Country giant Merle Haggard, who celebrated outlaws, underdogs and an abiding sense of national pride in such hits as “Okie From Muskogee” and “Sing Me Back Home,” died Wednesday at 79, on his birthday.
Haggard’s manager, Frank Mull, said the country icon died in Palo Cedro, California, of pneumonia.
A masterful guitarist, fiddler and songwriter as well as singer, the Country Music Hall of Famer recorded for more than 40 years, releasing dozens of albums and No. 1 hits.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
I’m always on a mountain when I fall. I knew that Merle was getting older, so this isn’t a severe shock. I’ll lift a cold one to one of the best country singers/songwriters of my time.!!
Considering he was part of the Bakersfield sound and did not have true Southern roots, made it even more amazing. He can now play, again, with his buddy Buck Owens.
Hags was the best. I’ve been listening to him since I was a teen in the mid-60s. Take Alot of Pride in What I Am. Got to see him for the first time last year on Long Island – glad I did. You were the real deal. I am truly bummed. Godspeed Hags.
Hags: Now your with the Best of the Best! Fan of you since the nineteen fifties !?A true American Patriot and loved by President Ronald Reagan: Semper Fi!!!✝
Hank Williams, John Cash, George Jones and now Merl Haggard were blessed, and blessed us with their unique voices, the likes that will never be duplicated, their songs from the heartache of their early lifes struggles, their sense of humor, love and respect to each other, including the fans of Country Music, their Patriotism and Love for The True American Way, and their beliefs in the Allmighty God they worshipped and believed in. See you when I get Home. AMEN!!!
Forgot to mention Carl Perkins, Pee Wee King, Red Stuart to name just a few that I had the privilege to play with on stage during my young career of pickin’ an grinnin’. Great memories. “Think I’ll Just Sit Here And Drink” Coffee Up…
Okie From Muskogee came out a few months before I got sent to Fort Sill, OK to do my Advanced Training. M*A*S*H, the movie, came out about that time too. How appropriate. Loved them both. That’s the only song I remember from my Sill days. Michael, you forgot about Waylon on your list of deceased starts. Maybe you never played with him, but he was the original “Outlaw”.
Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down.
Haggard, Cash, Waylon, Hank, Buddy Holly,Stonewall Jackson,Roger Miller,Chet Atkins,on and on. I am proud of “our” music and it”s makers. The music of the mid 40″s thru the early 80″s was-is music you could listen to, dance to, relate to or sit and have a beer with. Todays music can never match it. Hail to all the “old” boys and gals we still enjoy!