Merle Haggard | |
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![]() Haggard performing live in 1971 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Merle Ronald Haggard |
Born | Oildale, California, U.S. | April 6, 1937
Died | April 6, 2016 Palo Cedro, California, U.S. | (aged 79)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
Instruments |
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Years active | 1961–2016 |
Labels | |
Formerly of | The Strangers |
Spouses | Leona Hobbs
(m. 1956; div. 1964)Debbie Parret
(m. 1985; div. 1991)Theresa Ann Lane (m. 1993) |
Children | 6, including Marty and Noel Haggard |
Website | merlehaggard |
Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler.
Haggard overcame a troubled childhood, criminal convictions and time in prison to launch a successful country music career. He gained popularity with his songs about the working class; these occasionally contained themes contrary to the anti–Vietnam War sentiment of some popular music of the time. Between the 1960s and the 1980s, Haggard had 38 number-one hits on the US country charts, several of which also made the Billboard all-genre singles chart. He continued to release successful albums into the 2000s.
Haggard received many honors and awards, including a Kennedy Center Honor (2010); a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2006); a BMI Icon Award (2006);[1] and induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1977);[2] Country Music Hall of Fame (1994)[3] and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame (1997).[4] He died of pneumonia on April 6, 2016—his 79th birthday—at his ranch in Shasta County, California.[5]
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Induction year: 1977