Happy Birthday, Merle Haggard
Tuesday (April 6) is Merle Haggard's 73rd birthday. And while he celebrates the milestone, those of us who love country music should celebrate his life and the incredible body of songs, recordings and live performances the guy has provided through the years. One of the dictionary definitions of the word "artist" is "a professional person in any of the performing arts." That description applies to just about anybody who has a record deal, but I prefer to think of a true artist in terms of another definition: "a person who does anything very well, with imagination and a feeling for form, effect, etc." It's that imagination and feeling for form and effect that separates Haggard from the vast majority of people who write songs, sing and play music. That's not a slam on contemporary talent. In any generation, there's usually only a handful of musicians who create the kind of true art that will be admired and discussed for generations to come. Haggard is one of those musicians, and we're lucky to be living in a time when he's still thriving. His new album, I Am What I Am, will be released on April 20, and I can't wait to hear it. But Haggard didn't become the artist he is by living in a vacuum. To get a sense of the music that inspired him, check out the music video for his version of Lefty Frizzell's "If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time" from his 2001 album, Roots, Vol. 1.
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countryiscool says:
My birthday was yesterday, but I still have a few years left before I hit ole Hag’s #’s. lol Hope he had a happy one!
Redmaz says:
Happy Birthday to The Hag. He is one of the main reasons I love Country Music.
Willie Gonterman says:
Happy 73rd Merle.Loved your music since 1964. I’ll be 71 April 13th
countryiscool says:
Good one Punked, C’mon Red, don’t disappoint us with your lack of response.
countryiscool says:
Hey, what happened to Punked’s comment? He was just calling Red out on his insistence of specifying what “country” label to use; Pop Country, Americana, Red Dirt, etc.
Redmaz says:
Sorry I missed it. I would gladly take on a challenge from a punk. Or a Mainstreamer. Basically the same thing. I can’t believe people go through life without learning basic fundamentals in music or any subject for that matter, but bring it on. I hope the punk comes back.
countryiscool says:
Red, don’t know that Punked will reply, but he was wondering why you didn’t specify what kind of “country” music you liked since you insist on labeling all of them like I said in previous post. (part of your education on basic music fundamentals). I was kind of surprised myself. You kept it to a generic country music.
Redmaz says:
So now you want me to go back 40+ years and tell you about the first time I heard Merle Haggard, and why I love Country Music because of him? A whole different era of music? Merle had Pop Country success well into the 80’s, but I first learned of an alternative to Pop music in the 70’s while Haggard dominated the Pop awards. Like I said, a completely different era of music. Since when is my history of music so important? This blog is about Haggard not me. Let me ask you this, if Haggard was in his late 20’s today and first coming out with songs like Mama Tried, The Bottle Let Me Down, The Fugitive, Fightin’ Side, Sing me Back Home etc., what genre of Country music do you think he would be recognized in? Pop or Roots? Times change….keep up or get left behind.
countryiscool says:
So, what KIND of country IS Haggard? That’s what I want to know. Obviously he is not pop/mainstream. Is he considered Roots then, even if he did have commercial pop success as you said? I am not picking on you, just asking. Thanks!