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Merle Haggard died today on his 79 birthday from pneumonia he has been battling for months! The Beach Boys covered his song  Okie From Muskogee a bunch of times live in the early 70's and then again in the late 80's!  :(



Okie From Muskogee by the Beach Boys in 1988 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ld3ETZweFE
Okie From Muskogee by the Beach Boys in 1971 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooyUiVRR1ss

Ugh. Last night I found out that one of my friends and favorite former co-workers fell off of a mountain and died.

Now this.

It's been a strange week.

 :'( :'(

R.I.P. Merle! So sad

Sad to hear this.  Merle is a country music legend. He sang with a voice and style that were all his own.

Very sorry to hear that, tj. The Grim Reaper certainly has his time cut out for him right now. R.I.P., Mr Haggard.

A couple of us are discussing The Highwaymen in another thread. While Merle wasn't a member of The Highwaymen, he knew all of those guys personally, worked with them many times, and shared that "outlaw" attitude. Now another one is gone... Merle had been in declining health the last couple of years, so he's no longer suffering. R.I.P. Merle, and thanks for the music.

 Nice article in Rolling Stone today:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/merle-haggard-country-legend-died-at-79-20160406

Man, it's just one after another this year. Pretty soon there won't be anyone left! At least not any of the good ones! RIP Merle.

If you're a fan and in the mood to listen to a Merle interview, check out this great radio interview from about 3 years ago by Eddie Stubbs of WSM650 fame... he had Merle in the studio for a couple hours and they went over a bunch of things, it really gives you a good idea of what kind of person he was and what was important to him.  It's very down to earth, Merle just showed up unannounced and sat down with Eddie for a few hours spinning records and talking.

http://wsmonline.com/archives/eddie-stubbs-show/  

Scroll down to "Interview with Merle Haggard".  


About 65 minutes in he tells this amazing story about being a kid sneaking into a Bob Wills show in Bakersfield which was very formidable in his love of music.

I've never really been a huge fan of country music. But with the passing of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Now Merle Haggard, I can't help but to think that there is almost no "true" country artist left. Willie Nelson seems to me to be the only one left from the "golden age" of country.

There's still a few left, and there's still a few young guys and girls keeping the flame going.  Kacey Musgraves is a good example.   There's some really great guys from the 80's still in their prime too but you never hear about them anymore... John Conlee, Gene Watson, etc.

RIP

http://fridaynightboys300.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/merle-haggard-rip.html

One of the true greats.

Just a couple of years ago, Merle teamed up with Willie Nelson and Ray Price for "The last of the breed". Some very nice stuff they did on their double-CD. Since then, only Willie is left.
Have on Merle's great "Same train a different time" Jimmie Rodgers tribute album. He was born to do that album!

So, the wrath of 2016 continues. 

RIP Mr. Haggard.

A true country star, not like that frat boys with cowboy hats you have now. 

A nice item from NPR: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/06/473268549/5-things-you-should-know-about-merle-haggard (http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/06/473268549/5-things-you-should-know-about-merle-haggard).

I'm touched by what Dolly Parton says at the end.

RIP, Mr Haggard.  Say hello to Bob Wills for us.

Yeah, there aren't many left. Not the Mount Rushmore types, anyway. I dread the day guys like Willie and Bob Dylan are gone.

1996 tribute show for Merle:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSY_IUyqG5k

Lots of tributes on the Grand Ol Opry this weekend from several people, including Suzy Bogguss doing "Silver Wings".  They also replayed an old interview with Bill Anderson where Merle claimed his favorite song he ever wrote was "Footlights". 

Here's a clip of George Jones claiming it's also HIS favorite song, and Merle singing it acoustic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGZQaYT3Ngc

And, of course, there's the great Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard cover of Townes Van Zandt's "Pancho And Lefty".

Here's a later period Johnny Cash/Merle Haggard duet, "I'm Leavin' Now",  from Cash's 2000 album American III - Solitary Man: https://youtu.be/ZsoHV6mg7r8

Well, this didn't take long

http://screencrush.com/merle-haggard-biopic/

Sure didn't. Thanks for the link!


I'm listening to this album and although I totally am not a fan of duets, this one is really good and working. I'm not saying "masterpiece", but really good


(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0000/017/MI0000017623.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)

Merle Haggard's Last Song 'Kern River Blues' Set for Release
Out May 12th, the haunting track was recorded two months before his death

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/merle-haggards-last-song-kern-river-blues-set-for-release-20160511



Merle Haggard - Kern River Blues:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVRIrBqI7A

love it. thanx !