#TBT: Merle Haggard, and how his biggest fans came from Grand Bank

Merle Haggard, the outlawcountry legend,passed away Wednesday, which happened to behis79thbirthday.

His musicexploredordinary people andworking-class struggles, and he was known forhits such asOkie FromMuskogee,Mama TriedandWorkin' Man Blues.

Grand Bank may be a long way from Muskogee, but in 1988, theCBC'sDeborah Collins found out there wereso manyHaggard fans in the community, it had beencalled "MerleHaggardcountry".

For Haggard's concert in St. John's that year,nothingwas going to stop one group ofGrand Bank fans from seeing theirfavourite country singer in concert.

As a tribute, follow the fans and have a listen to therough and tumblesinger-songwriter who was dubbed "the Poet of the Common Man."