In listening to Merle Haggard´s uncanny craftsmanship, one quickly recognizes that this is a consummate troubadour who could have carved his niche as either a songwriter, a musician or a singer, so gifted was he in all those areas. Instead he chose to expand and hone his talents in many dimensions simultaneously, developing his name as the quintessential country artiste, rural America´s Renaissance man, whose caliber will long provide a standard for all country artists who follow.

Although Merle Haggard had made his stage debut at 15, sitting in on a Lefty Frizzell performance, it wasn't until after San Quentin that Merle Haggard joined a band as rhythm/bass guitarist and began to sing in the clubs and the dives of the infamous "beer can hill" area of Bakersfield.

In one brief stretch Merle Haggard's life took a major turnaround. He was signed by Tally Records, owned by close friend Lewis Tally, and began cutting singles in a garage behind Tally´s house. His first single was "Singing My Heart Out," which received some regional airplay on the West Coast, but 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."

Since then the country charts have been Merle Haggard's second home. His next few singles ­­ "(All My Friends Are Gonna Be)Strangers," "Swinging Doors," and "The Bottle Let Me Down" ­­ all landed within the top 10. In 1966 he entered the Number One spot for the first time with "I´m A Lonesome Fugitive," and he won his first Top Male Vocalist of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music.

In ´68, the label released "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde," which, not unexpectedly, soared to Number One on all the trade charts. What was unexpected, however, was the audience reaction to the "B" side. With absolutely no promotion or marketing input from the label, the side entered both the Cash Box and Record World charts and climbed to #23 (Cash Box). That song, "Today I Started Loving You Again," went on to become one of the most important and lucrative songs of Merle Haggard's career.

And, in 1969, with an assist from then band member Eddie Burris, Merle Haggard ventured into the arena of social commentary, voicing his feelings in "Okie From Muskogee," the song that was to have the most dramatic impact on his career. Released during the height of national conflict over Viet Nam, it was also to be Merle Haggard's most controversial. (And, another #1 record for Hag.)

At the end of the 70´s, after over a decade with Capitol Records and of marriage to wive Bonnie, both associations came to an end. In 1977, Merle Haggard signed with MCA Records and continued his long term lease on the #1 position with a string of chart­topping singles, including "Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" and "Rainbow Stew."

In 1981, Merle Haggard signed with Epic Records, adding more #1 plaques to his wall, including "Yesterday´s Wine," the title single from his powerful album duet with country music titan, George Jones. That same year Merle Haggard released another landmark album with another legendary country singer­songwriter (and a longtime friend), Willie Nelson. The title cut from that album, "Poncho and Lefty," was also a #1 record for Merle.

As a singer, Merle Haggard openly admits to "borrowing" the stylings of his idols, Lefty Frizzell, Bob Wills and Jimmie Rodgers, in his early years, and speaks of such beyond­the­genre influences upon his music as Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Still, it´s his own charismatic individuality, along with those rich vocal textures that so well express the heart and soul of Haggard, that has always come shining through.

In addition to Merle Haggard vocal performance, he has also spent a great deal of time perfecting his instrumental skills. Over the years he has also developed into a remarkable lead guitarist, as well as a proficient fiddle player, both skills being woven into the fabric of his live performances.

What Merle Haggard has added to the archives of country music as a songwriter, however, will live on far beyond the prestigious accomplishments of the flesh­and­bones performer.

Ultimately Merle Haggard has had scores of charted singles (mostly his own compositions), and his list of credits continue to grow:

• To date Merle Haggard has written hundreds of songs, including the classics "Sing Me Back Home," "Okie From Muskogee," and "Silver Wings," among others.
• Over 40 of Merle Haggard's singles have attained the Number One position in the major trade magazines.
• The former "B" side, "Today I Started Loving You Again," has been recorded by over 400 artists to date.
• 56 of Merle Haggard's songs have received awards from BMI (47 country, 9 pop)
• Three of Merle Haggard's songs have logged over a million plays ("Today I Started Loving You Again," "Okie From Muskogee," and "Big City").
• Merle Haggard has released over 65 albums, most of which have been charted in the major trades.
• Four of Merle Haggard's albums have been certified gold.
• Merle Haggard has been nominated 42 times for CMA awards, more than any other male country entertainer.
• Merle Haggard's honors from the major country music industry associations and trade publications include:
  • 18 awards from ACM, including Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year.
  • Six from the CMA, including Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year.
  • Eight from Cash Box; four from Record World; and five from Music City News.
• Merle Haggard received Best Country Video in 1983 from the American Video Awards ("Are The Good Times Really Over").
• Merle Haggard landed a Grammy Award in 1984 for Best Male Country Vocal Performance ("That´s The Way Love Goes").
• Merle Haggard was the first country artist to ever appear on the cover of Downbeat, one of the nation´s most influential Jazz publications.
• Merle Haggard's music was part of the Apollo 16 mission to the moon, via a custom recording, specially requested by the crew.