Introduction:
When it comes to country music, few names carry the weight of Merle Haggard. To many, he was one of the genre’s most gifted songwriters, a soulful singer, and a commanding bandleader. Yet, to those who truly knew him, Haggard was also an insatiably curious historian of music — a man who never stopped asking, “Where did that come from? How did that happen?” His passion for digging into the roots of a song, a style, or a performer wasn’t just a passing interest; it was the lifeblood of his artistry.
Barry Mazor, a longtime music journalist and friend of Haggard, recalls that their connection was instant. Both were fascinated by the lineage of American music, from Jimmie Rodgers to Bob Wills, and even more obscure figures like Milton Brown. Haggard didn’t simply admire these artists — he studied them. He wanted to know how the Bob Wills band arranged a song, why a certain rhythm worked, and how to carry that spirit forward without imitating it note-for-note. “Getting it right” for Haggard wasn’t about academic precision; it was about capturing the feel, the tempo, and the attitude.
This commitment to authenticity extended well beyond country music. In 2004, Haggard released Unforgettable, a collection of jazz standards, honoring one of his idols, Nat King Cole. He admired Cole not just as a singer, but as a pianist who understood the beat, much like Bing Crosby, whose early work as a jazz singer fascinated Haggard. For him, rhythm was king, and any artist who mastered it — regardless of genre — earned his respect.
Haggard’s wide-ranging taste was shaped as much by Bakersfield saloons as by the Baptist hymns of his upbringing. He knew gospel songs by heart, but his formative stage was a world of barrooms, dance halls, and the working-class grit that would define much of his songwriting. That blend of influences helped make him a unique voice — one that Nashville could never fully contain.
There was also a personal, poetic side to Haggard that emerged unexpectedly in conversation. In one memorable exchange, he told Mazor about a dream in which he had died and been greeted in heaven by his father. Together, they hurried to catch a show where Haggard was set to open for Jimmie Rodgers and Lefty Frizzell — a surreal, deeply revealing vision of the heroes who shaped his life.
Haggard’s career was dotted with honors, from his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame to his influence on generations of musicians. Yet perhaps his greatest legacy lies in his refusal to be boxed in. He embraced tradition but was never confined by it, exploring jazz, swing, gospel, and folk with the same intensity he brought to his country roots.
If you had to choose a single figure who embodied the full spectrum of American music — a songwriter, singer, bandleader, and historian — Mazor argues it would be Merle Haggard. He wasn’t just preserving the past; he was breathing new life into it, one song at a time.