Blake Shelton ‏Incredibly sad tonight.. Goodbye Merle Haggard.
Brad Paisley There are no words to describe the loss & sorrow felt within all of music with the passing of Merle Haggard. Thank God for his life & songs.
Brantley Gilbert ‏We lost a legend today...A true inspiration to all of us...Our prayers are with his entire family.... RIP Merle.
Brett Eldredge ‏It felt like the world stopped for a moment when I heard about Merle Haggard...such an icon...thanks for your gift to all of us brother
Brenda Burch RIP merle haggard  You are a true Country legend, & will continue to inspire for years to come
Carrie Underwood

Love and prayers for the Haggard family. Merle was a pioneer...a true entertainer...a legend. There will never be another like him.

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) 6 April 2016

CCMA ‏RIP Merle Haggard: country music legend, Country Music Hall of Fame member, Grammy Award Winner and icon.
Charlie Daniels Country music has suffered one of the greatest losses it will ever experience Rest in peace Merle Haggard
Charles Esten Thank you Merle Haggard for the gift of your great music. Thank you God for the gift of the great Merle Haggard. RIP
Chris Young "There will never be another artist like the Hag." R.I.P. Merle Haggard.
Country2Country Country to Country wish to pay tribute to a legend of country music Merle Haggard. He was a true icon and will be sorely missed.
Cole Swindell So sad to hear about the passing of Merle Haggard. My thoughts and Prayers are with his family and country music fans. #RIPMerleHaggard
David Nail - "The night I saw Merle at the Golden Nugget it was the single greatest combination of seeing an artist/venue/city together that I've ever witnessed. It was a spiritual experience. I looked at my buddy multiple times in disbelief that we were actually there. I teared up on a few songs. I knew the greatness I was seeing/hearing."
Dad Rock Show : Soundcloud (Tribute/Legacy)



Dolly Parton We've lost one of the greatest writers and singers of all time. His heart was as tender as his love ballads. I loved him like a brother. Rest easy, Merle.  
Duane Eddy ‏We can never thank you enough for all the great music...we love you, Merle. Rest in peace.
Dustin Lynch - "The musical role model of my role models. ... The Hag is the reason I play guitar and sing ... Thank you Merle ... we will keep flying the flag!"
Easton Corbin - "Merle Haggard is my biggest hero. The way he sang, the arrangements to his songs, the lyrics. He just embodied to me what country music is about. When guys like him sing, he just really makes you feel it because he did live it. One of the biggest highlights in my career is meeting him. I got to shake his hand and take a picture with him and he signed my guitar. I think that’s one of the coolest things ever. Him passing, makes that all the more special. Having those influences shapes who you are as an artist."

Garth Brooks - "I got several compliments from him over the years that probably mean more to me than anything anyone else ever said ... because this is a man that did not dish that out with anything less than honesty. He's one of the few in the format that I haven't gotten his cell phone and had lunch with, and it's a little bit of a conscious decision. In some ways, I wouldn't change it. With some of these guys (that I'm friends with), my memories have more to do with my relationships with them, but with Haggard it's still about who I saw on stage. It's kind of cool to have never peeled back that curtain...Read More at The Tennessean 
Gord Bamford #merlehaggard you changed my life and taught me how to make a living doing what I love. There will never be anyone like you. #RIP#SadDay
Granger Smith Merle Haggard Your name will be honored. Your music celebrated. Your legacy never forgotten. Country music will live on. I'll be sure of it.
GrassRoots Promotion ‏Saddened today with the news of @MerleHaggard's passing. A true American icon. #merlehaggard #icon

Gretchen Peters The John Steinbeck of country music. 1 of the greatest writers AND singers ever. Huge loss. I feel so lucky to have crossed his path
Gretchen Peters ‏God. Just destroyed. He was the best, in my book. #merle
Gretchen Peters on Facebook: Merle Haggard was a gateway drug for me. From Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris I eventually got to George Jones, Tammy Wynette, etc - but Merle was my way in. I always thought of him as the John Steinbeck of country music. I could hear the folk music, the Woody Guthrie in him. He got this 19 year old folkie from New York past my stereotypical impressions of country music, because the stories and the characters were so compelling and so real. Mama's Hungry Eyes. If We Make It Through December. He elevated and celebrated Everyman, the same way that Woody did. His Serving 190 Proof album was the one that I picked up just as I was discovering country music, and I wore the grooves off of it.
And that voice. That. Voice. RIP Merle. You will never be replaced
Gretchen Peters posted Thanks to @siriusxm Willie's Roadhouse for let us all grieve & celebrate him together. ‪#‎merle‬

Hillary Scott (Lady Antebellum) ‏You are a cornerstone of country music ..u will be missed greatly. Praying for the Haggard family
Iain Anderson Show (BBC Scotland) Rest in Peace, Merle.
Jason Isbell Merle Haggard was the best country songwriter there ever was.
Jason Aldean extremely sad to hear of the passing of one of the greatest of all time Mr. Merle Haggard www.instagram.com
Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts) My heart is absolutely broken in two at the news of the loss of Merle Haggard. We keep losing all of the good ones. What a sad, sad day...
JD McPherson ‏Proud to be an Okie from a few miles from Muskogee.  Goodnight, Mr. Haggard
Jim Lauderdale We've lost one of the greatest. Rest in peace Merle Haggard 
Joe Nichols You're flying now. #MerleHaggard YouTube

