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Sam Corpora, 72: Merle Haggard's 'Silver Wings'

Published February 28, 2021 at 8:00 AM EST
Courtesy of the Corpora family

Updated June 15, 2021 at 1:25 PM ET

More than 600,000 people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19 since the pandemic hit this country and the world just over a year ago. NPR is remembering some of those who lost their lives by listening to the music they loved and hearing their stories. We're calling our tribute Songs Of Remembrance.

My dad and I went to more than 50 Merle concerts together, and we used this song ["Silver Wings"] as the daddy-daughter dance at my wedding. The title is tattooed on my foot. My dad was a crop duster, and this song is about an airplane taking away the person he loved.

This song is everything to me. It will always be me and my daddy's song. My friend even gave me a necklace with a silver wing on it after he died, so I can always have him close to my heart. —Cara Corpora, daughter

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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You just read trusted, local journalism that’s free for everyone, thanks to donors like you.

If that matters to you, now is the time to give. Join the 50,000+ members powering honest reporting and a more connected — and civil! — Connecticut.