RIP Merle Haggard

[Londy]

I just learned of his music now he's gone!

[Rich White]

I grew up in Oklahoma, and if I ever took my guitar out of the case I could pretty much count on someone saying "play some Merle Haggard".

[Caleb]

And he was funny too. Check this one out.

Kirk

That is hilarious!

[Don Grieser]

RIP Merle. Hope someone sang you back home.

[hossamassey]

RIP Merle..I saw him in concert just a few months ago with Willie. I hate losing these legends.

[Drew Egerton]

Here's a little mandolin content to add to the discussion. Hopefully this link works, it's in a shared Google photos album so I'm not sure.
It is from the Steep Canyon Rangers performing their version of the song "I Must Be Somebody Else You've Known" in tribute to Merle. I'm not sure who the added piano player is.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...lNeGQtQ0lqdnZB

[Petrus]

That's weird. I saw a post on Twitter congratulating him on his 79th birthday and then I heard about his death and wondered if I mistook something. What are the odds of having the same birthday and deathday? (1/365, I suppose.) Another great from the old generation gone. But his music keeps on!

[AlanN]

Ramblin' Fever, done up in the bluegrass way

[AlanN]

I just learned of his music now he's gone!

Now, I know folks live in different worlds, but truly, what rock have you been living under?

He so loved Western Swing, as evidenced by this release:

A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (Or, My Salute to Bob Wills) [1970]

01 Brown Skinned Gal
02 Right Or Wrong
03 Brain Cloudy Blues
04 Stay A Little Longer
05 Misery
06 Time Changes Everything
07 San Antonio Rose
08 I Knew the Moment I Lost You
09 Roly Poly
10 Old Fashioned Love
11 Corrine Corrina
12 Take Me Back To Tulsa

After releasing his tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, Merle Haggard immediately set about working on a tribute to his other major musical idol, Bob Wills. Haggard learned how to play fiddle and, within a month, he recruited many of the original Playboys to augment the Strangers and began recording the album that became A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player (Or My Salute to Bob Wills). Where Same Train, Different Time was a measured, heartfelt tribute, Best Damn Fiddle Player is a ragged, enthusiastic good time. Haggard, the Strangers, and the Playboys play their hearts out, breathing life into Wills warhorses like "Right or Wrong," "Stay a Little Longer," "Time Changes Everything," and "San Antonio Rose," while bringing attention to lesser-known songs like "Brain Cloudy Blues," "I Knew the Moment I Lost You," and "Old-Fashioned Love." The fact that Western swing re-established itself as a viable country genre after the release of A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player is a testament to the power and charm of this record. - allmusic.com (5 out of 5 stars)

Tiny Moore was a big part of Merle's 1970's show.

[lflngpicker]

I'll include a couple of Merle's tunes today at my rest home gig. I will miss him, my grown kids will miss him and most of all, my father will miss him.

[Willie Poole]

George Jones recorded a song called, "Who`s Gonna Fill Their Shoes" and the more of the true country singers we lose the worse the country music gets....We need some one to bring it back.... a friend of mine just sent me an email with 900 songs that The Hag recorded, I haven`t opened it yet but I`m sure I`ll recognize moat of them....On my way back from Florida I kept tuning in to what is described as country music stations and not one played a Merle Haggard song, some respect they have for a great artist....I know he would love to pi-- on them...

Willie

[Mark Wilson]

I saw him way back as a double header with G.Jones. Jones went on last and was pretty late showing up. Merle played til he got there. man could he sing a tune right

[FLATROCK HILL]

I saw him way back as a double header with G.Jones. Jones went on last and was pretty late showing up. Merle played til he got there. man could he sing a tune right

That makes me smile and it reminds me of a 'Hag' concert I saw back in the day. John Conlee was up first. Don't know the year, but it was back in the Rose Colored Glasses days.
Merle was late. When he showed, he required some help in navigating his way to the stage. Not real steady on his feet that evening and somewhat of a 'glazed over' look, but once he started singing, it was absolutely magic. He just plain knocked it out of the park.

[LongBlackVeil]

How about Merle sawin strings. I bet a few people didn't know he could.



With Tiny Moore and Johnny Gimble who also left us recently



As far as classic country goes, Merle was at the very top of the stack in my book. No one could write like him

[Petrus]

I almost forgot he did a great cover of "Pancho and Lefty" with Willie Nelson.



At least he had a good run. Some of his compatriots in the outlaw genre (Waylon Jennings for instance, at 64) got cut too short.

[Timbofood]

I have been a Merle fan for years, I was shocked to say the least! In all his musical life he stuck to his guns and played what he loved.
It was sad news. He will be missed.

[mandopops]

Yes, echoing what's been said, Merle was indeed one of the greats.
The only time I saw him live was on a double bill with Bob Dylan.
I enjoyed that night, for sure. Merle did play some Fiddle on a couple of Bob Wills style tunes. My wife, who in no way is a "country" fan, really enjoyed Merle's set. She thought he was very entertaining & was very engaging with the audience. (In contrast to Dylan. I'm used to that with ol' Bob.) I think it was Merle's Birthday that night.
Happy Birthday, Merle
Joe B

[Willie Poole]

One thing about Merle he loved his George Dickle 90 proof....So do I, When I am not playing on stage....I saw him at The Cap Center and he forgot the words to a song and took a swig of Bourbon and the words all came back to him....If he wasn`t the best he was in the top five of country singers...He will surely be missed....

Willie

[Jim]

RIP Merle, A legend in his own time.

[mandroid]

Had a chat with Lowell Levinger, @ TGG here a few years back,
Merle's Lawyers at the record company made Banana jump through more hoops
than should have been necessary, for his Parody "I'm Proud to be a Hippie from Olema" He's still in Marin
[Inverness didn't have the right syllable count .. that's where is collectible instrument shop is)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OimAEdj7Qa0

[Don Grieser]

RFD played the Marty Stuart and Porter Wagoner shows that had Merle as the guest this morning. Great to see.

[Fretbear]

George Jones recorded a song called, "Who`s Gonna Fill Their Shoes" and the more of the true country singers we lose the worse the country music gets....We need some one to bring it back....Willie

Jason Isbell

http://www.billboard.com/articles/ne...rd-remembrance

Jason Isbell's shows that he was headlining with Merle in Georgia have had to be cancelled.

[crisscross]

I got aware of Merle Haggard by the Dead's cover of "Mama tried". Nice job!

[travellerbytrade]

I remember this one from my high school days.