The Strangers (American band)

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The Strangers
Roy Nichols, lead guitarist of the Strangers.
Background information
Origin	Bakersfield, California
Genres	Country Western Western swing Bakersfield sound
Years active	1966–2016
Labels	Capitol Records MCA Records
Past members	Merle Haggard Biff Adam Paul Anastasio Johnny Barber Jimmy Belken Eddie Burris James Burton Glen Campbell Renato Caranto Jim Christie Gary Church Doug Colosio Eddie Curtis Iris DeMent Terry Domingue Floyd Domino Wayne Durham George French Johnny Gimble Ben Haggard Dana Haggard Noel Haggard Theresa Haggard Norman Hamlet Dennis Hromek Sidney Hunter Jeff Ingraham Scott Joss Red Lane Abe Manuel Joe Manuel Don Markham Randy Mason Will McGregor Johnny Meeks Eugene Moles Ralph Mooney Tiny Moore Marcia Nichols Roy Nichols Fuzzy Owen Bonnie Owens Gene Price Taras Prodaniuk Joe Reed Ronnie Reno Sheril Rodgers Eldon Shamblin Clint Strong Gordon Terry Jimmy Tittle Kenny Vernon Redd Volkaert Jerry Ward Bobby Wayne Mark Yeary

The Strangers were an American country band that formed in 1966 in Bakersfield, California. They mainly served as the backup band for singer-songwriter Merle Haggard, who named them after his first hit single "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers".^[1] In addition to serving as his backing band, members of the Strangers also produced many of Haggard's records, sang lead vocals on select tracks, and co-wrote many of Haggard's songs with him, including the No. 1 singles, "Okie From Muskogee" and "I Always Get Lucky with You".

From 1969 to 1973, they issued several records independent of Haggard, released on Capitol Records, and even had their own Top 10 hit single called "Street Singer" on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. Three members of the Strangers would go on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Between 1969 and 1987, the Strangers were voted Band of the Year by the Academy of Country Music eight times—more than any other group in history.^[2]