Country legend Merle Haggard dies at 79
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Merle Haggard posed at his ranch at Palo Cedro, Calif. in Oct. 2007. Haggard died of pneumonia, today, in Palo Cedro, Calif. He was 79.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. » 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 today 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.
4 responses to “Country legend Merle Haggard dies at 79”
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Rember him from way back! Love country/western music! Condolences to family.
very talented man
At “da U”, American Studies taught us Merle was the “working man’s mistral”. We were also taught the backlash song to “Okie From Muskogee”: “Hippie From Olema”, Youngbloods w/ Jessie Colin Young. Olema, CA, Marin County, around the corner from the Golden Gate Bridge, tiny coastal enclave. Merle killed this hippie “cover song” in days but the song exists on the internet. Of course
Merle’s “The Roots of my Raisin'” just kills me. Too close to home. Cain’t hardly listen to it!
Silver Wings Merle.