Merle Haggard Reached No. 1 on Hot Country Songs in 1969

On Aug. 16, 1969, Merle Haggard’s “Workin’ Man Blues” reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. This achievement marked the seventh time Haggard had a chart-topping hit, adding to his legacy as one of the most influential figures in country music history. In the Hot Country Songs chart, he ranks third with the most leaders, following George Strait, who leads with 44, and Conway Twitty, with 40.

Haggard wrote “Workin’ Man Blues,” and it was produced by Ken Nelson. The song resonates with the struggles and dreams of the working class, as Haggard sings, “Sometimes I think about leaving, do a little bummin’ around. I want to throw my bills out the window, catch a train to another town. I go back to working, I gotta buy my kids a brand new pair of shoes. I drank a little beer in a tavern, cry a little bit of these working man blues.”

The track was a part of the album A Portrait of Merle Haggard, which also featured “Hungry Eyes,” another chart-topper from the set.

Born on April 6, 1937, in Oildale, California, Haggard’s smooth vocals, exceptional guitar skills, and lyrics deeply connected with the working class, earning him iconic status. This acclaim led to his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994. His career was decorated with numerous awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2010.

After a prolonged battle with pneumonia, Haggard passed away on April 6, 2016, coincidentally on his 79th birthday. His funeral was held a few days later on April 9, officiated by Marty Stuart. In a touching tribute to the legend, two weeks after his death, Chris Stapleton and his wife Morgaine performed Haggard’s “Silver Wings” and “Today I Started Loving You Again” during a tour stop in Bakersfield, California.