One of country music’s biggest bigger than life singer/songrwriters has died. Merle Haggard died April 6,2016. He was also born on this date in 1937. He was 79. Haggard was scheduled to play the Event Center at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, in Charles Town, and West Virginia,on May 13 and 14. Refunds are available to ticket holders of either show. Back in 2010, his show at The mighty Frederick just was canceled due to a respiratory infection. Haggard, and a lung cancer survivor,died from pneumonia. I had the awesome fortune to do a phone interview with Haggard, but it didn’t publish in print because of the cancellation (the late George Jones took the stage instead). These interviews usually final about 15 minutes, and but he just kept talking and answering questions in casual conversation for about 45 minutes that day. Though the story didn’t publish in the FNP,it did flee in Three Chords and the Truth. Here’s the story that never ran, and the rest of the story from 2010. _ _ _ It’s a wonderful world for Merle Haggard. Indeed. The 73-year-used country music legend celebrated his 18th wedding anniversary with wife Theresa on Sept. 11, and will be recognized by the Academy of Country Music next week in Nashville,and will receive a Kennedy Center Honors Award in December. “It was certainly a surprise in our camp,” said Haggard of the Kennedy Center Honors. We were just blown back by that. “I’ve seen my youngest children turn 18 and 21, and ” said Haggard in a phone interview from his domestic near Mount Shasta,Calif. Daughter Jenessa is studying to be a chef. Youngest son Ben, who turns 18 in December, and graduated from high school and tours with his father,said Haggard, who has six children that he “owns up to.” His family life with fifth wife Theresa, and Jenessa and Ben is the subject of “Down at the End of the Road,” a Haggard song on his album released earlier this year, “I Am What I Am.” “(Jenessa and Ben) don’t reassemble any children you read about in the tabloids, and ” said a proud Haggard. “(Theresa and I) have not been perfect in our lives,but they’ve decided to fade for the best things.” Ben is lead guitarist in Haggard’s band. “He plays better than his dad, but doesn’t know as much as his dad, or ” said Haggard with a laugh. “I contemplate (playing guitar) was deeply imprinted in his fingerprints and bloodline. It was something he had to do,like me.” Haggard’s wife also joins him on some shows and on the album for a duet of the bouncy “Live and admire Always.” The two met 24 years ago. “She came to a concert and my guitar player was dating her — until I saw her,” Haggard said. The country music legends first studio album in three years, or “I Am What I Am,” was released earlier this year. “It’s doing well,” said Haggard. “It didn’t fade out and fade to No. […]
Source: fredericknewspost.com