A sad day for the nation. I'd say for 'the country,' but this is no time for puns.
I'm sorry to see him go. He was one of the last of the Outlaw Country greats.
UPDATE: I don't know if this story about Merle's last show is true. However, it is coherent with this news report about that show.
UPDATE: A young Merle Haggard does impressions of the singers who were great in those days.
George Jones on the situation. - I suppose if Merle had gone on first, he would have written him in.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCC-c7B5-Aw&nohtml5=False
How did a backwater yankee kid ever get to love this music so much? Maybe I was born on the wrong side of the Mason Dixon line.
Wow, spent the last couple hours drinking beer and listening to Merle and friends. No shortage of good stuff.
ReplyDeleteDid you know he was in the audience for Cash's San Quentin Prison gig?
"I'm leaving you", Merle in a great duet with Cash.
Merle with Toby Keith, David Allan Coe, Billy Joe Shaver and Brad Paisley(!?). Not great, but fun.
Then I found this little gem of a jam session with Merle and Toby Keith.
Merle could play the fiddle pretty well too!
Godspeed, Merle...
Wow, that San Quentin story turns out to be really interesting. It also casts a new light on his impression of Johnny Cash in the last clip I posted. He must have really looked up to Cash, who helped him turn his life around.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he was pardoned by Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1972.
ReplyDeleteAnd what are the odds I would post a video of a band playing on Merle Haggard's name (Merle Hazard) on the same day Haggard passes away? I thought about deleting the post, but in a way it's also a tribute to the man.
Yeah, that was some coincidence Tom.
ReplyDeleteGrim, yes, but who doesn't look up to Cash? ;)
How did a backwater yankee kid ever get to love this music so much? Maybe I was born on the wrong side of the Mason Dixon line.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel too bad. Hank Snow was from Nova Scotia.
Merle was versatile. He did a pretty good job of imitating those other singers. Played a pretty good fiddle, and also could improvise in the Western Swing style.
ReplyDelete