Jan. 1—He is one among Bakersfield’s favourite sons, his voice and songwriting skills lifting him to the standing of legend, not solely in the annals of nation music, however as one of many best singer-songwriters in the historical past of American in style music.
But Bakersfield is not the one metropolis that has a heartfelt connection to Haggard, who earlier than his demise in 2016 earned the title, “poet of the common man.”
Muskogee, a metropolis in japanese Oklahoma with a inhabitants of about 40,000, has a novel relationship with the late recording artist. After all, Haggard helped put Muskogee on the map with his 1969 hit, “Okie From Muskogee.”
For years, organizers in Muskogee have been elevating cash by means of non-public donations to honor Haggard with a bronze sculpture to be erected close to the middle of city.
However, these plans had been practically deserted final November, Derek Gibson, a key organizer of the hassle advised the native newspaper, the Muskogee Phoenix. He confirmed it final week in a dialog with The Californian.
“We just couldn’t agree on some of the demands that the (Haggard) estate put on the project,” stated Gibson, previous president of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
“We felt they were asking too much,” Gibson advised the Phoenix. “They wanted to control too much of the project, and we couldn’t deal with it.”
Gibson went as far as to inform the Muskogee City Council that the long-awaited undertaking was useless.
But final week, Gibson confirmed that the undertaking is again on monitor after being reassured that they had been on stable floor.
“My committee should be meeting after the first of the year to start moving forward,” he advised The Californian. “I can tell you that we are back on and our plan is to honor Merle with a statue in Muskogee.”
They have already raised a major sum of money, and hope to start receiving bids from artists in the not-too-distant future.
“We are going to be open to artist interpretations,” Gibson stated. “We want a place where folks can sit down next to Merle for a photo opportunity and see Old Glory in the background.
“We’ve considered a stool like on the album cowl when ‘Okie From Muskogee’ got here out, with one other stool open subsequent to him. I personally like that concept, however we’re beginning recent and need to see what different artists will come up with.
“We’re excited about the project,” he stated.
Despite the notion that the Haggard property had severe points with the undertaking, Haggard’s spouse of twenty-two years, Theresa Haggard, stated honoring Merle in Muskogee is the best factor to do.
Reached whereas touring, Theresa Haggard stated in a textual content that “there is no problem between Muskogee and the Haggards.”
She was glad to know, she stated, that organizers in Muskogee are again on monitor.
“It’s important for America and Muskogee,” Haggard stated of plans to honor her late husband.
She did say members of the family would love to have a say in approving the design as a result of they need the likeness to be a trustworthy and correct illustration of her late husband.
“Not too much to ask,” she stated.
When this reporter shared an early digital idea of what the sculpture would possibly appear like, Mrs. Haggard stated she did not assume it was a detailed sufficient likeness.
“I think they will get it. I have faith in the project,” she advised this reporter.
“It’s a good thing they are doing,” she stated. “I’m sure they will get it right and Merle will shine like he always did.”
Reporter Steven Mayer could be reached at 661-395-7353. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter: @semayerTBC
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