Patrick Haggerty, lead vocalist and guitarist for country band Lavender Country, died on Monday, October 31, aged 78. The band announced the news on their Instagram page, writing:
“We lost a great soul this morning.” Patrick Haggerty, rest in peace. He is fortunate to spend the last days of his life at home, surrounded by his children and partner, JB, after suffering a stroke a few weeks ago. “Love Unity”.
According to his social media platforms, the late singer-songwriter suffered a stroke earlier this year, which resulted in complications that led to his death. No funerals have been scheduled for Haggerty and no additional information has been released.
Twitter users pay tribute
Haggerty is the frontman of Lavender Country, considered the first openly gay country band. As news of his death spread, Twitter was flooded with tributes.
I was heartbroken to hear that Patrick Haggerty, author of Lavender Country, the first weird country album, had passed away. Patrick is an older hero and musical hero to my generation of weird country artists – and especially to me because he was a relative of my family when he got married. pic.twitter.com/9DmG7xOXel
– Jake Blount (@forked_queer) October 31, 2022
Patrick Haggerty of Lavender Land has just passed away. interview him for @Chicago_Reader This year has been one of the best experiences of my life. I am forever grateful to him for his shining example of politically motivated weirdness. RIP https://t.co/UNFywTv5KV
– Annie Howard ️🌈🐀 (@t_annie_howard) October 31, 2022
All about Patrick Haggerty
Patrick Haggerty (born September 27, 1944) is a famous singer, songwriter, musician, activist and politician. In 1972, he rose to fame as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Lavender Country. Charles Edward Haggerty, Patrick’s father, was a dairy farmer and Asylda Mary Remillard-Haggerty was a housewife. He is the couple’s sixth child. In 1959, he attended Port Angeles High School and was named the best cheerleader. After graduating, Haggarty joined the Peace Corps, but was discharged in 1966 because of his homosexuality.
Despite growing up in a Roman Catholic family, Haggarty is identified as an agnostic. Seattle Gay Community Social Service sponsored and released Lavender Country’s debut record after their founding in 1972. The band later performed at the inaugural Seattle Pride event in 1974. and continued to perform at additional LGBT pride and events in various venues until 1976, when the group split. . Lavender Country Revisited, the band’s second EP, was released in 2000.
In 2000, the band reformed and performed at Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle. Then, in 2019, they released a full-length album called Blackberry Rose and Other Songs and Sorrows. Patrick later appeared on Trixie Mattel’s album Barbara performing I Can’t Shake the Stranger Out of You titled Stranger. In 2020, Pat hosts Aunt Patty’s Lavender Hour, a YouTube series in which he talks to people who have influenced his life and music career, including his son and director Amilcar Navarro, visual artist Pat Moriarity and director Dan Taberski. Blackberry Rose, the band’s second album, was released in February 2022.
Patrick Haggerty ran two political races in 1976, both unsuccessfully. That includes running for the Seattle City Council and then running as an independent candidate for a seat in the Washington House of Representatives. Patrick’s companion, Julius Broughton, his children Robin Boland and Amilcar Navarro and grandson Maxwell Boland outlived him.
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Source: HIS Education