Timeline
Merle's birth
Merle Haggard was born in Oildale, California to parents Flossie May and James Francis Haggard.
Merle learns to play guitar
Older brother Lowell gave his guitar to Merle when Merle was 12. Haggard learned to play it on his own, with the records he had at home, influenced by Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams.
First performance
His debut performance was with friend Bob Teague in a Modesto bar named "Fun Center", for which he was paid US$5 and given free beer.
Merle chooses a career in music
After seeing Lefty Frizzell in concert, who asked Merle to perform, Haggard decided to pursue a career in music. At nights he would sing and play in local bars, while working as a farmhand or in the oil fields during the day.
Recording first record
The Bakersfield sound was developing in the area as a reaction against the overproduced Nashville sound. Haggard's first record for Tally was "Singing My Heart Out" backed by "Skid Row".
First hit song
In 1962, Haggard wound up performing at a Wynn Stewart show in Las Vegas and heard Wynn's "Sing a Sad Song". He asked for permission to record it, and the resulting single was a national hit in 1964.
Debut album "Strangers" released
Strangers was a hit album, reaching number 9 on the Billboard country albums chart.
First number 1 single
In 1967, Haggard recorded "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" with The Strangers, written by Liz Anderson, with her husband Casey Anderson, which became his first number-one single.
First number 1 single
In 1967, Haggard recorded "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" with The Strangers, written by Liz Anderson, with her husband Casey Anderson, which became his first number-one single.
First number 1 single
In 1967, Haggard recorded "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" with The Strangers, written by Liz Anderson, with her husband Casey Anderson, which became his first number-one single.