Kacey Musgraves - I'm so sad about Merle and the rest of my heroes riding off into the sunset. Artists like Merle Haggard are important because they became legends and set trends not by worrying about money and fame but just by being themselves. So it just inspires me even more to uphold what's important to me as a person and songwriter first and not worry about the rest.”
Keith Urban "One of the great concert memories I have is seeing Merle and the Strangers at the Ryman in Nashville. We had a live album of his when I was growing up, and I felt like I’d fallen inside my dad’s stereo speakers. One of my all-time favorite voices and a master songwriter. Blessings to your soulful spirit, Merle, and all of your family and loved ones."
Kenny Rogers - The great storyteller, his voice and his personality will be greatly missed. He was a true original.
Kristian Bush - "I just looked and he still had shows coming up. I am sad he is gone. What an amazing career, a life forgiven and turned, invented and reinvented, written and rewritten. He is an inspiration because he never gave up."
Lauren Alaina Prayers and love to the Haggard family. Thank the Lord for such an inspiring and talented Songwriter. Rest in peace. #MerleHaggard
Leah Turner  Wow , what a sad day ... RIP meryl haggard ... You were the soundtrack 2 to so many lives ! Prayers to Haggard family ..
LeeAnn Womack “I was always so inspired by the fact that Merle picked up the fiddle in his 40s, not because he was looking for some great career move, but because he let the music lead him. He went on to record ‘A Tribute To The Best Damn Fiddle Player In The World’ (Bob Wills) and an accompanying tour, and I just always thought he looked so happy playing that fiddle. He is a true legend whose music was always inspired, never contrived. Our world is so much richer because he was in it.”
Logan Brill The definition of a legend. Sharing the stage with Merle last year was one of the biggest thrills of my life #rip
Mary Sarah No words can describe how I feel about the news about @merlehaggard. He changed my life. He will be missed. #RIP
Michelle Wright posted Thank you Merle. Your'e one of the biggest reasons that I do what I do. Here's a little tribute from me to Merle. Loved him.
Mickey Guyton ‏RIP Merle Haggard. Heaven's choir just got a heck of a lot better. 
Neal McCoy - "Nobody sang better or with more heart than Merle Haggard. It was an honor to spend time and share the stage with him on many occasions. Merle had a special way of making everyone around him feel like a friend, after just a short time with him. He just made folks feel special. I don't feel like he ever really knew, or cared, how big of a star he really was, and there is real beauty in that. Gonna miss Haggard, we all will."
Patricia Conroy ‏Never be another like you..@merlehaggard

Ralph McLean (BBC Ulster) Hard to believe @merlehaggard has gone. The poet of the working man has left us. Sad day #merlehaggard #mamatried
Rosanne Cash Heartbroken. #MerleHaggard
Sarah Darling ‏I'm very sad to hear of the passing of legend Merle Haggard today.  You paved the way for #country music.
SarahBethKeeley Fans says goodbye to Merle Haggard. On behalf of #KeeleysKrew we pass our deepest condolences on to.
Shania Twain I’m so sad to hear we’ve lost Merle Haggard. His music was a staple in our home, growing up.
Sheryl Crow The world will not be the same without @merlehaggard in it. Voice of reason, good man, true American artist. An original. RIP #MerleHaggard
Suzy Bogguss Sad beyond words. Fly with the angels Merle. You did a great job here on earth.
Sony Music Nashville ‏We lost a country music legend today. Rest in peace
Sony Nashville UK Rest In Peace Merle Haggard
The Boot ‏We will ALWAYS pledge allegiance to the Hag! http://trib.al/tytqXQO  #RIP #MerleHaggard
A Thousand Horses Truly tragic, but his legacy will forever live on. #RIP #MerleHaggard 
Teea Goans ‏"I'll tell you what the public likes more than anything, it's the most rare commodity in the world - honesty." - Merle Haggard
The Band Perry His are the footsteps we follow in. Rest easy, Merle. #MerleHaggard 
The Quebe Sisters ‏Merle, we miss you already #merlehaggard #Heartbroken
Toby Keith “The greatest singer songwriter of my lifetime is gone. Thanks for the music and friendship. R.I.P. Hag.”
Trisha Yearwood:

Rest in peace, Hag. One of a kind, and the definition of legend. pic.twitter.com/aUGX22Avna

— Trisha Yearwood (@trishayearwood) 6 April 2016

UMG RIP #merlehaggard. Country music wouldn't be the same without your influence.
Vince Gill This is a video of Vince from a few years back...Rest in Peace @merlehaggard, you will be missed by everyone.

