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Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard

American country music songwriter, singer, and musician
A country music legend who epitomized the drifter persona and is considered perhaps the genre's greatest songwriter.
BornApril 6, 1937
HometownOildale, California, United States of America
Net worth$5 million
Height5'9" (1.75m)
SpouseDebbie Parret , Bonnie Owens , Leona Hobbs , Theresa Ann Lane , Leona Williams
ChildrenMarty Haggard , Noel Haggard , Jenessa Haggard , Kelli Haggard , Dana Haggard , Ben Haggard
ParentsFlossie Mae Harp , James Francis Haggard
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Credit: Getty Images, Rotten Tomatoes, Gracenote Media Services

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How country music became embroiled in the US culture wars

  • Country music is having one of its moments of political introspection. On the Right, you’ve got Jason Aldean’s song Try That in a Small Town, fast emerging as the Okie from Muskogee of its day. Riffing off the crime and protests blighting American cities, Aldean warns the miscreants not to “try that” in his neighbourhood, populated as it is by “good old boys” with guns their granddaddies left them. Critics noted that the music video featured a courthouse from which a black man was hanged by a mo

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Country music legend Merle Haggard dies aged 79

American Country music legend Merle Haggard has died at the age of 79 from pneumonia. Haggard was considered one of the most influential figures in the genre. Haggard’s fame skyrocketed in 1970 with “Okie From Muskogee”, an anti hippie song (“We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee, we don’t take our trips on LSD”) that came to be embraced by conservatives. But the song didn’t necessarily reflect his views and he went on to write others which dealt with social issues such as loneliness and poverty, becoming regarded as the poetic voice of the American working man. .merlehaggard crafted songs that were for every day people. He was relatable and real and will continue to inspire! pic.twitter.com/kHdFp1iTJ1— Lady Antebellum (ladyantebellum) April 7, 2016 Born in California Haggard he defied his own poverty-stricken and often rough background – even spending time in jail for burglary . He wrote songs, sang and played fiddle and guitar, and with numerous hits under his belt he was adopted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. 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”. On hearing of his death one admirer said “Haggard was the bottom line in country music – the gold standard”. Clint Black, on the death of country music legend Merle Haggard: “We’ve lost a giant.” https://t.co/KFhpPYk8jK pic.twitter.com/80BSuHeuDB— ABC News (@ABC) April 7, 2016
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MOVIES & TV SHOWS

The Center of Nowhere: The Spirit & Sounds of Springfield, Missouri
The Center of Nowhere: The Spirit & Sounds of Springfield, Missouri
1h 35min
2018
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
1h 30min
2010
Country: Portraits of an American Sound
Country: Portraits of an American Sound
1h 28min
2015
From Nashville With Music
From Nashville With Music
1h 27min
1969

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