Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard (1937–2016) was an influential American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist, known as a pioneer of the Bakersfield sound. Over his five-decade career, he achieved 38 number-one hits on the US country charts, with many songs reflecting working-class themes and occasionally countering the anti-Vietnam War sentiment prevalent in popular music. Haggard experienced a troubled childhood, time in prison, and later received numerous accolades, including a Kennedy Center Honor and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He passed away from pneumonia on his 79th birthday in 2016.

GENRES: Country & Western, Male Vocalist