Merle Haggard is one of the most famous Country Artists of all time.  He is most well known for his "twangy" electric guitar and most opinionated country tunes (e.g You're Walking on the Fighting Side of Me).  He was born and raised in Bakersfield, California.  Growing up, Haggard was a rebellious boy and frequently ran away from home.  His mother and father tried hard to raise him right but things just became worse.  Haggard's father died when he was 9 years old and this had a huge impact on Haggard's life.   Things went downhill quickly for Merle Haggard.  He ran away to Texas with some drinking friends he knew.  Shortly after, he was arrested in Texas and sent back to Bakersfield and put in a detention center.  He rebelled against this and escaped from the detention center and ran away to Modesto where he preformed at a bar.  People were impressed with his singing skills but he was again found and put back into detention but this time with high security.  Haggard was released and able to freely visit his parents again.  However, just months after getting released, Haggard was accused of beating up a man in a burglary attempt.  He was then put in prison for a short while and released again.   He went to see Lefty Frizzell who was one of Haggard's musical heroes.  Shortly after he robbed a few banks and was put back in prison.  He was offered a chance to escape by some cell mates but he refused.  He was pardoned in 1972 by Ronald Regan and was set free.  Here he began performing some of his most famous songs.  These include Swinging Doors, Mamma Tried, The Legend of Bonnie And Clyde and Okie from Muskogee.  Ever since then he has preformed songs at the top of the chart.  Even today he is performing throughout the United Sates.  In 2007, Merle Haggard sang a new song he wrote called "It's time to put a lady in charge" as his personal preference as hopes of helping Hillary Clinton become president.

For a complete Merle Haggard song list, please see Hag's Songs on the left.