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I've just heard (via Sylvie Simmons Facebook page) that Merle Haggard has died on his 79th birthday. I'm not overly familiar with his music, though I know he wrote "Okie From Muskogee" and this song, which I've always liked:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N7vLaAM8Ok

This is very sad news. Condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

I have been hearing Merle Haggard's music since the early 80s and have never stopped. My parents loved his music too (in an Indian household !). His life was a John Steinbeck novel. I remember an article on Okies in National Geographic in the 80s and the entire article used lines from his songs as backdrop or theme.

Going Where the Lonely Go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohyrBDJkksM

This Song is Mine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlEGkf7R2y0

Kennedy Center Honors 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f1d1JUxuno

RIP.

He was a marvellous singer. One of those few people who, when listening to their songs, one realises that they have lived every word.

Aw, no. Not Merle.

Workin' Man Blues
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Dqo--Ly3g

Bob Dylan on Merle Haggard

"Merle Haggard has always been as deep as deep gets," Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone in 2009. "Totally himself. Herculean. Even too big for Mount Rushmore. No superficiality about him whatsoever. He definitely transcends the country genre. If Merle had been around Sun Studio in Memphis in the Fifties, Sam Phillips would have turned him into a rock & roll star, one of the best."

RIP and Respect

Marty Stuart, Kris Kristofferson and Micah Nelson (Willie's son) were in attendance at Merle Haggard's funeral.

http://theboot.com/merle-haggard-funeral/


Merle Haggard‘s private funeral service on Saturday (April 9) was, appropriately, full of music. Both family and dear friends remembered the country legend through songs during the ceremony, held on Haggard’s property in Palo Cedro, Calif.

Officiated by Marty Stuart, Haggard’s funeral was pre-planned by the artist himself. As requested, a recording of Lefty Frizzell’s “I Love You a Thousand Ways” played to begin the service, while Connie Smith performed “Precious Memories,” and Smith and Stuart (who are husband and wife) sang Haggard’s own “Silver Wings.”

Additionally, the Bakersfield Californian reports, Kris Kristofferson played three songs: “For a Moment of Forever,” “Sing Me Back Home” and “Pancho & Lefty;” he was joined on the latter by Willie Nelson‘s son Micah. Ronnie Reno, a former member of Haggard’s band the Strangers, performed “Life’s Railway to Heaven,” and Haggard’s sons Marty, Noel and Ben ended the funeral with “Today I Started Loving You Again.”

According to the Californian, guests at Haggard’s service included surviving original Strangers Fuzzy Owen (manager, bus driver and steel guitarist), Don Markham (trumpet and saxophone player), Biff Adam (drummer) and Norm Hamlet (steel player). Also acknowledged were Roy Nichols (guitarist) and Bonnie Owens (singer), both deceased.

Following a bout of pneumonia, Haggard died on Wednesday (April 6), his 79th birthday. As previously reported, his pallbearers included son Ben and nephew Jim. The singer wished to be cremated.

“He loved everything about life, and he loved that every one of you gave him a chance with his music,” his son Ben writes. “He wasn’t just a country singer … He was the best country singer that ever lived.”

Tom Russell has been posting a number of Merle Haggard songs on his facebook page...

Haggard's Bakersfield and Valley songs echo Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie. The Bread Basket of the Nation. The labor camps. The heart of the working man. I recorded a medley of "Tulare Dust" and "They're Tearing the Labor Camps Down" on Dave Alvin and TR's tribute to Merle - "Tulare Dust." Met Merle several times - Iris Dement took me to meet him on his bus after we sang with him at The Fillmore West. Merle looked at me and said "Son, thanks for recording' 'Labor Camps,' I'd forgotten I'd written it…" An honor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31zDsrwh0o

A few of his other "Bakersfield and Valley" songs

Tulare Dust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQi_SxVP_M4

Hungry Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuraB0OHkvs

I remember Daddy prayin' for a better way of life
But I don't recall a change of any size
Just a little loss of courage as their age began to show
And more sadness in my Mama's hungry eyes

In my Next Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKdjOXxbF70

Daddy Frank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9AgV0Gkk64


Another definitive Merle Haggard song, nailed by the great Steve Young - who also died recently. A legend that never got his due. He took this song personally…it's on our tribute to Merle: "Tulare Dust." Last August Merle's manager wrote me: "I gave Merle your package. He received it just before his long trip back to California at the end of the tour. They played your album "The Rose of Roscrae" on the new bus stereo system. Merle understood the scope of the project. He told me last night that the project must have taken substantial time to develop. He enjoyed the music and the concept of the album." God bless him.

Shopping for Dresses (sung by Steve Young)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD4c6d4YvJI