Posted on 04/06/2016 11:23:42 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
Merle Haggard has died after a series of recent health struggles. The legendary singer passed away on April 6, 2016, which was also his 79th birthday.
Haggard canceled tour dates in December of 2015 after he checked into a hospital and learned he had double pneumonia.
(Excerpt) Read more at tasteofcountry.com ...
Momma cried.
Not sure if these have been posted, but two pretty ones (see links below) I only just discovered while in a Merle loop on You Tube.
When I told my mom the news he had died, she reminded me that he was one of my dad’s faves. Not sure if my dad would remember him or not at this point. Maybe so. Probably if we played the music for him.
Merle Haggard - Sing me back home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDDyyDjWM_0
Merle Haggard - Silver Wings “LIVE”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w99UIu9N44w
Saw a recent interview in Gods and Garden magazine. He said “I don’t like what they call country music today. I wish I could say something good about it. But I can’t.”
RIP but he has been raked over the coals here on FR when he turned left in his later years or just started revealing his politics which may have always been there. As always the question is how much do we separate an artist, their works and politics.
Spoke with a guy who saw him hast year in NW Arkansas. He said after three songs he said “It’s too damned hot out here” and walked off the stage. His son finished the show.
My Merle Haggard story: Back in 1984 I was with the UCSB College Republicans and we were asked to work an event for President Reagan called “In Concert at the White House.” Only it wasn’t at the White House, and it wasn’t at Rancho del Cielo, because the facility was too small. It was over the hill at the ranch of a friend of the Reagans.
My job was driver. The Secret Service cleared me to drive the celebrities, namely Merle and his band, plus the hostess, Beverly Sills, in the van up the highway after they got through the SS checkpoint. I saw Merle, but he rode in a different van. I took his band and Ms. Sills up.
When I got there, I awaited my next assignment on a bale of hay, when in walked Ron and Nancy, about six feet from me. I wanted to jump up and shake his hand, but this was not long after his assassination attempt and we had been told (warned?) that there were SS snipers on the hills. I honestly was afraid that if I made a movement toward him they’d haul me away, so I missed my chance to shake RR’s hand.
The concert was good, Merle did “Okie from Muskogee” and had a great fiddle player. Among those in the audience were Bo Derek (looking hot!), Mike Connors (”Mannix”), Ron Ely (”Tarzan”), and sitting right behind me in the bleacher was Fred MacMurray (”My Three Sons”).
I'd read that many years ago. It's sad that the song adopted by "square" Middle America as its anthem was in fact written to lampoon them.
I can't help but wonder if The Fightin' Side of Me was in the same spirit. Way back then I certainly assumed he meant it straight. But now I just don't know.
Back in the 80s or 90s when flag burning was a big issue he came out with a song against it. Surely that couldn't have been a rib?
I'll never understand why he was a lefty.
pretty amazing story. thanks for sharing.
i always kind of thought merle was a liberal. nice to know he played for RR.
One of my favorites.
Sing Me Back Home was one of his best.
My daddy and I loved to hear him sing Amazing Grace.
Daddy made me promise to play Haggards recording of it at his funeral.
It was beautiful.
Nobody has ever sung this song as well as Merle: On the Jericho Road
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhX-RBlbstY
I’ll have to find Amazing Grace later.
Great voice.
RIP Mr Haggard.
And thanks.
I love alternative! It’s so full of energy. It was really big when my kids were teens and I learned to love it, along with grunge and even punk.
No doubt one of the best country artists ever.
Here is what I have of his on the PC and my mp3 player...
Silver Wings
The Fugitive
Branded Man
Sing Me Back Home
Hungry Eyes
It’s Not Love (But It’s Not Bad)
Mama Tried
Pancho & Lefty - Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard
Okie from Muskogee
The Fightin’ Side of Me
The Roots of My Raising
That’s the Way Love Goes
Things Aren’t Funny Anymore
You Take Me for Granted
Big City
Kentucky Gambler
Let’s Chase Each Other Around the Room
If We’re Not Back in Love by Monday
My Favorite Memory
I Wonder if They Ever Think of Me
If We Make It Through December
A Place to Fall Apart
Always Wanting You
Everybody’s Had the Blues
Going Where the Lonely Go
Bar Room Buddies
I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink
It’s All in the Movies
I’m Always on a Mountain When I Fall
Natural High
Someday When Things Are Good
Old Man from the Mountain
Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Star
The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde
Carolyn
Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)
Movin’ On
May he RIP. My kid performed a tribute to him on oir local radio station.
“How does one get double pneumonia?”
When I was 6 years old I was hospitalized with double pneumonia. I was VERY sick & had to take shots several times a day. It took a long time to recover.
It’s no fun, I can assure you.
Sorry to hear this... RIP, Merle.
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