#TBT: Merle Haggard, and how his biggest fans came from Grand Bank

Merle Haggard, the outlaw country legend, passed away Wednesday, which happened to be his 79th birthday.

His music explored ordinary people and working-class struggles, and he was known for hits such as Okie From Muskogee, Mama Tried and Workin' Man Blues.

Grand Bank may be a long way from Muskogee, but in 1988, the CBC's Deborah Collins found out there were so many Haggard fans in the community, it had been called "Merle Haggard country".

For Haggard's concert in St. John's that year, nothing was going to stop one group of Grand Bank fans from seeing their favourite country singer in concert.

As a tribute, follow the fans and have a listen to the rough and tumble singer-songwriter who was dubbed "the Poet of the Common Man."