Merle Haggard – Wishing All The Old Things Were New

With the exception of maybe Hank Williams or George Jones, few singers have influenced more young stars than Merle Haggard. His outlaw attitude and Bakersfield sound paved the way for generations of country singers that didn’t quite fit the typical Nashville mold. Haggard has a reputation for doing things his way and leaving the conservative rules in the dust. It can easily be said that the current hot bead of hat-acts in country music today got their start listening to Haggard’s music. Though he wasn't in the delivery room on the morning country music was born, it sure seems like he was. He may never be referred to as the father of country music, he many swear he's at least the godfather.

Haggard walks in no man's shadow, and his life has been one of many challenges, both good and bad. Haggard's life path has never been easy, nor has much of it been pretty. He spelled it out in his 1981 book, “Sing Me Back Home,” as he told of a childhood spent in Bakersfield, California. The death of his father when he was just nine years old led to years as a troubled youth. However it was during this time that his love for the music of artists like Jimmie Rodgers started an interest in railroads and hobo jungles. It also led to numerous brushes with the law.

Haggard was a rough kid, one who learned to walk the mean streets with the homeless and the criminals. As a teenager he took on every unskilled job that would have him, from oil field roustabout to short order cook. He also saw the insides of various penal institutions for crimes ranging from burglary to auto theft and even to escape. Before he had reached the age of 21, and not long after having married his first wife, Leona, he was serving time in the notorious San Quentin Penitentiary, thanks to a bungled attempt at burglarizing a tavern. The three-year sentence within those gray walls became the experience that totally changed his view of life.

After witnessing a Johnny Cash concert at San Quentin, Haggard became interested in pursuing a career in the music business. He spent some time in solitary confinement for making home brew and quickly assumed the role of model prisoner, which earned him a parole in 1960. After his years in prison, he did his best to earn a meager living at any odd job he could find. Although he had made his stage debut at 16, sitting in on a Lefty Frizzell performance, it wasn't until after San Quentin that Haggard joined a band as a bass guitarist and began to sing in the clubs around Bakersfield.

Soon his life took a major turnaround when Tally Records, a label owned by close friend Lewis Tally, signed him. His first single, “Singing My Heart Out,” received some airplay on the West coast. It was in 1963 that he eventually broke into the Top 20 of Billboard's country charts with his first national hit, “Sing a Sad Song.” Haggard's next few singles “Strangers,”

“Swinging Doors” and “The Bottle Let Me Down” all hit the top of the charts. Merle had divorced Leona and now married Bonnie Owens, ex-wife of friend Buck Owens. He finally hit the No. 1 spot for the first time with “I'm a Lonesome Fugitive.” The year was 1966 and Haggard was voted top male vocalist of the year by the Academy of Country Music.

His winning streak of hit songs would continued and in 1969 he wrote “Okie From Muskogee,” the song that was to have the most impact on his career. Released during the height of the Vietnam War, it would also be his most controversial hit. He followed “Okie” with “Fightin’ Side of Me,” another patriotic song that left little doubt of his political views. Since the late ‘60s, he has put 50 songs in the No. 1 position on the country and pop charts. He has released over 65 albums and was named the CMA's entertainer of the year in 1970. In 1994, Merle Haggard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

As with many of the country music pioneers, Haggard found it harder and harder to get his music played on today’s radio stations. The very same stars that were inspired by Haggard were now the reason that there was no room for his music in the play list. Unfazed by this turn of events, the Hag simply retreated to his home near Lake Shasta in northern California. He toured as often as he wanted and released an album every other year or so.

In 2000, Haggard continued his rebel musical ways by signing with Anti Records, a California-based independent label known for its punk and rock acts. His first album for the label, “If I Could Only Fly,” was recently released to mass critical acclaim. He used the first single from the album, “Wishing All The Old Things Were New,” to explain his views on the way his life has turned out. As he explained in a press release at the time, “It's a one-album deal," he said. “The songs on the album were very personal. After we finished the album, we met to discuss how to promote and market it. I liked the way they do business. If this one does well, I’ll do another one.” With this deal, Haggard joins veteran country-music artists Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, who have often used small, independent labels to produce special projects. The one album deal did so well, Merle signed on for another one, hoping to enjoy the same success.

His studio at his home in California has been the breeding ground for three brand new albums. Haggard's upcoming Anti Records release is titled “Roots, Volume 1,” and continues his pattern of keeping Nashville's Music Row at bay and recording without regard to commercial appeal. The new CD comes out on November 5 and contains many of Merle’s favorite songs. He was heavily influenced by Lefty Frizzell and finally recorded “Always Late” and “If You’ve Got The Money,” both hits for Lefty.

The remainder of the CD contains other country classics like “Take These Chains From My Heart,” “Honky Tonkin’” and “Wild Side Of Life.” Haggard also formed his own label, appropriately called “Hag Records” and has just released two gospel albums, “Cabin In The Hills” and “Two Old Friends.” Joined by friend Al Brumley Jr., Merle recorded over 20 of his favorite gospel and inspirational songs and divided them between the two albums. On “Cabin,” he includes such standards as “Life’s Railway To Heaven,” “Farther Along” and “Love Lifted Me.”

For those that may not remember, Brimley’s dad wrote “I’ll Fly Away,” one of the most popular gospel songs ever written. Albert Jr. joins him on the “Two Old Friends” album. Together they do eleven inspirational tunes, including “I’ll Fly Away,” “Everybody Knows” and “Marching Over Jordan.” Haggard proves that even writing gospel tunes, he’s lost none of his incredible ability to pen a great song. His new wife Theresa joins him on background vocals, as does ex-wife Bonnie Owens. Friend Porter Wagoner makes a guest appearance on the “Cabin In The Hills” album. He used his road band, “The Strangers,” as musicians on both CD’s. Legends like Merle Haggard are touring less each year so make plans to catch him in concert when he comes to Texas.