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The Strangers’ Don Markham dies

Merle Haggard’s longtime The Strangers bandmate Don Markham has died, aged 85.
The multi-instrumentalist passed away on Friday (24Feb17) in Oildale, California.
The musician began his career playing jazz and pop, before the Bakersfield sound movement in the mid-1950s put a spotlight on his California home town, prompting Markham to turn his attention to country music.
He joined The Strangers in 1974 after a chance meeting with Haggard while he was playing for Johnny Paycheck, and he remained a member of the group until his declining health forced his retirement in 2013.
Markham remained close to Haggard after walking away from the band, until the country rocker died last year (16).
A funeral for the musician is set to take place in Bakersfield on 7 March (17).

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