OT: RIP Merle Haggard

[djg21]

One of the great singer-songwriters and outlaw country performers. Even if you don't like country music, you know his songs, that were covered by everyone: Mama Tried (The Dead amongst others); Sing Me Back Home (Gram Parsons with the Byrds among others); The Bottle Let Me Down; and Okie from Muskogee to name just a few.

Another loss for the music world, and he was performing until the end.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/merle-haggard-revered-country-singer-of-common-man-anthems-dies-at-79/2016/04/06/39647f2c-fc1e-11e5-80e4-c381214de1a3_story.html

[gdw]

One of the greats. The good times are really over for good.

[livingminimal]

What!?!? Ahhh ····. This sucks. RIP.

[guido]

Sad sad news...

[Dead Man]

He sure had a good run

I still sing Mama Tried at the top of my lungs at least once or twice a month

RIP Hag

[OtayBW]

'Sing Me Back Home' now in effect.
RIP Merle. You will be missed.

[txcid05]

Sad news...I saw him about 3 years back and was shocked he was still active. I will certainly miss him. "Silver Wings" is probably one of my all time favs.

[pbarry]

A good one gone. Dang. Prison to glory and he still spoke his mind.

Just discovered Sturgill Simpson. Maybe an heir to MH, or at least someone who pays tribute to Merle, and Waylon, with his songs.

[Drmojo]

I'd like to settle down but they won't let me...
The most soulful country singer in my book.
AND the San Quentin cred--he was inside, Johnny got to go home after his performances--and he never "shot a man in Reno"
Both gone now to the honky tonk in the sky.

[pbarry]

^^Well said. Thank you.

[djg21]

A good one gone. Dang. Prison to glory and he still spoke his mind.

Just discovered Sturgill Simpson. Maybe an heir to MH, or at least someone who pays tribute to Merle, and Waylon, with his songs.

I was just listening to a cut from his upcoming release A Sailor's Guide To The Earth. http://pitchfork.com/news/63936-sturgill-simpson-announces-new-album-a-sailors-guide-to-earth-shares-brace-for-impact-live-a-little/ It is really good. Check out Parker Milsap too. He is a young up-and-coming alt.country/Americana singer-songwriter who is getting a lot of attention.

[Saint Vitus]

Man, could he sing and write a damn good song.

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

[pbarry]

I was just listening to a cut from his upcoming release A Sailor's Guide To The Earth. http://pitchfork.com/news/63936-sturgill-simpson-announces-new-album-a-sailors-guide-to-earth-shares-brace-for-impact-live-a-little/ It is really good. Check out Parker Milsap too. He is a young up-and-coming alt.country/Americana singer-songwriter who is getting a lot of attention.

Yes, he's good. The new stuff is a bit over produced for my taste, but he has a recent fondness for late Elvis work. Simpson's live tracks on utube are excellent. Will check out Parker as well. Thanks for the tip.

God bless Merle.

[gemship]

One of the greats. The good times are really over for good.

congrats for crawling out from under that heavy rock. Those times you speak of were ancient times fwiw, it's been awhile. This world is going to hell in a handbasket.

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Man, could he sing and write a damn good song.

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

Plus about one billion. A legend. RIP Hag.

[Tickdoc]

Definitely a good run.

I took my daughter to see Mumford and Sons last night, and they did a great "Okie from Muskogee" rendition in his honor.

Lots of the great ones lost here lately.

[cadence90]

One of my dearest friends was an avid musician, and a huge MH fan. He passed away much too young (39) of a brain tumor. It was horrible.

We had played college soccer together; one of our coaches was Libyan, and could not (or would not) pronounce the word "b*tch" correctly.

So Keith, imitating, used to say, "Merle might be a soon uf a bilch, but he sure does make me happy."

RIP Keith; RIP Merle.

[malcolm]

Just heard this am, I think it was on his birthday as well.
"I think I'll just stay here and drink"
Great singer, writer, musician. Never got to see him perform and that makes me sad

[cadence90]

Just heard this am, I think it was on his birthday as well.
"I think I'll just stay here and drink"
Great singer, writer, musician. Never got to see him perform and that makes me sad
Yes, it was his birthday. A good day to go, imo.

[redir]

When I think about Country I think about the old Hag. He was pretty much the living, walking, breathing, embodiment of hard livin' down on yer luck and back up again country.

Truly the last of his breed.

[OtayBW]

For anyone who appreciates real country music (vs. whatever it is that they play on the radio nowadays...), you'll note the real distinction between the 'Bakersfield Sound' that Merle, Buck Owens and others developed and 'the Nashville Sound'. In that context, it's no wonder to me that Merle's sound endures.

[fiamme red]

For anyone who appreciates real country music (vs. whatever it is that they play on the radio nowadays...), you'll note the real distinction between the 'Bakersfield Sound' that Merle, Buck Owens and others developed and 'the Nashville Sound'. In that context, it's no wonder to me that Merle's sound endures.We shouldn't forget about Red Simpson, who died this year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/arts/music/red-simpson-singer-songwriter-who-helped-define-the-bakersfield-sound-dies-at-81.html

[trener1]

Anyone that wants to check out Sturgil Simpson, you can stream his new album here http://www.npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen

[rounder]

Merle was an honest decent guy. RIP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcUZst4vcAM

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=union+station+that%27s+the+way+love+goes&&view=detail&mid=0DD17E5C18D596D1D2F30DD17E5C18D596D1D2F3&FORM=VRDGAR

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=shaun+colvin+and+mary+chapin+carpenter+th at%27s+the+way+love+goes&&view=detail&mid=9FDD461D3228ED64E5089FDD461D3228ED64E508&FORM=VRDGAR