Whitney Rose I'm thinkin' there was a special pair of silver wings waitin' for him in heaven. Rest in peace, Merle Haggard, and thank you for everything you've left behind.
Wynonna ‏My very first concert was Merle Haggard and George Jones (gjpossum) http://instagram.com/p/BD4HawRx5Zh/ 
Willie Nelson:

https://t.co/U5K6E3CpSe pic.twitter.com/wcvEZbCBFP

— Willie Nelson (@willienelson) 6 April 2016

British & Irish Country artists: 
Flex thefrog (CMA Photographer; Anthony D’Angio)  RIP one of the greatest. - a few will be had tonight to celebrate his life. #totallysaddened. Prayers to his family :(


Katy Hurt posted Deeply saddened to hear today about the loss of the legend that is Merle Haggard on his 79th birthday. He has been one of the biggest musical influences on not only me but all country music and the world has lost of true icon. My condolences to all of his family and friends! Rest In Peace Merle
Jess and the Bandits ‏#RIPMerleHaggard So many memories as a teenager in the small Texas town I grew up in, where he was the soundtrack
Rosalie Deighton ‏So so sad #merlehaggard https://www.instagram.com

Talia Simone (The Voice UK) Gutted to hear the news bout merlehaggard #ripmerle #mamatried 
Mike Ward (The Voice UK) Country music lost one of the best today and one of my all time favourites .. Such sad news my heart goes out to all of his family ... just listen to that voice! http://youtu.be/w99UIu9N44w  RIP Merle spread your silver wings and fly
Nathan Carter ‏So sad to hear the greatest country singer of all time has passed away.. RIP MERLE HAGGARD

Mr. Haggard was the recipient of two Grammys and was the only California-born inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Merle Haggard (1985)  with lovely bride Theresa Wife

Personal life
WIFE #1: Mr. Haggard was first married to teenage sweetheart Leona Hobbs from 1956 to 1964. Haggard's marriage to Hobbs was tumultuous and often violent. "It was horrible for a child to witness," Haggard's oldest daughter, Dana, has said. "I seen blood, I seen terrible things." Haggard was touring and rarely home, and the kids barely knew their dad. "Most of the time we called him 'Hey,'" said Haggard's daughter Kelli. 
Billie Leona Hobbs Witherspoon, 66, of Bakersfield, died on July 9, 2006.  She was a waitress in 1956 when she married Merle, an unknown singer who was more into crime than becoming a country legend.

WIFE #2: He married the late singer Bonnie Owens (Oct 1, 1929-April 24, 2006). She was the former wife of Buck Owens who helped care for Haggard's children from his first marriage, and was the maid of honor for Haggard's third marriage. Haggard and Owens divorced in 1978 but they remained close friends as Bonnie continued as his backing vocalist until her death in 2006. Merle Haggard: 'I have no doubt that my success overshadowed Bonnie—it had to. Bonnie would be the last one to bring that up. She never complained. We were married and she was happy to tour and sing and write with me.' 

WIFE #3: On Saturday 7 October 1978 Haggard married Leona Williams; they divorced in 1983.  When Haggard divorced Bonnie Owens, Leona became the featured vocalist they combined to write several songs and recorded an album together but the marriage soon proved turbulent. In 1978, they had a #8 US country hit with ‘The Bull And The Beaver’ but in 1983, when the marriage ended, they appeared in the charts with the appropriately named ‘We’re Strangers Again’. She later married songwriter and guitarist Dave Kirby.

WIFE #4: In 1985 Haggard married  a waitress named  Debbie Parret; they divorced in 1991. "I was partyin' pretty hard. I'd canceled all my dates, and I was in heavy mourning. And I was probably smoking pot, smoking Camels and drinking George Dickel – we did that for about five months. It was an isolated time when I really lost it for a while. Losing my best friend, and bad love affairs, you know. And spending way too much money."

One of Tanya Tucker's famous amours included Merle Haggard (who was 21 years her senior). Tanya paying her respects said she recalled fondly the time they ate bologna sandwiches by the river: "I just can't imagine a world without Merle. It's so hard to accept, but I'll continue honoring him on stage just as I do during every show."

WIFE #5: He married his fifth wife, Theresa Ann Lane, on September 11, 1993. A statuesque blonde, she was 23 years younger than he and they met during some wild times

Merle (R), Theresa (C) and Jenessa Haggard (L)

Mr. Haggard had 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, which he called a "blessing" but also described as a burden. "It's a strange feeling to be the one in charge of what some people might call a dynasty," he said. "They expect me to have answers, even when I don't."

The singer is survived by fifth wife Theresa Ann Lane and their two children, Jenessa and Ben, along with four children from his first marriage (Leona Hobbs from 1956 to 1964) Dana, Marty, Kelli, and Noel.

Funeral services for MERLE HAGGARD were private and took place at his home studio in PALO CEDRO, CA on SATURDAY, APRIL 9th. Country singers Connie Smith and Marty Stuart participated in the service. "I found out that Merle had preplanned his own service," said Stuart, quoted in the TENNESSEAN. "He requested that Connie sing 'Precious Memories,' that [Connie and I] sing his song, 'Silver Wings,' and that I officiate the service. We're honored to do it." 
Donations could be made in Mr. Haggard's name to ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL St Jude.org