Merle Haggard has died

[fabtastique]

Country music singer Merle Haggard dead at 79
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35981077

[Dianna]

Oh no!!!!

[Dianna]

here is the article. I still can't believe it . this has been the crappiest year in terms of losing our great musical heroes. And on his birthday



American country music singer Merle Haggard has died of pneumonia on his 79th birthday, his manager confirmed.
Mr Haggard was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame with dozens of albums and top hits.
He wrote songs, sang and played fiddle and guitar, usually singing about American pride, rebels and outlaws.
The singer, who battled lung cancer in 2008, had recently cancelled April tour dates due to illness and said he hoped to be back on the road in May.
Rolling Stone magazine has described him as "the backbone of one of the greatest repertoires an all of American music, plain-spoken songs populated by the kinds of working people Haggard grew up with: farmers, hobos, convicts, widows, musicians and drunks".

[Richard W]

This is sad.

I grew up on Haggard. My mom was a huge fan and played and sang to his records all the time.

I saw him in concert a few years ago here in Chicago with Willie Nelson and Ray Price in a show that, as it turned out, was videotaped for PBS. He was great.

And didn't he once say that Linda was his favorite female singer?

So long, Merle. You accomplished so much.

[Dianna]

This is one my favorite songs by Merle. Lots of beautiful music today in the honky tonk section of Heaven..

[erik]

Yes, the Hag named Linda his favorite female singer back in 1988, as I recall.

Either way, his passing is a cataclysmic loss, for the country music community in particular, but really for American music in general. Even though there are some who still associate him with flag-waving homilies like "Okie From Muskogee" or "The Fightin' Side Of Me", we should also keep in mind such classics as "Today I Started Loving You Again"; "Lonesome Fugitive"; "Branded Man" (he spent a couple of years in San Quentin); "Mama Tried"; "Silver Wings" (which Linda did with the Earl Scruggs Revue); and tons of others as well.

This pretty much leaves us, at least in terms of country music legends, with Willie Nelson (and I fear it won't be too long before Glen Campbell passes on as well). But it has sure been a terrible last sixteen months in terms of the greats that we've lost, not only because we've lost them, but also because no one is really there to take their place and carry on the tradition of what Glenn Frey said "Be part of something good/Leave something good behind."

[Dianna]

Apr 6, 2016 14:16:21 GMT -5 erik said:

This pretty much leaves us, at least in terms of country music legends, with Willie Nelson (and I fear it won't be too long before Glen Campbell passes on as well). But it has sure been a terrible last sixteen months in terms of the greats that we've lost, not only because we've lost them, but also because no one is really there to take their place and carry on the tradition of what Glenn Frey said "Be part of something good/Leave something good behind."

That is correct Erik.. A lot of people I know have pretty much checked out of country music.. The other day I was at a flea market and they had Buck Owens playing in the background and at that moment confirmed to me that it isn't the same anymore.. now with Merle's passing..very sad for us fans who love the music. and Glenn is right. The good news is there are a few artists out there trying to keep the tradition alive.. Chris Stapleton for one and even Lindy Ortega for the ladies and many others. just wish her music would get the recognition it deserves

[the Scribe]

Linda's tribute to Merle

[sliderocker]

I initially posted the news of Haggard's death just a little after noon my time but pulled it after I saw another story that said the report of his death was a hoax. I didn't want to be the one spreading a false story. But, apparently, it was true and the story about his death being a hoax was the hoax. It may have been not all of his family had been notified at the time, not like that would've stopped the news media before in being the first to report it. Merle was a giant of an icon and as such, irreplaceable, as he was also influential not only in the country genre but also even in the rock genre. RIP.

[erik]

Quote by Dianna:

That is correct Erik.. A lot of people I know have pretty much checked out of country music.. The other day I was at a flea market and they had Buck Owens playing in the background and at that moment confirmed to me that it isn't the same anymore.. now with Merle's passing..very sad for us fans who love the music. and Glenn is right. The good news is there are a few artists out there trying to keep the tradition alive.. Chris Stapleton for one and even Lindy Ortega for the ladies and many others. just wish her music would get the recognition it deserves

The way country music radio is run these days, Merle could never have gotten anything of his, let alone what he did between 1967 and 1987, played on the radio (and that goes for Buck as well). It's a dreadful shame. In terms of Chris Stapleton, yes, he's very much in the classic MH mould (with "Nobody To Blame", especially, being in that style); and Lindi being very much of an encyclopedia of everything from 50s rockabilly to Merle and Johnny Cash (1960s), through to Linda and Emmy. But what you have now, with very few real exceptions like Lindi or Chris, is virtually an entire town full of poseurs singing more or less what Merle himself called songs about "screwing girls on tailgates"--this being what is known as Bro-Country; and the only two women who get played with any frequency are Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert. To this end, it's mind-bustingly horrible to lose this paragon of the genre, especially with how important he was to the growth of it in California in the 60s.

