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Merle Haggard, 78, brings tour to Packard Music Hall Old-school ICON
By John Benson
For traditional country music fans, Merle Haggard is one of the last of his generation.
The Bakersfield legend scored a jukebox full of hits, including “Swinging Doors,” “The Bottle Let Me Down,” “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive,” “Branded Man,” “Sing Me Back Home,” “Today I Started Loving You Again,” “Mama Tried,” “Hungry Eyes,” “Silver Wings,” “Workin’ Man Blues,” “The Fightin’ Side of Me,” “If We Make It Through December” and “Okie From Muskogee.”
Today at age 78, Haggard is still touring. This includes a Thursday show at Packard Music Hall. With that in mind, here are 10 things you may not know about Haggard:
Born in a boxcar: Haggard was born to parents who moved to California after the Oklahoma dust bowl. He literally was born in a converted boxcar.
Early days: Influenced by Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams, Haggard started playing guitar at age 12.
A real outlaw: It’s no wonder Haggard is associated with the outlaw country sound. As a young man Haggard was jailed for a botched robbery attempt. While incarcerated at San Quentin, he was in the audience when Johnny Cash performed a concert at the jail. Haggard said it changed his life.
Pardoned: In 1972, then California Gov. Ronald Reagan gave Haggard a full pardon.
Long time ago: Haggard’s last No. 1 hit song was 1987’s ““Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star” from the album “Chill Factor.”
Hit maker: Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994, Haggard has 38 No. 1 hits to his credit.
Kennedy honors: The legend was the recipient of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors. The ceremony included Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley singing Haggard songs.
Collaborations: Haggard joined Gretchen Wilson for the 2006 duet “Politically Uncorrect.” He also appeared on Eric Church’s 2006 track “Pledge Allegiance to the Hag” and Hank Williams, Jr.’s 2013 song “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.”
Merle and Willie: Earlier this month, Haggard and Willie Nelson released their sixth collaboration “Django & Jimmie.”
Cover songs: A recent set list found Haggard covering Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Townes Van Zandt’s “Pancho and Lefty” and Bob Willis’ “Trouble in Mind.”