Merle Haggard Died On His Tour Bus
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- Chris Scruggs shares some great Merle Haggard stories.
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I produced Hags concerts for 10 years and we never had a cross word. He was a great friend and a incredible singer and contributed so much to country music. For some reason his wife didn’t invite me to his funeral . Merle and I had a agreement. We could tell each other anything and it would never be told to anyone. Bob
Eubanks
Super cool. 😎 he was born the same week as my father.
Honoring and trusting each other is a rare thing. Sadly, I haven't found that kind of a friend. I'm a loner because of that. No amount of fame or fortune is more valuable than a true friend. As far as Merle's wife; You probably continue your trusted silence with her husband even after his passing.
Merle was country music, the only person so close to Hank Williams SNR, the songs he wrote, the way he sang them, what a man he was.
I “met” Merle Haggard in New York City back in 1987. I was in town to see the Marlboro Country Music concert at Madison Square Garden. I stopped into the Penn Plaza hotel to get a bite to eat, and ordered a burger and a beer. I looked down to the end of the bar, and the only other person in the place was Merle. I glanced down two or three times to be sure it was him. Finally he said, “Yeah, it’s me.” Not wanting to bother him I just said, “I love your music, I’m here for your show tonight.” He said, “I appreciate that. Hope you enjoy the show.” We both went back to eating our lunch. What a thrill! And the show was awesome!
I'm sure he appreciated the respect. I would have done same as you, no matter the admiration of an artist, I would not step into their private space. Lucky you, what a great chance though to get to see him!
@@debrajohnson5140 I had a lot of fun with the story with my friends. For the longest time I’d start a story with…”I was talking with Merle Haggard at the bar the other night….”
You two spoke to each other. That counts as a meeting.
LOL...Yeah, it's me .... THAT is Merle! Great story...you met a Legend, that day
I usually don't believe people but that just sounds like something he would say....he was so cool I loved that man
I AM AN 84 YEAR OLD HAGGARD FAN. THIS WAS GREAT, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merle Haggard, wow, just wow! The greatest voice in country music. He will never be equaled.
George Jones and Hank Williams wants to have a word with you. This coming from a Hag fanboy.
Johnny Cash was no slouch either.
@@bigorange000. Merle wrote great songs. Hank wrote great songs. George did not write songs, but he was a very expressive singer with a wonderful voice.
@@thomaspick4123 George Jones wrote several good songs.
Hag was definitely in the top 10 but if you're looking for a fine voice go listen to Ray Price, Johnny Bush, Mel Tillis, Faron Young, Curtis Potter, Gene Watson, Tony Booth, Darrell McCall.......
Love Chris so much. He's the real deal. Between Marty and Chris, they know country music history like nobody else. Thank you, Otis, for giving us this priceless vignette from Chris Scruggs. Gotta throw a few buck in the ol' tip jar for this. 🤠
How we all miss Merle Haggard.. Rest Easy great one!
"The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.
- Rabindranath Tagore
So true.... I'm almost 60 and just now figured that out
I have planted many,and am now old enough to enjoy the shade of many.
Chris Scruggs is an absolute treasure! It’s refreshing to know that there are people in this world that are still passionate in preserving and sharing the continuation and performance of music from eras long since passed. And also has a deep respect for those artists and sidemen/session players that created such great music. Thanks Otis for sharing and thank you Chris for being a beacon for preserving the history and performing.
❤ a beautiful surprise to have Chris Scruggs on today. I saw Merle Haggard last tour front and center. It was a privilege I’ve seen him before but I knew that I needed to get there and see him again.
Cool that he name checked Fuzzy Owens. My first real band was led by Fuzzy's cousin, Dale Owens, when I was 14 and the rest of the band were all in their 40s and 50s. One time, we were in Bakersfield for a gig and went to Fuzzy's house. Great Merle tales here, thanks Otis!
Wow! What memories you must have
No S "OWEN" 😑
I love listening to Chris. He's a living country music encyclopedia and has so much passion for it, in addition to being such a great musician. I was in Bakersfield just days before Merle passed. I ate dinner at Zingo's Diner, which is a place he often ate as well. They even have a picture of him behind the cash register. I remember the waitress telling me that he wasn't doing well. That was a sad day in music when he passed.
Oh yeah. I’m a Haggard fan too. He was so awesome.
I keep saying "that's my favorite interview " but that was for me. I started playing his songs when I was 4 years old and I've never played a show in all my years that I didnt do at least one Hag song, whether I was playing country or not. I'm 63 now and my old band of 70 something year olds still play Hag so gs just for us now. He had a presence about him and was the only famous person I was ever intimidated in any way by. I never got a chance to talk to him. I was supposed to go with a friend of his to meet him on his bus at a last minute deal, and I was at the store buying beer when I got the call and it was too late for me. Probably a song in there. My favorite artist ever.