[commenter]

There always seems to be a rush here on this forum to be the first to post a famous death. Just an observation.

Musical tastes change over time and are influenced by the new. The only thing consistent is change. Many like the new style and will be lamenting newer influences down the road. Maybe for the better, maybe not. Merle himself wasn't exactly traditional for his time either. Meanwhile RIP Merle Haggard.

[the Scribe]

Merle Haggard Predicted His Death, Son Says

By Sterling Whitaker April 6, 2016 3:19 PM

Read More: Merle Haggard's Son Says He Predicted His Death | tasteofcountry.com/merle-haggard-predicted-his-death-ben-haggard/?trackback=tsmclip

Merle Haggard‘s son, Ben Haggard, has posted to social media in the wake of his father’s passing, revealing that the country icon eerily predicted the date of his own death.

Haggard passed away on Wednesday afternoon (April 6), on his 79th birthday, and in a post to Facebook, his son — who also played in his band — shares that the ailing county legend knew his time was coming.

“A week ago dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn’t wrong,” the younger Haggard writes. “A hour ago he took his last breath surrounded by family and friends.”

He goes on to pay tribute to his father’s life and enduring legacy.

“He loved everything about life and he loved that everyone of you gave him a chance with his music. He wasn’t just a country singer. He was the best country singer that ever lived.”

The Country Music Hall of Famer canceled tour dates in December of 2015 after checking into a hospital and learning he had double pneumonia. He was hospitalized for two weeks and canceled shows scheduled for Jan. 30 and 31 after his double pneumonia returned. At the end of March, the singer-songwriter announced he was canceling all of his scheduled shows for April on doctor’s orders, revealing that his family had asked him to stop touring. Still, he remained hopeful that he would be able to return to the stage.

“I want to thank my fans for their prayers and well wishes. I hope to be back on the road in May, but I’m taking it one day at a time,” Haggard said at the end of March. Sadly, that was not to be; those few scattered shows in the early part of 2016 would prove to be the final live dates of his iconic career.

tasteofcountry.com/merle-haggard-predicted-his-death-ben-haggard/#photogallery-1=1

[Dianna]

Apr 6, 2016 17:49:06 GMT -5 commenter said:

There always seems to be a rush here on this forum to be the first to post a famous death. Just an observation.
Musical tastes change over time and are influenced by the new. The only thing consistent is change. Many like the new style and will be lamenting newer influences down the road. Maybe for the better, maybe not. Merle himself wasn't exactly traditional for his time either. Meanwhile RIP Merle Haggard.

Yes.. for me, many times it is shocking. and this is Linda's forum.. a musical forum, many people on this forum, like myself might be interested in other artists .. I always appreciate it when others post the obituaries be it here or other social media outlets..

As far as the new country music sounds. I disagree. I realize music changes. but shouldn't it get better or even just as good but different with evolution? There is a YUGE movement in bringing back country music going on right now so this isn't an isolated complaint..

[sliderocker]

Apr 6, 2016 17:49:06 GMT -5 commenter said:

There always seems to be a rush here on this forum to be the first to post a famous death. Just an observation.

Musical tastes change over time and are influenced by the new. The only thing consistent is change. Many like the new style and will be lamenting newer influences down the road. Maybe for the better, maybe not. Merle himself wasn't exactly traditional for his time either. Meanwhile RIP Merle Haggard.

I don't think there is a rush by anyone here on this forum to be the first to post the death of a famous person. It may be those who post death notices may have some time available to catch those news stories and make them available for other members who may not have heard the news or missed the news. In a 24-hour news cycle, it's real easy to miss something like the death of a celebrity.

And there is also the possibility of a bigger story coming along and relegating a celebrity death to forgotten status. Even another celebrity dying, as what happened in 2009 when Farrah Fawcett died from cancer. The 24-hour news media had only covered her death a couple of hours when Michael Jackson died suddenly and then her passing became unimportant to them and Michael's passing became the bigger story. No one wants to be first on posting a news story of a celebrity's passing.

There were celebrities I did not know had passed and I don't care who posts the story here first. If the celebrity is someone I followed and like, I want to know about it. I loved singer Gayle McCormick, one of the best female rock vocalists who ever lived and had it not been for markv posting the story of her death, I would've missed that news altogether and been that much sadder if I had found out later. I was stunned, to say the least.

And I would venture many people may not have realized that Merle had been in ill health for some time and were quite shocked when he died today. My brother and a friend of his did not know he had been in seriously ill health. I knew because of this forum. It doesn't matter who posted first because someone is going to be first with that kind of news anyway. Merle has fans here. That was and is the important thing.

