Patrick Haggerty from Lavender Country Is Dead

• Patrick Haggerty died at 78.

• "This morning, we lost a great soul. RIP Patrick Haggerty," read a statement from his band Lavender Country.

According to reports, the pioneering gay country musician, Patrick Haggerty, died in 2022 at age 78. The singer's social media accounts revealed that the singer/songwriter suffered a stroke earlier in the year.

The star, who led the band Lavender Country, ended up having complications that allegedly caused his death. The news was confirmed by the label that reissued the Seattle band's self-titled debut album in 2014.

On October 31, 2022, Paradise of Bachelors wrote on Twitter, "We are heartbroken to confirm that Patrick Haggerty" died at home early this morning. The label said friends and family had surrounded the star.

Paradise of Bachelors described the late star as a "dauntless activist," a "visionary songwriter," and an "irrepressible raconteur of Lavender Country." The musician had lived a full life having children and a loving partner.

Who Were Patrick's Children and Longtime Partner?

According to CNN, Patrick died, leaving behind two children he'd shared with his husband. By the time he passed, he and his family had retired to a town across Puget Sound, but he continued performing now and again.

On November 1, 2022, Lavender Country's Instagram account shared an image of Patrick performing in front of fans and released a statement about his death. The short statement read:

"This morning, we lost a great soul. RIP Patrick Haggerty."

In a conflicting account, the band said the singer had suffered a stroke a few weeks before his death. They shared how he was able to spend his last days surrounded by his children and his longtime husband, Julius "JB" Broughton, at their home, before concluding with the words:

"Love, and solidarity."

The late singer received many tributes on the post, with someone saying they were sending love to the late star and his family. The person described him as an "amazing soul" who'd made the world better for many people.

Another fan said Patrick had been "like no other" before sharing their gratitude for having seen him perform several times. The fan also sent love to the late singer's friends and family, while someone else wrote:

"Seeing him perform last year is a memory I'll treasure forever."

The group [Lavender Country] had different members over the years, but the late star [Patrick Haggerty] remained the frontman.

The Instagram user revealed how they'd gotten "choked up" by the stories the artist had shared between songs in his set. The fan recalled how he'd smile and dance throughout before declaring:

"Long Live Lavender Country."

When Patrick died, his original band had long dissolved years ago. However, before breaking up, they impacted many people's lives in the LGBTIQ+ community by performing at different venues and Pride events.

What Happened to the Group Lavender Country?

According to Deadline, Lavender Country was the name of Patrick's band and the title of their debut album, which came out in 1973. The Journal of Country Music said it was the first known gay-themed album in country music history.

It featured songs like "Come Out Singing" and many more. It was also unique because it was released and funded by Seattle's Gay Community Social Services, and only 1,000 copies were pressed for its first release.

The band's original members were Patrick, singer and fiddler Eve Morris, keyboardist Michael Carr, and guitar player Robert Hammerstrom. Only two studio albums were released; the second was 2022's, Blackberry Rose.

The group had different members over the years, but the late star remained the frontman. In 1974, the band performed at the first Seattle Pride and then at many other Pride events and other LGBTIQ+ venues throughout the West, but they broke up in 1976.