Merle Haggard

Merle played two amazing nights at Nashville’s Ryman, on August 25th and 26th. I was there both nights. Before the first show, I took this picture in his hotel. It was to be my last portrait of him. I was fortunate to photograph Haggard a few times, each occasion was memorable. My first picture of him at the International Country Festival at Wembley Stadium in 1978 became the cover of his GREATEST HITS OF THE 80’S with my photo silkscreen. I also shot the cover for his BACK TO THE BARROOMS album in Nashville in 1980.