I guess if you gotta go and want to make it easy on the guy carving your tombstone, passing on your birthday would be the way to do it. Sadly, that happened today to a legend of the musical world, both country and beyond, Merle Haggard. Haggard, 79, had been suffering from pneumonia recently and, although the actual cause has not been released, he likely passed from the tolls that illness takes on the aged and road worn body.
Haggard, a pioneer of the Bakersfield Country and Outlaw Country sounds has a career of hits that is too long to list here but includes more than 3 dozen #1 country hits and a few you may be familiar with like “Okie From Muskogee”, “Mama Tried” and his famous duet with Willie Nelson, “Pancho and Lefty”. Haggard lived the life he sang about and in fact spent time in prison for petty crimes which landed him in the infamous San Quentin Prison.
Lone time pals, Haggard and Willie Nelson were frequently seen together on tour and well as on stage. Check out this drop in from Willie during Okie from Muskogee.
The pair collaborated on new duet album in 2015, Django and Jimmy which included the song, “It’s All Going to Pot”.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Haggard. You set the bar so high, that no one will ever be able to get a drink again!
