Country music legend Merle Haggard dies at 79

[Garion_55]

Source: http://www.wsmv.com

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
Country music legend Merle Haggard has died, his manager confirmed. He turned 79 on Wednesday.

Haggard’s manager said he died at 9:20 a.m. in California.

Haggard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994. He was best known for his 1969 hit Okie From Muskogee, along with dozens of other No. 1



Read more: http://www.wsmv.com/story/31658132/country-music-legend-merle-haggard-dies-at-79#ixzz454PKL4Au

Read more: http://www.wsmv.com/story/31658132/country-music-legend-merle-haggard-dies-at-79

[mac56]

1. Hag.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

2. Damn

[Az_lefty]

3. RIP Merle

you were one of the good guys

[monmouth4]

4. Loved him. RIP sir, you gave us such wonderful music that will live on..n/t

[roguevalley]

22. oh god. this is terrible. his voice was the soundtrack of my

good times

[monmouth4]

27. He truly was one of a kind, handsome, great voice, he had it all..n/t

[Peacetrain]

5. Oh no.. he was an original for sure

[DinahMoeHum]

6. ". . .turned 21 in prison doing life without parole. . ."

Rest in Peace, Merle Haggard


Mama Tried

[2naSalit]

29. The song that made me take notice

when I was in my early teens.

RIP, Merle. Don't need to get yer sweet country pickin' finger all covered with earth anymore.

[hollowdweller]

35. It's better with a JOINT than with a DRINK...I think

Love that tune. Written by Nick Gravenites who played with Electric Flag and Quicksilver.

[2naSalit]

56. Wow, that's right!

I knew that once upon a time.

[Stryder]

49. First thing I remember knowin...

Actually, the first tune I knew all the words to.
5 yrs old? Maybe 6? But I was hooked.
I'm a rocker in the all and all, but that's built on a rock solid foundation of
Merle and Johnny and Patsy and George...
God Speed Sir. You will be missed.

[elljay]

7. Saw him in 2011

at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park, SF and he was phenomenal. I am not a country music fan, with the exception of bluegrass and some folk, but Merle was a definite exception. What a great musician and performer! So sorry he is gone.

[hollowdweller]

37. My dream has always been to go to that festival. I live in WV.

Now that I'm retired maybe I can make it.

[elljay]

41. You can watch much of it online

By no means all of the acts (there are too many and it is overwhelming), but it is still great! Make sure you dress for both summer and winter (at the same time). If you've ever been to SF, you will understand what I mean.

http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2015/webcast/
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2014/webcast/
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2013/webcast/archive.html
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2012/stream.shtml
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/warren/stream.shtml

[deurbano]

8. Damn. I just saw him at the Paramount in Oakland in February.

RIP, Merle. We came from the same Central Valley area... and his music has been an important part of my life. One of my best memories of him was a concert at the Mountain Winery (or a similar venue) in Saratoga, with Kris Kristofferson opening... and later, Joan Baez and John Prine joining Kris and Merle on stage for a rendition of Okie from Muskogee.

He didn't look well when we saw him in February... and his voice was compromised since he had dragged himself back on the road (too soon) after being hospitalized with double pneumonia. It was inspiring, though, to see someone who still loved what he was doing that much.

[elljay]

42. Here's a video from Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

from the day before you saw them in Saratoga. Enjoy!

[deurbano]

53. Thanks so much! I needed that today.

I have a low quality video on some computer somewhere of the Saratoga version... but this is great. I first saw Kristofferson around 1972.

[SixString]

9. Godspeed Merle.

&index=27&list=PLB4700453ABB47F2D&nohtml5=False

[hollowdweller]

38. Jerry did a great version of that

[Zira]

10. Very sorry to hear this. RIP.

[dinkytron]

11. Thanks for the music & the 'tude, Merle. Safe passage to that Honky Tonk in the sky. Say hi to Buck.

[tabasco]

12. I like his music, and we will have it forever.

RIP.

[DebbieCDC]

13. I can never think of Merle Haggard without this song coming to mind

[link:http://

|

[redwitch]

17. I have always loved this song!

Thanks for posting it. RIP Mr. Haggard.

[BarbaRosa]

19. The band I was in during the 70's played this song.

Rest easy Merle.

[Yavin4]

14. This has been a rough year for music.

And it's only April.

[Stryder]

50. Ain't that the fucking truth.

Pardon my French but I was just considering how the artists
that wrote the music of my life aren't gonna be around forever
and this is going to, of course, not get better.
I mean, I'm sorry today's musicians, but what do you have
that will be in a major movie soundtrack 40 yrs from now?
I'm sure there's some out there but I have a slim chance
of ever hearing it through the Money Filter.
You know, hip 3 minute ditty's.

[vkkv]

15. RIP - He seemed like one of the good ones....... eom

[Paladin]

16. We continue to lose the good ones.

Merle Haggard had more demonstrated ability than any 20 of the non-talented "singers" who presently pollute C&W music. A great loss of a great artist and man.

[MynameisBlarney]

18. Aw man

RIP Merle!

[leftofcool]

20. Rest in Peace Merle

[dhill926]

21. aw damn...

yet another great one gone. Will raise a glass tonight. Saw him in Indy, where his song "The News" confounded the crimson necked ones. Needless to say, we hooted all the louder....

[tularetom]

23. Local guy and a true poet

Not just some pop singer with a guitar and a cowboy hat.

I'll miss him.

[pinebox]

24. This sucks ass..............

RIP Merle........

[Capt.Rocky300]

25. I flew him on a charter flight from Redding, CA.....

to Bakersfield many years ago. A true gentleman. Treated me like an old friend with a handshake, a smile while looking into my eyes. I'll never forget it.

RIP Mr. Haggard

[El Supremo]

26. I loved his Jimmie Rogers album

[erpowers]

28. Mama Tried

I first learned about Merle Haggard through the TV cop show Southland. In one episode two of the cops arrest a guy and after bringing the guy to the jail one of the stops starts singing Mama Tried. I looked up the song and liked it from the first time I heard the lyrics.

[Punkingal]

30. A voice as smooth as good scotch.

My personal favorite:

[montana_hazeleyes]

45. What a neat song.

RIP Merle

[BumRushDaShow]

31. R.I.P.

2016 is taking so many.

[olddad56]

32. One of the best ever

[bigwillq]

33. RIP

[olddad56]

34. one of my favorites

[In_The_Wind]

46. That was also my favorite.

[olddad56]

55. yes, Merle, maybe they are. Especially with you gone..

[olddad56]

36. wow, passed away on his birthday.

[HuckleB]

39. Rest in peace, Hag.

[ET Awful]

40. RIP Merle

Pancho needs your prayers it's true
but save a few for Lefty too.
He only did what he had to do.
And now he's growing old.


Just as a little family history - my mothers uncle was very big in the Bakersfield music scene and worked a LOT with Merle, Buck Owens, Bonnie Owens, etc. This song was written for him:

[El Supremo]

43. The ending to 'Centennial':

[Bayard]

44. Never been a country fan

But the duet he does with Don Henley on his last album, "Cost of Living", is certainly a good'un.

[840high]

51. I loved old country - this

new stuff not much. RIP

[In_The_Wind]

47. Rest in peace, Merle

[Frank Cannon]

48. If We Make It Through December

Only Merle Haggard would make a Christmas album where the main track is about how terrible it is to be poor at Christmas.

RIP, Merle. You truly understood. You were the best.

[redstateblues]

52. I played with an act that opened for Merle.

He was very kind and autographed an 8x10 for me. He was the real deal. RIP

[Odin2005]

54. Oh no!!!