Merle Haggard, who over six decades composed and performed one of the greatest repertoires in country music, capturing the American condition with his stories of the poor, the lost, the working class, heartbroken and hard-living, died at his home in California, his spokeswoman Tresa Redburn confirmed. He died today, his 79th birthday.

R.I.P.

Big part of my life, that's for sure. Sad, sad day for country music fans. This guy helped make it big and will forever be remembered.