Merle Haggard April 6, 1937 - April 6, 2016
Forums:
The Okie From Muskogee was actually born in a Santa Fe railroad boxcar in Oildale, CA.
He was a prisoner at San Quentin when he saw Johnny Cash play there on New Years Day in 1959. That day, he decided he would try to be a good person and devote his life to music. In 1972, Merle was pardoned of his crimes by Governor Ronald Reagan.
Merle went on to sing 38 number one country hits.
He spent four months teaching himself to play the fiddle, just so he could play an album dedicated to Bob Wills (the best damn fiddle player in the world).
About two weeks before he passed, Merle told his son Ben he would be dying die on his 79th birthday. Ben didn't believe him. Merle kept his word.
- Log in to post comments
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
What a storied character! I
What a storied character! I was camping with my brother one time and some unruly neighbors started cranking MH classics and he says, "Well, the red necks have arrived." It was funny because we both like and appreciate his work.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
> Oildale, CA.
> Oildale, CA.
It doesn't get much shit-holier than Oildale. Merle came up hard, and figured out how to make that work for him.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
My wife's grandma is a second
My wife's grandma is a second cousin.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
Oh come on, now! Kevin
Oh come on, now! Kevin McKarthy is brought you/us by those fine CA 23rd District voters.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: krab
Let him sing me back home
Let him sing me back home with a song I used to hear
Make my old memories come alive
Take me away and turn back the years
Sing me back home before I die
NYE '72-'73: very good one. https://archive.org/details/gd1972-12-31.141135.sbd.gans.miller.clugston... Donna really shines on the '72 versions.
When I was 13 years old I thought I was grown. So I got in trouble, and they put me in juvenile hall, and I didn't like juvenile hall so I broke out, stole cars to get away, and one thing led to another. By the time I was 20 years old, I was in San Quentin. And “Mama Tried” is probably a child of all that.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
Never got to see him. He was
Never got to see him. He was the first supporting act to cancel/not show/be replaced on the bill in my concert-going experience (Stanley Clarke did it 2X).
A few of his tunes have made the rotation of our occasional Saturday Night Massacrees of Popular Music. Short, sweet, four-chords-and-under, and the chorus might hang on the same bones as the verses.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: aiq
My pal Bob and I went to his
My pal Bob and I went to his show in Tampa c. '73. We were the only heads in a sea of white shoes and belts and polyester. First concert I ever attended where alcohol was sold.
Great, great music. Loud!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
Merle Fan Here
Merle Fan Here
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Lonely Questioner
Are there Grateful Dead fans
Are there Grateful Dead fans who are anti Merl Haggard? That makes zero sense to me.
I love this tribute to the Hag by Dale Watson & Ray Benson, "Feelin' Haggard":
https://youtu.be/BWIbIosTcI8
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
I'll Change Your Flat Tire,
I'll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dZx_hafGI
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Localcountyline
Saw him open for Dylan three
Saw him open for Dylan three nights in a row in Oakland at the Paramount.....Really good to see him. We had front row one night, what a blast....
Dylan played Sing Me Back Home one night, without Merle....
In keeping with the "country" theme, he also played Hank Cochran's "A-11".....great shows.
Good thread Bss.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hello My Name Is
First time I saw him was
First time I saw him was terrible, in a casino in Biloxi in '99 or so, he tripped on the guitar cord on the way out, talked/slurred through half of the show and it was over before 45 minutes. I was so into getting a chance to see him that I hitchhiked to the show and slept in the trees outside, so the show was a big disappointment.
Second time I saw him open for Dylan, '05 or so, and he redeemed himself. He was in top form and the show was excellent. So he's alright with me.
I really liked the last album he did with Willie too...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rasputin O'Leary
RIP Merl + Thanks - I was
RIP Merle + Thanks - I was just singing you to my dog this morning after he was digging up the lawn.
No one could stear Salem right, but papa tried.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nevergetenough
Saw him at least 10 times. f
Saw him at least 10 times. f Fav.Show was @ Maritime hall. I fired up a Joint all the Cowboys looked @ me in disbelief. next thing I was shearing it with them. I didn't have to buy another Beer the rest of the night !