Haggard coming to Rialto
Merle Haggard wasn't in the delivery room on the morning country music was born; it simply seems like he was.
While no one will refer to him as the father of country music, many will swear he's its godfather.
Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. today for country legend Merle Haggard in concert at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet. The show will be at 8 p.m. June 28.
Although he had made his stage debut at 15, sitting in on a Lefty Frizzell performance, it wasn't until after a stint in San Quentin Prison that Merle joined a band as rhythm/bass guitarist in Bakersfield.
In one brief stretch his life took a major turnaround. He was signed by Tally Records and in 1963 eventually broke into the top 20 of Billboard's country charts with his first national hit, "Sing A Sad Song."
His next few singles -- "(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers," "Swinging Doors" and "The Bottle Let Me Down" -- all landed within the Top 10.
In 1966 he entered the top spot for the first time with "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive," and he won his first Top Male Vocalist of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music.
His band, The Strangers, have become known as one of country music's finest road bands, and they themselves have been the recipients of a number of industry accolades, including being eight-time winners of the Academy of Country Music's Touring Band of the Year Award, as well as, a pair of Music City News awards for Band of the Year.
In 1968, his album "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" expectably soared to No. 1 all the trade charts.
A year later, with an assist from then band member Eddie Burris, he ventured into the arena of social commentary, voicing his feelings in "Okie From Muskogee." Released during the height of national conflict over Vietnam, it was also to be his most controversial.
Haggard signed with Curb Records in 1990. In addition to his vocal performance, he has also spent a great deal of time perfecting his instrumental skills. Over the years he has also developed into a remarkable lead guitarist, as well as a proficient fiddle player, both skills being woven into the fabric of his live performances.
Tickets are priced from $35 to $75 and may be purchased at the Rialto Box office, 102 N. Chicago St., or ordered by calling (815) 726-6600 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or 9 a.m. and noon on Saturdays.
On performance days the box office remains open until the completion of intermission.
Tickets also may be purchased through all Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.rialtosquare.com.