He died on April 6, 2016 in Redding, California. [63] He quit smoking cigarettes in 1991, and stopped smoking marijuana in 1995. Haggard stepped to the podium and said, "Thank you. [4] In 2006, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was also honored as a BMI Icon at the 54th annual BMI Pop Awards that same year. Country legend Merle Haggard passed away on April 6, 2016 just as the notorious country star surprised plenty of fans by making it to 79 years old! "[53] In a 2001 interview, Haggard stated that Nelson, who was also head of the country division at Capitol at the time, never interfered with his music, but "this one time he came out and said, 'Merle, I don't believe the world is ready for this yet.' And I thought, 'You sons of bitches, you've never been restricted away from this great, wonderful country, and yet here you are in the streets bitchin' about things, protesting about a war that they didn't know any more about than I did. I thought he was a good writer. Learn more about merges. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. And I said, 'Why?' "[32][52], "Okie From Muskogee," "The Fightin' Side of Me," and "I Wonder If They Think of Me" (Haggard's 1973 song about an American POW in Vietnam) were hailed as anthems of the Silent Majority and have been recognized as part of a recurring patriotic trend in American country music that also includes Charlie Daniels' "In America" and Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA". After another escape, he was sent to the Preston School of Industry, a high-security installation. He was the California that was dusty, that was Merle's. Merle Ronald Haggard was born on April 6, 1937 in Oildale, Calif., about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. When Merle Haggard passed away on his 79th birthday on April 6, it was a shock to the entire country music community. [citation needed], In 2010, Haggard was featured along with Ralph Nader, Willie Nelson, Gatewood Galbraith and Julia Butterfly Hill in the documentary film Hempsters: Plant the Seed directed by Michael P. Before his death in 2016, Merle . He followed it in 2001 with Roots, vol. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. This tribute was featured on the December 28, 2010, CBS telecast of the Kennedy Center Honors. Duvall, however, said he was a big fan of Haggard's.[62]. Dana was the first of four children for Merle Haggard and Leona Hobbs. "[93], Haggard's last recording, a song called "Kern River Blues," described his departure from Bakersfield in the late 1970s and his displeasure with politicians. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Try again. One of the most popular country music performers of the late 20th Century, he had more than three dozen number one country hits in a musical career that spanned six decades, from the 1960s into the 2010s. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. ", On January 26, 2014, Haggard performed his 1969 song "Okie from Muskogee" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards along with Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Blake Shelton. [39][40] In the ensuing years, Haggard gave varying statements regarding whether he intended the song as a humorous satire or a serious political statement in support of conservative values. Some of his 29 #1 country hits include "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone," "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'," and "All I Have to Offer You Is Me." Haggard's last number-one hit was "Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star" from his smash album Chill Factor in 1988. Resend Activation Email. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. His kids told me that he still cried all the time at night.". Rolling Stone reported that a representative for his loved ones released a statement saying, "Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family. [18] Convicted, he was sent to the Bakersfield Jail. Kristofferson sang numerous songs and during one, "Sing Me Back Home," the lyric sheet blew away. A new biography examines the story of Merle Haggard, who spent his early years going from family tragedy to odd jobs to broken marriages to petty crime to prison. There is a problem with your email/password. Haggard learned to play it on his own,[9] with the records he had at home, influenced by Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams. Other than that, it's not known if he has a memorial as of time of writing, or if he does, what it looks like. In 2005, Haggard was featured as a guest vocalist on Gretchen Wilson's song "Politically Uncorrect", which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. [68][69], Haggard and The Strangers number-one hit single "Mama Tried" is featured in the 2003 film Radio with Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Ed Harris, as well as in Bryan Bertino's The Strangers with Liv Tyler. Between 1973 and 1976, he and The Strangers scored nine consecutive number-one country hits. He wasn't just a great voice, but a brilliant songwriter as well, and wrote 11 of his songs that topped the charts. ", According to Find a Grave, Patsy Cline is buried at Shenandoah Memorial Park in Frederick County, Virginia. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977,[2] the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 1994,[3] and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 1997. There was an unanticipated adulation racing through the crowds now, standing ovations that went on and on and sometimes left the audience and the band members alike teary-eyed. We ain't going to say nothing about it. Dana leaves behind her husband Terry Lemons, four children (Mathew,. [71], He's not going to play The Palace in Louisville, he's going pick the tertiary towns, and he's going to play on the outer edge. Merle Haggard was laid to rest at a private funeral officiated by Marty Stuart. [4] He died on April 6, 2016his 79th birthdayat his ranch in Shasta County, California, having recently suffered from double pneumonia. Johnny would not last long without her, dying that September. Waylon Jennings was supposed to be on the plane that crashed on "the day the music died." Share your Merle Haggard memories. He