Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/247585
Sarasota News Leader January 24, 2014 Page 116 MERLE HAGGARD BRINGING HIS 'HONKY TONK GROOVE' TO TOWN "Having won just about every music award imaginable," country music legend Merle Haggard will be appearing at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota on Jan. 29, the venue has announced. Working Man Blues and Hungry Eyes, the release notes. "One of the beautiful aspects of Haggard's approach to music is that he always [has been] true to going his own way and making his own sound," it says. Even when recording tributes to the musicians who influenced him — such as Jimmie Eidgers, Lefty Frizzell and Bob Willis — Haggard always incorporated elements of jazz, rock, blues and folk into his compositions "while maintaining reverence for traditional country style," the release continues. "With his unique ability to lyrically connect his listeners with emotions and circumstances that could either be all too familiar or entirely foreign," Haggard bridges a gap with which many songwriters struggle their entire careers, a news release says. Johnny Cash once introduced Haggard by saying "Here's a man who writes about his own life and has had a life to write about," the release adds. Tickets are priced from $52.62 to $63.32. For Haggard "became a strong symbol of work- more information, call the box office at 953ing class America" with songs such as 3368 or visit www.VanWezel.org. Merle Haggard performs during a 2013 concert. Photo by Jeremy Luke Roberts via Flickr and Wikimedia Commons