Years active 1960s–present | ||
 | ||
Labels Capitol, MCA, Epic, Curb, ANTI, Vanguard Past members Merle HaggardBiff AdamJohnny BarberJimmy BelkinEddie BurrisJames BurtonGlen CampbellEddie CurtisIris DeMentTerry DomingueGeorge FrenchDennis HromekJoe ManuelAbe ManuelWill McGregorRandy MasonTiny MooreDon MarkhamMarcia NicholsBonnie OwensFuzzy OwenRalph MooneyRoy NicholsClint StrongGordon TerryJerry WardBobby WayneRedd VolkaertMark YearyRed Lane Awards Academy of Country Music Award for Band of the Year, Academy of Country Music Award for Band of the Year (Touring) Members | ||
The Strangers is an American country band best known as the back-up band for singer-songwriter Merle Haggard. Formed in 1965 in Bakersfield, California, United States, the band continued to tour with original co-founding member Norman Hamlet, as well as Haggard's children Dana and Ben.
Contents
History
The group mainly served as the backup band for Haggard. However, from 1969 to 1973, it issued several records independent of Haggard, released by Haggard's label, Capitol Records. While most of the performers were contemporaries of Haggard in age or younger, some performers, including Tiny Moore, were older performers in the country or western swing genres. Glen Campbell, who had a solo career as a singer and a short career leading a television variety show, was a member of the storied Hollywood group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew" and played on some of Haggard's Capitol recordings as did session greats James Burton and pedal steel guitarist Ralph Mooney. Pianist Mark Yeary penned many songs for Haggard. Horns joined the group for the first time in 1969 with Don Markham playing tenor saxophone and trumpet, yet instrumentation mainly consisted of guitars, bass guitar, keyboard and drums.
Current members
Discography
Songs
Branded ManBranded Man · 1967
The Bottle Let Me DownSwinging Doors · 1966
I Can't Be MyselfHag · 1971