Lavender Country

Lavender Country

Company type	Group or band
Industry	Music
Founded	1972 in Seattle, Washington, United States
Headquarters	Seattle , United States
Products	Music albums

Lavender Country was a pioneering American country music group established in 1972, recognized for producing the first openly gay-themed country album in 1973. Originating from Seattle, Washington, the founding members comprised lead vocalist and guitarist Patrick Haggerty (1944–2022), keyboardist Michael Carr, fiddler and singer Eve Morris, along with guitarist Robert Hammerstrom. The band issued two studio albums: Lavender Country (1973) and Blackberry Rose (2019). Despite numerous lineup changes across multiple locations, Haggerty remained the band's consistent member.

Early years

Patrick Haggerty entered the world on September 27, 1944, and grew up on a dairy farm near Port Angeles, Washington. His father, Charles Edward Haggerty (1901–1961), worked as a dairy farmer, while his mother, Asylda Mary (née Remillard) (1915–1999), pursued a teaching career following her husband's passing. As the sixth child among ten siblings, Haggerty recalled that his parents accepted his sexual orientation, with his father encouraging openness about it. Between 1958 and 1962, he attended Port Angeles Senior High School where he held the role of “pep promoter,” equivalent to head cheerleader. After completing college, Haggerty joined the Peace Corps but was discharged in 1966 due to his sexual identity. Subsequently relocating to Seattle for graduate studies at the University of Washington, he became involved as an artist and activist with the local chapter of the Gay Liberation Front. Following his coming out in 1969, Haggerty actively participated in the gay rights movement and adopted socialist ideals after spending time working in Cuba during the early 1970s. He fathered two children—a daughter, Robin Boland (née Thetford), biologically born to lesbian friend Lois Thetford, and a son, Amilcar Navarro, whom he adopted and co-parented with Linda Navarro—and had one grandchild. Haggerty maintained close relationships with blues artist Blackberri, activists Faygele Ben-Miriam and Bobbi Campbell, as well as film critic Paul Kagourtine. His son Amilcar is also the grandson of jazz musician Fats Navarro.

Self-titled album

The band's 1973 debut album was financed and distributed by Seattle's Gay Community Social Services, with production assistance from activist Faygele Ben-Miriam. An initial pressing of only 1,000 copies was made. Lavender Country performed at the first-ever Seattle Pride celebration in 1974 and continued to appear at pride events and LGBT gatherings throughout Washington, Oregon, and California until their dissolution in 1976. A notable incident occurred when Seattle radio host Shan Ottey was dismissed in 1973 for airing their song "Cryin' These Cocksucking Tears."

Additional endeavors

Between 2001 and 2003, Haggerty became a member of the gay country ensemble Doug Stevens & The Outband. In 2003, he also issued an album with Pearl River entitled Live at the Grange Hall. Collaborating with blues artist Bobby Taylor, he established The Landlord Tenant Act, which produced two albums including a tribute to Johnny Cash alongside original compositions such as Further Down The Road. Under the moniker Memory Lane, Haggerty and Taylor performed timeless country, folk, and pop classics at nursing homes and senior centers, averaging approximately 50 appearances per year as of 2017.

Activities following group dissolution

After Lavender Country disbanded in 1976, Haggerty pursued independent bids for Seattle City Council and the Washington House of Representatives, though these were unsuccessful. Throughout this period, he continued his involvement in LGBTQ rights and anti-racism activism.

In 1987, Haggerty entered into a relationship with Julius "J.B." Broughton, a retired African American Navy veteran. The couple married in the mid-2000s and remained partners through at least 2018.

Renewal

In 2000, the now-defunct Journal of Country Music featured Haggerty and Lavender Country, which led to a CD reissue of their original album in December 1999 as well as a five-song EP titled Lavender Country Revisited in 2000. This EP included three re-recorded tracks alongside two new songs. That same year, the band briefly reassembled to perform the entire album at Seattle's Broadway Performance Hall and during Seattle Pride events. Former editor Chris Dickinson archived the album at the Country Music Hall of Fame.<ref> Their track "Cryin' These Cocksucking Tears" was included on the 2012 compilation Strong Love: Songs of Gay Liberation 1972–1981.<ref> Paradise of Bachelors reissued the 1973 album in 2014, accompanied by reunion concerts.<ref>

Haggerty shared a StoryCorps recording recounting his coming out to his father in 1959, which inspired the animated short film The Saint of Dry Creek (2015).<ref> In 2016, Dan Taberski directed the short documentary These C*cksucking Tears, depicting Haggerty's personal journey and musical career.<ref>

Modern ballet renditions of Lavender Country were presented by Robert Dekkers' Post:Ballet company in 2017 and 2019 at San Francisco’s Z Space. These performances featured Haggerty alongside a refreshed lineup including guitarists Dennis Fortin and Mark Newstetter, violinist Calvin K. Murasaki, bassist Mya Byrne, pianist Paisley Fields, and drummer Joyce Baker.<ref>

In 2019, Lavender Country released Blackberry Rose and Other Songs and Sorrows, marking their first full-length album of new material since their debut in 1973.<ref>

Haggerty appeared on Trixie Mattel's song "Stranger" from her album Barbara in 2020. He also hosted the YouTube series "Aunt Patty's Lavender Hour," where he interviewed notable personalities including his son filmmaker Amilcar Navarro, visual artist Pat Moriarity, and filmmaker Dan Taberski.

In January 2022, it was announced that Blackberry Rose would receive an official release through Don Giovanni Records on February 18. This release was preceded by a new full-band rendition of "I Can’t Shake the Stranger Out of You".<ref>

Haggerty passed away on October 31, 2022, at age 78 due to complications following a stroke.<ref>

Critical reception

Upon its 2014 reissue, Pitchfork characterized Lavender Country's inaugural album Lavender Country as "...unpolished and rudimentary, yet delivered with a playful, inviting spirit."

The album Blackberry Rose has been described as "laden with twang, occasionally humorous, frequently eccentric, and musically loose in a manner reminiscent of the Grateful Dead." Jason Greene of Pitchfork observes that Lavender Country’s musical style has remained largely unchanged between their debut and sophomore efforts, commenting, "Haggerty’s voice, which was unaffected and childlike in its simplicity back in 1973, retains that same unaffected and childlike quality in 2022."

Discography

• 1973 – Lavender Country
• 1999 – Lavender Country (reissued)
• 2000 – Lavender Country Revisited
• 2014 – Lavender Country (reissued by Paradise of Bachelors)
• 2019 – Blackberry Rose and Other Songs and Sorrows
• 2022 – Blackberry Rose (reissued by Don Giovanni Records)

External links

• Lavender Country at Paradise of Bachelors
• Lavender Country at Don Giovanni Records