RIP Merle Haggard

[FaceOnMars]

http://www.bakersfield.com/News/2016/04/06/Haggard-famed-songwriter-and-proud-Okie-from-Bakersfield-dies-at-78.html

... been a rough year

[zack_adcock]

I was just thinking the other day, while listening to someone else's rendition of "Mama Tried," about the unbelievable legend of Haggard being an inmate in San Quentin when Johnny Cash recorded his live record there. What a hot record, and an incredible confluence of musical talent. Cool stuff. Glad to have seen Merle live, glad to have had him for so long, and sad to see him go. RIP.

[32hour]

RIP indeed Merle Haggard.

The last time I saw him play was a few years ago at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.  His band was tight, his sense of humor was as irreverent as ever and his health was clearly not good.  After every few songs, two young women in, how can I say this, "naughty nurse" costumes would wheel an oxygen tank to him, he'd wave to the audience to signal a short interruption and breathe with the mask on his craggy face.  Finally the two young women -- who were just about the same age -- stood by the microphone, hugged Merle and sang some harmony.  "Folks," he said, "I want to introduce you to my youngest wife and my oldest daughter."  Absolutely classic.

 Listening to: "Until We Meet Again" -- Johnny Otis

[Pirate Looks at --]

The Grateful Dead covered Mama Tried 297 times! Just over the last few years have I developed an appreciation of Merle. Hearing the dead do Mama Tried, listening to Gram Parsons and many others co ER his music. I now have several Merle records and can see how he re-shaped country music and classic rock n roll through the influence he had on Parsons and many others. It is unbelievable that he had 40 #1 songs in his career spanning 7 decades. RIP!