One Of Countrys Greatest EVER Stormed Onto The Scene When He Was Young And Dashingly HandsomeWhat He Looks Like Now, WOW Merle Haggard is considered one of the greatest country stars of all time. He has been in the industry for a long time (since the 50s), but released his first studio album in 1965 when he was 30. In his earlier years Haggard dealt with arrests and financial troubles. When Tally Records finally signed him he started to make a name for himself. His first hit did not come until he was at a Wynn Stewart concert in Las Vegas. There he heard the song Sing a Sad Song. Haggard was hooked and knew exactly what he had to do. Haggard asked permission to record the song. After that its all history. The song was a national hit in 1964 and then the next year his first album made the top ten. The album title was (My Friends Are Gonna Be) Stangers. Haggard did not write the album; Liz Anderson wrote it. Haggards career then took off. He would go on to record numerous top ten studio albums and enjoy national tours. Haggard quickly became known for his unique style and amazing guitar skills. Haggard is one of my favorite artists of all time; there is no doubt about that. Recently Haggard has been struggling with illness. He is 78 years old but is still touring. He has had to cancel multiple shows this year due to his recovery from pneumonia. It is a very long recovery that leaves young people bed ridden. Haggard is so old school that he continues to try to perform. He hobbles onto the stage and then uses the mic to stay up. He does not sound the way he should but his commitment to not letting fans down is touching. I would love to see Haggard perform even in old age. He is a great and maybe one of the best. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1993 and should receive a lifetime achievement award. Are you a fan of Merle? 