R.I.P. Merle Haggard

[aubie79]

This really sucks.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/06/entert...ies/index.html

[willyjack]

Born and died on the same date 79 years apart.

[Tx Noob]

Rest in Peace, Hag, we'll miss you.

https://youtu.be/w99UIu9N44w

[Laura Lynn]

It was so sad to hear he passed, and to do so on his birthday. :-(

[Chung Tran]

greatest Country artist ever, IMO.. the whole package, voice, instrumentation, and (especially) songwriting.. I saw him less than a year ago with Willie and Kris at Winstar, and in 1998 at Billy Bob's the night he recorded the live album there (it's "killer", btw)..

[Knight2554]

I think its poetic to die on your birthday. He was one of the best.

[Chung Tran]

Originally Posted by Knight2554

I think its poetic to die on your birthday. He was one of the best.

Thomas Jefferson and Ho Chi Minh both died on the day of "liberation" for their respective Countries .. good company there..

[sweet_k47]

Yep great man and musician is gone but hey if I can go out on my B-Day I think thats fine, you come into this world on that day and you leave this world on that day, something to be said for that. RIP Merle

[debeter]

I have to agree with you Chung, Merle was a whole package, singing, instrument, and songwriting. It is ashamed to see him pass, especially on his birthday...

What I must ask you Chung is did he show up on time at Winstar & in 1998 at Billybobs ?
Notorious for always showing up late if at all...

[pyramider]

He was old, what did ya'll expect?

[Chung Tran]

Originally Posted by debeter

What I must ask you Chung is did he show up on time at Winstar & in 1998 at Billybobs ?
Notorious for always showing up late if at all...

he did, although I guess he had extra incentive.. at Winstar he opened with a few songs, before Kristofferson came onstage.. with 3 guys playing solo and together, I imagine the schedule was necessarily tight, no room for tardiness.

at Billy Bob's? as you know, I'm sure, club shows generally don't have a specific start time.. but since Merle was recording the "live" album, I'm sure the schedule was rigid then, too.. it was New Year's Eve, and he finished the set at Midnight.. he encored with "Auld Lang Syne", that song was left off the album, probably because it was "out of place" with the others, and was obviously unrehearsed.

[Butch Cassidy]

Mamma Tried

[DallasRain]

a true legend...RIP!