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bakersfield sound

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American Songwriter Sep 12

Merle Haggard’s Bus Driver Helped Him Write This No. 1 Single From 1982

Merle Haggard Willie Nelson

American Songwriter Sep 12

23 Years Ago Today, We Lost the Country Icon Who Rose to Fame Alongside Elvis Presley, Inspired Merle Haggard, and Became One of the Genre’s Greatest Ambassadors

Elvis Presley Merle Haggard Johnny Cash Sam Phillips Kris Kristofferson June Carter Cash

American Songwriter Aug 19

Born 82 Years Ago in Louisiana, the 80s Country Hitmaker Whose Songs Have Been Recorded by Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, and the Oak Ridge Boys

Waylon Jennings Merle Haggard The Oak Ridge Boys Connie Smith Tanya Tucker Jimmy C. Newman Roy Acuff

American Songwriter Aug 16

On This Day in 1969, Merle Haggard Hit No. 1 With a Tribute to the Blue-Collar People Who Helped Make Him a Star

American Songwriter Aug 15

Born 85 Years Ago Today in Washington’s Capital City, the Bakersfield Sound Pioneer Who Became Buck Owens’ Right-Hand Man

Buck Owens Don Rich Elvis Presley Merle Haggard George Strait

American Songwriter Aug 13

13 Years Ago Today, We Said Goodbye to the Songwriter Best Known for His Work With Buck Owens and Merle Haggard

Buck Owens Merle Haggard Gene Price Aretha Franklin

American Songwriter Aug 3

Vince Gill Honors a Country Legend With a Ryman Performance of His Favorite Buck Owens Song

Buck Owens Vince Gill Merle Haggard Paul Franklin Emmylou Harris George Jones

2 articles Aug 2

Merle Haggard Vince Gill Buck Owens Emmylou Harris Amy Grant Coldplay George Jones Conway Twitty

American Songwriter

Saving Country Music Aug 2

Merle Haggard Helped Get Brooks and Dunn Back Together

Brooks & Dunn Merle Haggard Kix Brooks Reba McEntire Ronnie Dunn Garth Brooks Travis Tritt

American Songwriter Aug 1

On This Day in 1966, Merle Haggard Recorded His First No. 1 Hit—Written by Another Country Star’s Parents

Merle Haggard Lynn Anderson Faron Young

American Songwriter Jul 26

On This Day in 1980, Merle Haggard “Dragged” a Hollywood Icon to the Top of the Country Chart With a Song That Almost Went to George Jones

Merle Haggard George Jones Clint Eastwood

American Songwriter Jul 25

23 Years Ago Today, Merle Haggard Called Out the “Verbal Witch-Hunt” Rocking Country Music

Merle Haggard The Chicks Natalie Maines Toby Keith Bruce Springsteen

American Songwriter Jul 25

Merle Haggard Said This 1971 Deep Cut Was the Most Cathartic To Write, Despite It Being Unpopular

American Songwriter Jul 24

On This Day in 1983, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard Were at No. 1 With a Song Haggard Doesn’t Remember Recording

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Emmylou Harris Townes Van Zandt

American Songwriter Jul 20

Born in the Lone Star State 109 Years Ago, the Songwriter Behind Timeless Hits From Merle Haggard, Bob Wills, and Bing Crosby

Merle Haggard Bob Wills Bing Crosby Ernest Tubb Ray Charles Jim Reeves Roy Orbison Hank Snow Mickey Gilley

American Songwriter Jul 19

On This Day in 1975, Country Music Lost the Singer Who Inspired Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and “Perhaps the Biggest Supergroup of All Time”

Merle Haggard Willie Nelson George Jones Lefty Frizzell Roy Orbison George Strait Randy Travis Dwight Yoakam Keith Whitley

American Songwriter Jul 18

44 Years Ago Today, Willie Nelson Hit No. 1 With an Album Named After a Massive Hit Merle Haggard Turned Down

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Paul Simon

American Songwriter Jul 18

On the Charts 60 Years Ago Today, Buck Owens Was in the Middle of Yet Another Run at No. 1 With This Don Rich-Penned Hit

Buck Owens Don Rich Eddy Arnold Bill Anderson

American Songwriter Jul 17

52 Years Ago Today, Buck Owens Lost His Best Friend and Right-Hand Man: “The Real Lightning and Thunder Is Gone Forever”

Buck Owens Don Rich Elvis Presley

American Songwriter Jul 13

Born 72 Years Ago Today in the Lone Star State, the Hitmaking Sister of a Country Legend and ‘Hee Haw’ Honey Who Recorded With Merle Haggard

American Songwriter Sep 12

Merle Haggard’s Bus Driver Helped Him Write This No. 1 Single From 1982

Merle Haggard Willie Nelson

American Songwriter Aug 19

Born 82 Years Ago in Louisiana, the 80s Country Hitmaker Whose Songs Have Been Recorded by Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, and the Oak Ridge Boys

