Merle Haggard "The years roll through my head, and song titles, like signposts, tell about living on the mountain and walking in the valley. From 'beer-can hill,' the honky-tonks of Bakersfield, the San Quentin yard, to the concert halls and our nation's capitol, it's all there. It's been song after song strung together from the sum total of all I am, all the places I've been and all the people I've known and loved. " Birth Name: Merle Ronald Haggard Induction Year: 1977 Date of Birth: 4/6/1937 Place of Birth: Bakersfield, CA Former Occupations: potato packer ditch digger worked in cotton fields wired houses Education: Grade School--Standard & Mountain View High School--Preston Reform Career Milestones: c. 1947--started playing guitar early 1950s--made stage debut, sitting in on a Lefty Frizzell performance 1951--first paying gig 1956--first radio work on "The Smilin' Jack Tyree Radio Show" in Springfield, CA 1960--gigged with band in clubs in the Bakersfield area c. 1962--television gig on Cousin Herb Henson's show in Bakersfield 1962--signed by Tally Records (owned by close friend Lewis Tally) 1963--first single as performer "Sing a Sad Song" (written by Wynn Stewart) 1965--"(From Now On All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" 1st major hit (went to #6 on the country charts for Roy Drusky) 1965--contract sold to Capitol Records 1965--formed backing band, The Strangers 1966--"Swinging Doors" first self-penned hit 1967--first number one hit "The Fugitive" (later titled "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive") 1969--released "Okie From Muskogee," his first real venture into social commentary; song went to #1 1973--performed for the first time at the White House for Pat Nixon's birthday party 1977--signed with MCA Records 1981--signed with Epic Records 1990--signed with Curb Records Awards: 1965--ACM\Top Vocal Duet with Bonnie Owens 1965--ACM\Most Promising New Artist 1966--ACM\Top Vocal Duet with Bonnie Owens 1966--ACM\Top Male Vocalist of the Year 1967--ACM\Top Vocal Duet with Bonnie Owens 1967--Music City News\Male Artist of the Year 1968--Music City News\Male Artist of the Year 1969--NSAI\Songwriter of the Year 1969--ACM\Top Vocal Duet with Bonnie Owens/Johnny Mosby & Jonie 1969--ACM\Top Male Vocalist of the Year 1969--ACM\Album of the Year\Okie From Muskogee 1969--ACM\Single of the Year\Okie From Muskogee 1969--ACM\Song of the Year, Composer\Okie From Muskogee 1969--ACM\Song of the Year, Artist\Okie From Muskogee 1970--CMA\Entertainer of the Year 1970--CMA\Male Vocalist of the Year 1970--CMA\Single of the Year\Okie From Muskogee 1970--CMA\Album of the Year\Okie From Muskogee 1970--ACM\Entertainer of the Year 1970--ACM\Top Male Vocalist of the Year 1970--Music City News\Songwriter of the Year 1972--CMA\Album of the Year\Let Me Tell You About A Song 1972--ACM\Top Male Vocalist of the Year 1974--ACM\Top Male Vocalist of the Year 1981--NSAI\Songwriter of the Year 1981--ACM\Top Male Vocalist of the Year 1982--ACM\Song of the Year, Artist\Are the Good Times Really Over 1982--ACM\Song of the Year, Composer\Are the Good Times Really Over 1983--CMA\Vocal Duo of the Year with Willie Nelson 1984--Grammy\Best Country Vocal Performance, Male\That's The Way Love Goes 1989--Music City News\Living Legend 1994--County Music Hall of Fame induction Catalog Highlights Okie From Muskogee Artists: Merle Haggard (1969) Swinging Doors Artists:Merle Haggard (1966) Sing Me Back Home Artists: Merle Haggard (1968) The Fightin' Side of Me Artists: Merle Haggard (1970) Workin' Man Blues Artists: Merle Haggard (1969) Branded Man Artists: Merle Haggard (1967) I Take a Lot Of Pride In What I Am Artists: Merle Haggard (1969) Mama Tried Artists: Merle Haggard (1968) The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde Artists: Merle Haggard (1968) Today I Started Loving You Again Artists: Sammi Smith (1975) Hungry Eyes Artists: Merle Haggard (1969) Jesus, Take a Hold Artists: Merle Haggard (1970) I Can't Be Myself Artists: Merle Haggard (1970) Someday We'll Look Back Artists: Merle Haggard (1971) Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man) Artists: Merle Haggard (1971) I Wonder If They Ever Think Of Me Artists: Merle Haggard (1973) Comments: Granted a full and unconditional pardon for "past crimes" on March 21, 1972; signed by then Governor Ronald Reagan The Strangers, Haggard's touring band, has been awarded "Touring Band of the year" in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1981, and 1987 by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Has had the following albums go gold: "Okie From Muskogee" (1970), "The Fightin' Side of Me" (1971), "The Best of Merle Haggard" (1972), "The Best of the Best of Merle Haggard" (1974), "Big City" (1981), "Poncho and Lefty" (1982), and "Eleven Winners" (1989) Nominated 43 times for CMA awards, more than any other entertainer Has received 56 BMI citations Has appeared in the following feature films: "Bronco Billy," "Huckleberry Finn," "Killers Three," (featuring the song "Mama Tried") and "Doc Elliot;" has appeared on the television series "The Waltons" and "Centennial"