Back in 1973, Seattle singer-songwriter Patrick Haggerty released what is widely considered to be the first gay-themed country album under the moniker Lavender Country.
At the time only 1000 copies of the self-titled album were printed. In later years the album started to generate interest among music journalists, historians, and record collectors. This resulted in the album eventually being reissued in 2014 by the Paradise of Bachelors label. Haggerty also ended up going on a nationwide tour, introducing a new generation to music that was previously buried in the dust bin of obscurity.
In 2019, Haggerty finally released his sophomore album, Blackberry Rose. The album received even wider recognition when it was recently reissued by Don Giovanni Records.
As an openly gay artist in a conservative genre, the simple act of making music was already a political statement, especially back in the 1970s. But he took it further by not shying away from making bold political statements with his lyrics.
Considering his role as a groundbreaker, it is appropriate that his latest album pays tribute to radical feminist Clara Fraser. Like Haggerty, Frazer was a staunch Marxist who spoke out on behalf of the oppressed. In “Clara Fraser, Clara Fraser” he takes on the role of a villainous strikebreaker who opposes fair labor practices and gender equality.
Haggerty is a prime example of how music can be an important extension of activism.