Waylon Jennings Merle Haggard The Oak Ridge Boys Connie Smith Tanya Tucker Jimmy C. Newman Roy Acuff

American Songwriter Aug 15

Born 85 Years Ago Today in Washington’s Capital City, the Bakersfield Sound Pioneer Who Became Buck Owens’ Right-Hand Man

Buck Owens Don Rich Elvis Presley Merle Haggard George Strait

American Songwriter Aug 3

Vince Gill Honors a Country Legend With a Ryman Performance of His Favorite Buck Owens Song

Buck Owens Vince Gill Merle Haggard Paul Franklin Emmylou Harris George Jones

Saving Country Music Aug 2

Merle Haggard Helped Get Brooks and Dunn Back Together

Brooks & Dunn Merle Haggard Kix Brooks Reba McEntire Ronnie Dunn Garth Brooks Travis Tritt

American Songwriter Jul 26

On This Day in 1980, Merle Haggard “Dragged” a Hollywood Icon to the Top of the Country Chart With a Song That Almost Went to George Jones

Merle Haggard George Jones Clint Eastwood

American Songwriter Jul 25

Merle Haggard Said This 1971 Deep Cut Was the Most Cathartic To Write, Despite It Being Unpopular

American Songwriter Jul 20

Born in the Lone Star State 109 Years Ago, the Songwriter Behind Timeless Hits From Merle Haggard, Bob Wills, and Bing Crosby

Merle Haggard Bob Wills Bing Crosby Ernest Tubb Ray Charles Jim Reeves Roy Orbison Hank Snow Mickey Gilley

American Songwriter Jul 18

44 Years Ago Today, Willie Nelson Hit No. 1 With an Album Named After a Massive Hit Merle Haggard Turned Down

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Paul Simon

American Songwriter Jul 17

52 Years Ago Today, Buck Owens Lost His Best Friend and Right-Hand Man: “The Real Lightning and Thunder Is Gone Forever”

Buck Owens Don Rich Elvis Presley

American Songwriter Sep 12

23 Years Ago Today, We Lost the Country Icon Who Rose to Fame Alongside Elvis Presley, Inspired Merle Haggard, and Became One of the Genre’s Greatest Ambassadors

Elvis Presley Merle Haggard Johnny Cash Sam Phillips Kris Kristofferson June Carter Cash

American Songwriter Aug 16

On This Day in 1969, Merle Haggard Hit No. 1 With a Tribute to the Blue-Collar People Who Helped Make Him a Star

American Songwriter Aug 13

13 Years Ago Today, We Said Goodbye to the Songwriter Best Known for His Work With Buck Owens and Merle Haggard

Buck Owens Merle Haggard Gene Price Aretha Franklin

2 articles Aug 2

Merle Haggard Vince Gill Buck Owens Emmylou Harris Amy Grant Coldplay George Jones Conway Twitty

American Songwriter

American Songwriter Aug 1

On This Day in 1966, Merle Haggard Recorded His First No. 1 Hit—Written by Another Country Star’s Parents

Merle Haggard Lynn Anderson Faron Young

American Songwriter Jul 25

23 Years Ago Today, Merle Haggard Called Out the “Verbal Witch-Hunt” Rocking Country Music

Merle Haggard The Chicks Natalie Maines Toby Keith Bruce Springsteen

American Songwriter Jul 24

On This Day in 1983, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard Were at No. 1 With a Song Haggard Doesn’t Remember Recording

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Emmylou Harris Townes Van Zandt

American Songwriter Jul 19

On This Day in 1975, Country Music Lost the Singer Who Inspired Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and “Perhaps the Biggest Supergroup of All Time”

Merle Haggard Willie Nelson George Jones Lefty Frizzell Roy Orbison George Strait Randy Travis Dwight Yoakam Keith Whitley

American Songwriter Jul 18

On the Charts 60 Years Ago Today, Buck Owens Was in the Middle of Yet Another Run at No. 1 With This Don Rich-Penned Hit

Buck Owens Don Rich Eddy Arnold Bill Anderson

American Songwriter Jul 13

Born 72 Years Ago Today in the Lone Star State, the Hitmaking Sister of a Country Legend and ‘Hee Haw’ Honey Who Recorded With Merle Haggard

Overview

Recent music news highlights milestones and tributes related to the Bakersfield Sound, focusing on Merle Haggard's enduring legacy, including the 56th anniversary of his influential live album and the birth anniversaries of key figures like Buck Owens and pioneering guitarist Roy Nichols. Artists such as Jesse Daniel, Keith Urban, and Rhett Akins continue to draw inspiration from Haggard’s work, while performances and retrospectives honor his impact on country music.

Seen in 36 outlets, tracked since March 2022

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