What key details about norm hamlet can be extracted from the following bio? Bio: norm hamlet is an american steel guitarist perhaps best known as a member of merle haggard 's the strangers band for the past 42 years -lrb- as of 2014 -rrb- . hamlet was born on february 27 , 1935 in woodville , california . he began playing guitar in his teens and played throughout north central california for a number of years with several groups , before going to bakersfield , california in 1965 where he became an influential part of the bakersfield sound . he has won many awards , including induction into the western swing society hall of fame in sacramento , california and the steel guitar hall of fame . in 2005 hamlet had quadruple heart bypass surgery and recovered well at his home in bakersfield , california . as of may 17 , 2013 , hamlet still tours with merle haggard .
- image size is 150