Between 1969 and 1987 the Strangers were voted Band of the Year by the Academy of Country Music eight times--more than any other group in history.
The country star made the Guinness Book of World Records after buying 5,095 drinks of Canadian Club for an entire club. The bill was $12,737.50.
Movin' On (1974-76) starred Claude Akins as old-time independent "big-rig" truck driver Sonny Pruitt, and Frank Converse as his college-educated co-driver Will Chandler. The theme song was a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in July 1975.
"Branded Man" is about an ex-convict's fear of not being accepted by the outside world after being paroled.
Haggard's first record for Tally was "Singing My Heart Out" backed by "Skid Row". It was not a success, and only 200 copies were pressed.
When political opponents attacked the Dixie Chicks for criticizing President George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq, Haggard spoke up for the band, saying: "I don't even know the Dixie Chicks, but I find it an insult for all the men and women who fought and died in past wars when almost the majority of America jumped down their throats for voicing an opinion. It was like a verbal witch-hunt and lynching."
At the end of a packed two-day recording session at Britannia Studios in Los Angeles, Haggard went to the bus to check on the driver who had been minding the bus, and asked him how he was doing. The driver responded, "I hate this place. I'm tired of this dirty old city." Haggard immediately saw inspiration, and began writing the song.
Haggard was married five times: Leona Hobbs (1956-64), Bonnie Owens (1965-78), Leona Williams (1978-83), Debbie Paret (1985-91), Theresa Ann Lane (1993-2016).
In 1962, Haggard performed at a Wynn Stewart show in Las Vegas and heard Wynn's "Sing a Sad Song." He asked for permission to record it, and the resulting single became a national hit in 1964.
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