The Beginning of Merle Haggard’s Struggles…
Haggard’s family experienced a great depression in 1934, and this was because their family’s barn was burned. With this, they have lost a tremendous amount of money wherein they needed to start all over again. They moved to California for a better living.
Then, Merle Ronald Haggard was born on April 6, 1937. At this time, their lives have changed. Haggard was a lucky charm to his family. This is where his father began having a good job. They have had enough hardships, but they managed to regain a good life once again when his father worked hard.
But as he was growing up, he has seen the evil side of the world.
Haggard has experienced a devastating event wherein his father died due to a brain hemorrhage. Furthermore, it profoundly affected Haggard during his childhood. His mother needs to work as a bookkeeper to back them up. Herewith, his mother lacked time and support for her children. With this, it changed Haggard emotionally and physically.
While in the state of loneliness, Merle Haggard learned guitar as his escape goat. He learned to play by himself through the help of his record collections of Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams.