Merle Haggard | Country Music Historian

Merle Haggard: The Poet of the Common Man

Merle Ronald Haggard (1937–2016) was a legendary American country music singer, songwriter, and musician whose life and lyrics embodied the grit and grace of working-class America. Born in a converted boxcar in Oildale, California, to a family of displaced “Okies,” Haggard’s early years were marked by poverty, rebellion, and incarceration—including a stint in San Quentin Prison that shaped his worldview and artistry.

After his release, Haggard emerged from the honky-tonks of Bakersfield with a sound that fused twangy Telecasters and raw emotion, helping define the Bakersfield Sound alongside Buck Owens. His breakout hits—“Mama Tried,” “Sing Me Back Home,” and “Okie from Muskogee”—channeled personal hardship into national anthems of identity and pride.

Over a five-decade career, Haggard recorded more than 70 albums and scored 38 No. 1 hits on the country charts. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and received a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. Known for his deep respect for predecessors like Jimmie Rodgers and Lefty Frizzell, Haggard remained a touring force until his death from pneumonia on his 79th birthday in 2016