THE FIRST SONG THAT PUT MERLE HAGGARD ON THE COUNTRY CHART WASN’T EVEN HIS—AND THE MAN WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE IS A LEGEND TOO MANY PEOPLE FORGOT. Long before Merle Haggard became the voice of America’s working class, he was simply a young ex-con trying to rebuild his life through music. While searching for a second chance, he found one in California country pioneer Wynn Stewart, whose bold Bakersfield sound was already changing country music forever. Stewart first gave Merle a place in his band, then handed him the song that would quietly change everything—“Sing a Sad Song.” Released in 1963 after Merle signed with Capitol Records, it didn’t become a massive hit, but it earned him his very first appearance on the country chart and opened the door to a career that would later produce timeless classics like “Mama Tried” and “Okie from Muskogee.” Before the awards, the fame, and the legend, one forgotten California singer believed in Merle Haggard when almost no one else did.
Introduction: Before the world knew him as one of country music’s greatest storytellers, Merle Haggard was simply a young man…