OK Solberg: 00:00

I wanna again welcome you to the 4:05 Coffee Break. Guys, get you a cup of coffee, glass iced tea, bottled water. Let's see what's happening. Spring wheat. $5.29 a bushel going down.

OK Solberg: 00:10

Harvest's here. 550 pound steer calf, $3.98 to $4.10 a pound, dependent on there condition. A butcher hog in Iowa, 55¢ a pound. Remember when we used to have to drive 55? I can drive 55.

OK Solberg: 00:29

A 100 pound fat lamb in Billings at $2.07 a pound. But guys, there's more, much more. Okay, since Tuesday, I've been telling you about Merle Haggard. Yesterday, I told you, he was inspired by Johnny Cash because while Haggard was in prison on 01/01/1959, January 1, k, Just the same year my wife Theo was born.

OK Solberg: 00:57

Johnny Cash did a concert in San Quentin. This greatly inspired Merle. He took inspiration from a fellow inmate also. His name was James Rabbit Kendrick. Rabbit.

OK Solberg: 01:11

And Kendrick told him, you can sing and write songs and play guitar real good. You can be somebody someday. So with inspiration from the man in black and a con that went to the gas chamber named Rabbit, Merle Haggard found his compass and got back on the right road. He was paroled on 11/03/1960. Merle Haggard's first song that was recorded, he wrote himself, and it was titled Singin' My Heart Out, And it came out in 1962.

OK Solberg: 01:52

Got out of prison 1960, didn't waste much time. 1962, only 200 copies were pressed, but he was off and running, he won't be back. Not back like he once was anyway. Sing a sad song was released in 1963 as a single on Tally Records. It was written by Wynn Stewart, and Haggard recorded it after hearing Stewart perform it.

OK Solberg: 02:21

The song became Haggard's first major hit, reaching number 19 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Now Merle's first number one hit was written by himself, and it was titled I'm a Lonesome Fugitive, and it topped the charts in 1967. It later became known simply as The Fugitive. There was no stopping this talented singer songwriter now. He had two more number one hits that year titled Branded Man and Sing Me Back Home.

OK Solberg: 02:59

Then the hits keep kept rolling in. I'll mention only a few of the number one because I can't mention all 38. There was the legend of Bonnie and Clyde, Mama Tried. Guys, that's my favorite. I love that.

OK Solberg: 03:15

I can listen to it endlessly. Then working man blues in 1969 along with Okie from Muskogee. In 1970, he topped the charts with The Fighting Side of Me. And in 1971, his number one hit was Daddy Frank, The Guitar Man. And in 1971, Here Comes Carolyn.

OK Solberg: 03:41

Listen to this. On 03/14/1972, then governor of California, future president Ronald Reagan granted Haggard a full pardon. Haggard considered it the second most significant day of his life, second after the day his father died. Merle was only nine years old when his father passed away. This greatly distressed the young boy, as we can only imagine.

OK Solberg: 04:16

Now, Merle Haggard is a success story. I love his music, and he has some worthy quotes. Listen. I really like this. Pay attention.

OK Solberg: 04:27

Write it down. Remember it. The only thing I miss lately in all music is someone that will put out a melody that you can whistle. Yeah. Where'd that go?

OK Solberg: 04:38

It doesn't seem like there's anything happening like that. Wow. Merle Haggard said a mouthful there. What happened to the melody? Here's another quote of his.

OK Solberg: 04:52

By the time you get close to the answers, it's nearly all over. Think about that one. But my favorite, number one favorite quote from Merle Haggard is he said, faith is the only way you're gonna make it. None of us are smart enough to do it on our own. Amen, Merle.

OK Solberg: 05:17

Amen. Listen to my all time favorite verse that echoes that same sentiment. For without faith, it is impossible to please God. For anyone who would draw near to him must believe that he is and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Hebrews 11-6

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You wanna be rewarded? I do. Okay. Merle, listen to Mama Tried. Despite all my Sunday learning to the bad, I kept a turning.

OK Solberg: 05:53

So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.