was surrounded by family and friends. After his release from San Quentin Prison in California in 1960, he turned to music in Bakersfield, which was becoming an important regional country music center. His parents relocated there from Oklahoma during the Great Depression to find work. A multi-instrumentalist himself, He was known for the high quality and versatility of his accompanying bands, which by the 1970s included some of Willss former sidemen. It's apparent that distance kept Merle and Grandma Rose (or "Rosie . To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Haggard began performing the song in concert in 1969 and was astounded at the reaction it received: The Haggard camp knew they were on to something. The guitar is a modified Telecaster Thinline with laminated top of figured maple, set neck with deep carved heel, birdseye maple fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets, ivoroid pickguard and binding, gold hardware, abalone Tuff Dog Tele peghead inlay, 2-Colour Sunburst finish, and a pair of Fender Texas Special Tele single-coil pickups with custom-wired 4-way pickup switching. Country music is full of songs about sad subjects, like heartbreak and the difficulties of everyday life. GREAT NEWS! Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. This is where these legendary country stars are buried. But as his youngest son, Ben, wrote in a touching post to social media, his father had a feeling his time on Earth was almost over. Johnny attended the funeral, but her death had obviously badly affected him. [99] He married his fifth wife, Theresa Ann Lane, on September 11, 1993. He might have become one of the most famous and successful music artists of all time, but his life was tragically cut short in 1953, aged just 29. In 1978, Haggard married Leona Williams. Merle Haggard remembered at his ranch this past Saturday. His headstone is more like a huge monument, as is that of his first wife Audrey, who is buried next to him. [59] During the early to mid-1970s, Haggard and The Strangers country chart domination continued with songs such as "Someday We'll Look Back," "Grandma Harp," "Always Wanting You," and "The Roots of My Raising". He was a California guy, but not the California you see on television with Palm Trees. The King of Country Music was remembered by his family and friends on Saturday, April 9, 2016 in a very simply and peaceful funeral at his ranch in Palo Cedro, California. He was married to Theresa Ann Lane, Debora J Parret, Leona Bell Williams, Bonnie Owens and Billie Leona Hobbs. Her many hits included classics like "Stand by Your Man," "I Don't Wanna Play House," and "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." She died in 1998, aged just 55, from a blood clot in her lung. Try again later. [42] However, he made several other statements suggesting that he meant the song seriously. But even for those who disagreed with him on everything, and even if you aren't into country music at all, you know Daniels' hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." I felt I knew how those boys fighting in Vietnam felt. Haggard was stunned at Buck's unexpected death. On November 6, 2013, the mayor of Winchester, Virginia, awarded Haggard the Key to the City at the Patsy Cline Theatre after a sold-out show by Bonnie Blue Concerts. [11] After an escape attempt he was transferred to San Quentin Prison on February 21, 1958. After CBS Records Nashville avoided releasing the song, Haggard bought his way out of the contract and signed with Curb Records, which was willing to release the song. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? After this experience Haggard decided to pursue a career in music. 1949-1981. The split served as a license to party for Haggard, who spent much of the next decade becoming mired in alcohol and drug problems. Actor Robert Duvall and other filmmakers denied this and claimed the character was based on nobody in particular. Your body is getting ready to die and your mind doesn't agree. [8], They settled with their two elder children, James 'Lowell' (19221996) and Lillian, in an apartment in Bakersfield, while James started working for the Santa Fe Railroad. Waiting for the world to come back to life so that I can see clearly again. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Although he was outspoken in his dislike for modern country music,[87] he praised George Strait, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Sturgill Simpson. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He played Red Turner, a local musician who had become depressed and withdrawn after the death of his son, played by Ron Howard, in the episode called "The Gift". 0:00 / 0:50 More than 100 people attended Haggard's funeral 23 ABC News | KERO 187K subscribers Subscribe 95K views 6 years ago Friends and family also gathered to say their final goodbyes to. Merle Ronald Haggard was born on April 6, 1937, in Bakersfield, California, and grew up singing and playing the guitar. There were performances by Kris Kristofferson, Connie Smith, and Haggard's old bandmate Ronnie Reno. He shared the writing credit with Owens for his hit "Today I Started Loving You Again" and acknowledged, including on stage, that the song was about a sudden burst of special feelings he experienced for her while they were touring together. They'd both found success before they married, and more after. cemeteries found in Palo Cedro, Shasta County, California, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This Day in 1961; James Rabbit Kendrick, friend of Merle Haggard. "[35] In the documentary series Lost Highway, Nelson recalls, "When I first started recording Merle, I became so enamored with his singing that I would forget what else was going on, and I suddenly realized, 'Wait a minute, there's musicians here you've got to worry about!' There was a somber cast to many of the songs he wrote, including Mama Tried, The Bottle Let Me Down, and If We Make It Through December" that reflected his difficult youth. As a human being, I've learned [more]. ", Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash were country's golden couple. Haggard died Wednesday in Palo Cedro at 79, on his birthday. The song was recorded February 9, 2016, and features his son Ben on guitar. A reporter who was there wrote, "The people jammed in close to the small tent over the grave began snatching literally from the side of the grave, everything and anything they could lay their hands on, short of the gold finished coffin. Country Thang Daily says that more than 25,000 people turned out for Williams' funeral. I think we were brainwashed and I think anybody that doesn't know that needs to get up and read and look around, get their own information. According to Find a Grave, Tammy Wynette is entombed at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee. They brought Rabbit out taking him to see the Father, prior to his execution. The Country Music Hall of Fame does not hold back when explaining Merle Haggard's impact. Nelson believed the 1983 Academy Award-winning film Tender Mercies, about the life of fictional singer Mac Sledge, was based on the life of Merle Haggard. Despite that, celebrity mourners included George Jones, Garth Brooks, Naomi Judd, and Crystal Gayle. But I went anyway. His childhood was troubled after the death of his father, and he was incarcerated several times in his youth. Learn more about managing a memorial . [19] There he was prisoner number A45200. [105] He made a recovery, but postponed several concerts. Pride once told NPR about the subterfuge necessary to get a record deal: "I did a dub for Jack Clement [a white artist]. "[66], In 2000, Haggard made a comeback of sorts, signing with the independent record label Anti and releasing the spare If I Could Only Fly to critical acclaim. (For those really interested, an uncle of Merle's, Walter Haggard, is buried in Friendship Cemetery in Springdale.) Obviously, there were fans who would have wanted to celebrate Rogers in some official way, but because he died in 2020, a big funeral wasn't possible, and even a memorial was delayed indefinitely. Her funeral was small and private, per CBS News. [85] The CD features classic country, western, and gospel tracks performed by both Smith and Haggard. As noted by an article published in The Washington Post upon Haggard's death, "Respect for the Hag [Haggard] as an icon, both for his musical status and his personal views, is a common theme" in country music. His friend Kris Kristofferson told the Hollywood Reporter, "He was a fighter, and he had a strong spirit, but it was the hardest thing that he probably ever faced in his life. Failed to delete memorial. Charley Pride was country music's "first Black superstar," per the Country Music Hall of Fame. Instrument (s) Vocals, guitar. Times Staff Writer Bonnie Owens, a cocktail waitress-turned-singer who was married at different times to country music giants Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, died Monday in Bakersfield after a. Now It Needs Work", "1986 interview: 'It never has been fun' being Merle Haggard", "Big Brother and the Holding Company: Be a Brother", "Chapter 7: "Listen to the Stories! "[118] Nick Gravenites, of Big Brother and the Holding Company, paid Haggard a tongue-in-cheek tribute with the song, "I'll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle,"[119] later covered by other artists including Pure Prairie League. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. That's being honest with you at the moment, and a lot of things that I said [then] I sing with a different intention now. The album's lead single, "It's All Going to Pot", was a subtle reference to smoking marijuana, and the music video for the song showed Haggard and Nelson smoking joints while singing in a recording studio. "[51], Haggard had wanted to follow "Okie from Muskogee" with "Irma Jackson," a song that dealt with an interracial romance between a white man and an African American woman. [14] The following year he ran away to Texas with his friend Bob Teague. [88], In 2017, Haggard appeared alongside Willie Nelson in the award-winning documentary The American Epic Sessions directed by Bernard MacMahon. Towards the end of the decade, Haggard composed several number-one hits, including "Mama Tried," "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde," "Hungry Eyes," and "Sing Me Back Home". He gave me complete responsibility. His music ranged from early jazz and country songs to contemporary tunes, and he often recorded the songs of other writers, including western-swing bandleader Bob Wills, one of his inspirations, whom he honored with the album "A Tribute to the Best Damned Fiddle Player in the World" in 1970. However, the crowd would not stay respectful once they got to the cemetery. We want to hear it. [94], Haggard endorsed Fender guitars and had a Custom Artist signature model Telecaster. "A lot of family, fathers and children don't get to read that about their mothers, their daughters, their loved ones. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. In 1983, Haggard and his third wife Leona Williams divorced after five stormy years of marriage. [28] Haggard recalls having been talked into visiting Andersona woman he did not knowat her house to hear her sing some songs she had written. Merle Haggard wanted to be buried with his family in a plot near his parents. A message to eager fans from Hank Williams Jr. is also etched on a stone: "Please do not desecrate this sacred spot.". Send us a tip using our anonymous form. [56][57] By this point, Haggard was one of the most famous country singers in the world, having enjoyed an immensely successful artistic and commercial run with Capitol, accumulating 24 number-one country singles since 1966. (1998). In the wake of "Okie," Capitol Records was not interested in complicating Haggard's conservative, blue-collar image. One pallbearer said, "Patsy was like a religion with them." ). Haggard played two shows to raise money to pay for the changes in road signage. And he said, how do you like this voice? There's also a vase for mourners to leave flowers. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Hearing the young man from the stage, Frizzell refused to go on unless Haggard was allowed to sing first. "If We Make It Through December" turned out to be Haggard and The Strangers last crossover pop hit. 1 country records in history during his lifetime: 55 of them. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab.