[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by sunnyspring

Nothing lasts forever and when your number's up your number's up. Just think how many country music artists he influenced and how his influence will prevail in spite of his loss. This is the sign of a true legend when you are able to keep hearing the great after the great has passed. Live on Merle.

[Bass&Catfish2008]

It's been over a week since the Greatest in Country Music passed.

Another tip of the hat to Merle this morning. Enjoy if you haven't already seen this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4V3S7kGNjY

[Bass&Catfish2008]

It's been two weeks since our man died. Let's let him sing us into the weekend. One my favorites right here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EiwLvIF4tNA.

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Here's another great one that is often forgotten by the Greatest of All Time, simply the Hag. I thought it would be a great idea if we posted a Haggard song at least once a week in his honor. He's done as much or more as anybody putting Oklahoma on the map. Tip of the hat to the Hag today.


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

[Rubi3]

Bass&Catfish, that's definitely a great idea! Thanks.

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by Rubi3

Bass&Catfish, that's definitely a great idea! Thanks.

I guess our friend and Okie Brother Merle knows "what it's like to be there" now.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZdbB8sP8do

[janellen]

OK, I'll keep this thread alive awhile longer. Merle was also much loved in my area in California. He was born in Kern County and he and Buck Owens spent a lot of time preforming at The Billboard for the local folks. These songs bring back lots of great memories for me.

Tulare Dust isn't well known, but it described Tulare and Kern Counties in early prior dust bowl days perfectly.




Then there's his song about the Kern River which shows his house at the mouth of the Kern Canyon where he lived for quite a few years. It overlooked the river.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Rubi3

Merle Haggard put Muskogee on the map, a map that goes around the world. The local newspaper, "The Muskogee Phoenix," pretty much devoted today's edition to honoring Haggard. He was all set to head a music festival in Muskogee in June.

Several years ago, while visiting in a small settlement on Cape Cod, MA I arranged to play bridge one evening with a group of strangers. When I arrived and was asked where I was from, the room echoed, "You're an Okie from Muskogee!"

We even checked Muskogee out for retirement because of the song and our love for the area. He sure did make the world seem like a smaller place. He was a good man and a great entertainer. Of course I am partial to people from Ok and the surrounding states. My dad and his sister were born in OK. The only country singer I can think of I loved as much as Merle was Marty Robbins.

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by nmnita

We even checked Muskogee out for retirement because of the song and our love for the area. He sure did make the world seem like a smaller place. He was a good man and a great entertainer. Of course I am partial to people from Ok and the surrounding states. My dad and his sister were born in OK. The only country singer I can think of I loved as much as Merle was Marty Robbins.

Amen Sister!

I've always felt a close kinship with Arkies, feeling like, along with a chunk of Tejas, the folks of Arkansas are more like Okies than other states. I think many folks from eastern Oklahoma feel that way.

I'm with ya on The Hag. My favorite singer (in any genre) by far. I'll miss seeing him live, but his music will live on. He's the greatest in my opinion: a true triple threat = great songwriter, great singer, and great instrumentalist.

[Rubi3]

Discovered at the library an autobiography by Willie Nelson, which I'm reading. He and Merle Haggard were good friends so here's a duet by them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiVGH-62Hn8