Play Merle Haggard Radio

Merle Haggard

1,002,930 plays (112,312 listeners)

Listening now: Wombat1111, FAVRE172

76 shouts

Add to my Library Share
Merle Ronald Haggard, born April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, California is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has become one of the true giants of country music, and along with Buck Owens helped create the Bakersfield Sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Telecaster guitars, harmonies, and a rough edge not heard on the more polished Nashville recordings of the time. After spending his early life drifting in and out of jail Merle attended three of Johnny Cash’s concerts at San Quentin Prison. Seeing Cash perform inspired Haggard to straighten up and pursue his singing career.

Perhaps Merle came to prominence to many in 1966 with ‘Swinging Doors’ and ‘The Bottle Let Me Down’. Although not his first hits, they were among three hits he had that year in the Top Ten. Later hits followed, including ‘Branded Man’, ‘I Threw Away the Rose’, ‘Mama Tried’, ‘Today I Started Loving You Again’, ‘Working Man Blues’, ‘The Fightin’ Side of Me’, ‘Okie from Muskogee’ and ‘If We Make It Through December’. The last two songs seem also to have had a major impact in America. The former song spoke particularly to political conservatives and to military folk. It perhaps also spoke to majority anti-hippy feelings at the time. The latter song’s effect in 1975 is described below.

Merle Haggard was pardoned in 1972 by California Governer Reagan for his past crimes. “If We Make It Through December” was a classic song that really touched the depth of the poverty of some in recession times. In 2005 he released “Chicago Wind” which included an anti Iraq war song.
Read more… Edit

Top Albums

See more

Top Tracks

1 Play
Mama Tried full track
966
2 Play
Okie From Muskogee full track
795
3 Play
Always Wanting You full track
423
4 Play
341
5 Play
Workin' Man Blues full track
340
6 Play
Sing Me Back Home full track
321
7 Play
301
8 Play
297
9 Play
Branded Man full track
282
10 Play
273
11 Play
Big City full track
169
12 Play
Silver Wings full track
145
13 Play
134
14 Play
Swinging Doors full track
132
15 Play
Hungry Eyes full track
125
See more

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).
See all 76 shouts

Videos

See more

Listeners

See more

Recent Activity

Related Journals

See more

More Information

Links
Labels

Email Newsletter

Universal Music Group Get exclusive tour, release & promotion updates on Merle Haggard from Universal Music.