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| April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016 |
Looks like we'll have to line up a tribute to yet another legend, as country music's Merle Haggard died today- his 79th birthday- at his home in Redding, California. This comes on the heels of his upcoming shows being cancelled last week because of illness.
Often called “the Poet of the Common Man,” Haggard's music reflected his humble roots and balls-out way of life.
Haggard made his first recordings for the Tally label before moving to Capitol Records, and his career produced 38 chart-topping records along- including "Okie From Muskogee,” “If We Make It Through December,” “Hungry Eyes,” and “Working Man Blues.”
Haggard and his band the Strangers also scored with several film and TV hits over the years, including the series “Movin’ On,” “Barroom Buddies” and “Misery and Gin” from Clint Eastwood’s Bronco Billy," and his “Mama Tried” was featured in “Killers Three,” in which Haggard also co-starred.
Haggard was born in Oildale, CA and spent time in San Quentin Prison, despite showing great promise as a performer. He recalled in an interview that seeing Johnny Cash onstage there in 1958 was a particular inspiration, and the two men later became close friends and mutual fans.
Haggard’s first single was “Skid Row” and he found his first chart success with a cover of Wynn Stewart’s “Sing a Sad Song” in 1964. His first top-10, “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers,” followed the next year and his first No. 1 song, “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive,” came in 1966.
Haggard recalled in a 1999 interview with Variety that, when Capitol Records came calling, they asked him"‘Don’t you think it’s time you let us help you?’"
“They were also disappointed in everything but the Beatles. There was nothing in the world selling except Beatle music. Every country act in the entire fucking world had just got fired. And it just so happened that during that really strange Beatlemania I got a goddamn hit.”
Haggard is survived by his wife Theresa Ann Lane; their children Jenessa and Ben Haggard, the latter of whom served as lead guitarist in the Strangers for several years; and his children from previous marriages, Marty, Noel, Dana and Kelli. Married five times, his second and third wives were stage and recording partners Bonnie Owens and Leona Williams.
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| I'm not sure that's not Michael. |
Janet Jackson has announced that she is cancelling the European dates on her Unbreakable world tour.
"We're in the second leg of the tour and there actually has been a sudden change. I thought it was important that you be the first to know," Jackson said on Twitter today. She added that she her husband "are planning our family. I'm gonna have to delay the tour. Please if you can try and understand that it's important that I do this now. I have to rest up, doctor's orders." Jackson did not say that she was pregnant, however.
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Steven Tyler tells Rolling Stone that Aerosmith may call their live show quits next year after four decades.
Tyler told the magazine “I’m doing 30 [solo] shows from May until August. And then in 2017 we go out with Aerosmith. We’re probably doing a farewell tour.”
There was no confirmation from other members of the band.
He did provide some hope for fans, though, saying "look, there’s two bands that still have the original members, us and the Stones. Whether we do a farewell tour or go into the studio and do another record, I’m just excited about it.”
Birthdays today include: Frank Black of Pixies; Stan Cullimore of Housemartins; Ralph Cooper of Air Supply; Tony Connor of Hot Chocolate; and Christopher Franke of Tangerine Dream. #MusicalBirthdays
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