Haggard, Merle (1937-...), is an important American country music composer and singer. Haggard has recorded about 40 number-one songs, many of them dealing with working class and rebellious themes. He has composed hundreds of songs, many of them country music standards. More than 400 versions of Haggard's "Today I Started Loving You Again" (1968) have been recorded. His compositions blend influences of folk music, jazz, and the blues.