One of country music’s greats passed away yesterday from complications of pneumonia at age 79 (on his birthday, dammit); here’s Merle fishing with son Ben in 2007. Had a chance to catch Merle with Willie in concert several years ago and will never forget it.
For a guy busted for multiple petty crimes, raised in boxcar (until it burned down), fatherless at age 9, tagged ‘incorrigible’ after a series of reform school failures culminating in a stint in San Quentin (so the stories go), a six-decade career and over three dozen #1 songs might have seemed a long shot back in the 60s. Sounds like hearing Johnny Cash in San Quentin might have been one of the key events that turned the tide for him.
RIP Mr. Haggard.
Dads of young children, take note of the video…