As mentioned, I posted earlier today and I just happened to have the day off from work and I posted that story for Merle's fans here. And that was all that mattered to me. And when I saw the story saying the report of the death was a hoax and scam, I deleted the story within a few minutes of the posting. But, the news of Merle's passing was starting to be picked up and if it was a hoax and scam, every news organization was buying into it. Pity it couldn't have been but who posted first is immaterial and of no consequence in the grand scheme of things.

[rick]

[Nobodys]

Oh wow. Merele was raised in a Tiny House. (converted railroad car)

[fabtastique]

I really loved his album "I Am What I Am" from around 2009/2010

He was a great man

[goldie]

Our generation sure has had a wealth of talent that we only seem to praise when its gone.

We ought to be celebrating some of them before they leave us.  Any nominations for the underappreciated living?

[the Scribe]

This may be part of why so many of us on this forum feel a kinship to Merle:

Merle Haggard: ‘It’s Almost Criminal What They Do With Our President’
By Ashley Iasimone December 30, 2010 2:30 PM
Read More: Merle Haggard: 'It's Criminal What They Do to Our President' | tasteofcountry.com/merle-haggard-president-obama/?trackback=tsmclip

After being honored at the White House for his lifetime achievements in the performing arts and outstanding contributions to American culture, Merle Haggard is forming an opinion about President Barack Obama based on character, not political agenda. The 73-year-old country legend, who has actually visited the White House as a guest of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan in years past, made an appearance in Washington D.C. for the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors. While there, he mingled with the President, the President’s wife and several other notable honorees.

“It was also nice to meet Obama and find him very different from the media makeout. It’s really almost criminal what they [the media] do with our President,” Haggard tells Rolling Stone. “There seems to be no shame or anything. They call him all kinds of names all day long, saying he’s doing certain things that he’s not. It’s just a big old political game that I don’t want to be part of. There are people spending their lives putting him down.”

“I’m sure some of it’s true and some of it’s not,” he continues. “I was very surprised to find the man very humble and he had a nice handshake. His wife was very cordial to the guests and especially me. They made a special effort to make me feel welcome. It was not at all the way the media described him to be.”

“He’s not conceited,” he adds. “He’s very humble about being the President of the United States, especially in comparison to some presidents we’ve had who come across like they don’t need anybody’s help. I think he knows he’s in over his head. Anybody with any sense who takes that job and thinks they can handle it must be an idiot.”

While his post-event conversation was deep and thoughtful, the actual evening wasn’t all so grave. Haggard enjoyed chatting with fellow honorees Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey and more, and he had the chance to kid around — and bond — with the President for a moment, too.

“I told him, ‘You and I have something in common: Our wives are both taller than we are,'” Haggard jokes. “And he said, ‘No! She’s got on three-inch heels! And she is not that tall!’ He was like me. He grabbed that real quick.”

Haggard’s most recent album release is 2010’s ‘I Am What I Am,’ but he’s also revealed an inkling of an upcoming musical project: a “Musketeers” supergroup of sorts with Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. “I’m sure if we’re healthy and live to do it, we’ll do it,” he says.

Quit Complaining About Modern Country Music!



Much was made of Merle Haggard's "That's the News," a scathing indictment of media culture and the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq. A simple country song, it's the kind of thing Haggard had been writing throughout his entire career in his celebration of core American values. And because he's critical of the American government, listeners should not make the mistake that Haggard suddenly became a pacifist or sympathetic to the American left.

This is a good idea: (and something Bernie is looking to do)



Not sure this is the last word but it is an interesting take on Merle Haggard and Country Music:

[rick]

From The New York Times --


Steve Earle: The Other Side of Merle Haggard

[erik]

I think Steve had it right, about how the young people of the late 1960s and early 1970s might have felt about Merle, but also how someone should not be pegged a certain way for life because of how they might have felt at any particular moment with their politics. To this day, too many people still tag Merle with being a "Rightie" because of "Okie From Muskogee" and "The Fightin' Side Of Me", when there was more to the man before those two, and much more still to come after it.

As is so often the case about life in general, so it is with individual people, including stark individuals like Merle: Things are always mixed.

[moe]

I am so sorry to hear of Merle' s passing.  Some comments concerning his intention with "Oakie" and "Fighting side" reminds me of a story I heard or read (the latter I think-perhaps in Playboy?) back when "Oakie" was current so this was really a long time ago. Seems it was a item of great amusement to Merle and his band riding on the tour bus and singing "Oakie" while passing around a joint.  This leads me to believe, as one of the previous pieces said, the man and his musical themes didn't always perfectly align. I'd like to believe he had a well developed sense of irony.  Beside the two songs mentioned were a tiny part of his remarkable body of work.  But in keeping with the spirit of the perhaps apocryphal tale above I have an urge to fire up a fat boy in the great man's honor.