Great music never dies
This story was so wonderful. Merle Haggard was such an inspiration to me. That you can do anything if you set your mind to it and work hard. RIP Merle Haggard.
What a GREAT story teller!!!
In 1971 my uncle let me use his car to pheasant hunt. In it was an 8 track and one of the few tapes he had was Merle Haggard and it was then I discovered this legend. My friends laughed at country music but a few got it. I turned them on to Hank and Merle and the few learned to appreciate their greatness and how rare artists like these were. Silver Wings was the song that got my attention and evolved from there. I love Misery and Gin too but he had so many to be definitive about that.
When Okie from Muskogee came out most of my generation mocked him but I knew better. Wish I had known then that song was written as a joke and Hag smoked more weed than all my friends put together.
Listening to this video alone made me remember that Haggard tape hunting pheasants and brought back such happy memories . Again!
Thanks for your content as it takes me to times in my life and situations that bring me much joy and happiness and much more. 😊
Great story and memories for you! Reminds me of an 8 track and a house speaker an uncle wired up in a 71 Volkswagen Karmin Ghia for me - I had 3 eight tracks that summer - ZZTop, Jimi Hendrix and Boston 💕💕💕
Another great interview. I've heard some of those stories a dozen times. I'd listen to them a dozen more. They are pure gold.
What an absolutely fantastic story. I was lucky enough to see Haggard perform in a theatre in Elkhart Indiana around 22 years ago give or take. It was a great night and a memory that will always stay with me. Merle was one of the giants. He left behind a great legacy.
I saw him open up for Dylan in Detroit at the Masonic Temple,,,,WOW
@@tomstiel7576 now that’s a treasured memory
Love Chris. Such a talented musician. Remember him in the old BR says. One of my brother in laws moved here 20 years ago or so. We were down on Broadway and walked into one of the bars. Saw Chris, and said hi Chris and he said hello. My brother in law said who was that? I said Earl Scruggs grandson, Chris. He said “ yea right”. Lol. Good times. Great interview once again Otis! 😉
Wow!!! This is all incredible!!!! the Long Black Veil story (one of my favorite songs) and the Lefty Frizzell Guitar history!!!! Fantastic. I think I once heard that the 1958 ? not sure if that's the right year, Lefty vocal recording of Long Black Veil was the very first take. That song is so haunting. My wife and I have a garage rehearsal room in our North Carolina home, and about 100 yards from the garage through the woods, and under a big old oak tree, in a beautiful mountain meadow is small old family cemetery. Whenever I hear that song, I have that place pictured in my mind.
My wife used to work at a grocery store in Redding that Merle would frequent. She said he would always go through her line because she never made a fuss about him. Said he was very quiet and polite. She didn’t have as kind of things to say about his wife and kids whenever they came through, though 😅
I worked at a GameStop in Redding, and we had a big beauty store next door. We’d always see his Escalade out front and he’s be sitting in the car, looking miserable, while his wife ran into the beauty shop 😂
Lmao. Such a legend..
Cheaper to keep em 💯...
Oh man, I used to live in Chico and really wish when I was up in Redding gigging I'd have thought of a way to try to figure out how to meet him.
Merle is my number one favorite. So good to hear Chris talk about it all. Those are fantastic amazing memories. Two great people, you and Chris, talking about my favorite country singer of all. Feeling lucky and blessed today. I’m going to remember this a long while. Thanks Otis.
I wrote a book about Merle, “ Merle Haggard was a friend of mine “. I knew Merle as a close friend for 50 years. I find this video spot on .
More Chris, please! I could listen to him all day.
That was absolute gold. Thanks Otis!✌️
Damn Otis. That may be the best story you've ever had on this channel.
I'm inclined to agree-just watched it today and Chris knows how to tell some stories--fine job! Cracked me up! Wish I'd had the honor of meeting Merle...
Merle is music treasure. His life is like a movie. Rip 🤘🏾🥃
Merle was the only person I know who could turn one note into at least a dozen or more.
Guitarist Clint Strong, one of the greatest of our generation played with Merle Haggard. Thanks for the video!
So fortunate to get to hear these stories.
Great story! I grew up on country and bluegrass but remembered when I was star struck in hearing… really hearing him sing when he was a guest on The Waltons. It was overwhelming! ❤ I was a fan after that.
Love Chris. Great showman and perfect addition to the Fabulous Superlatives.
Wow is all I can say. Thank you Otis, for capturing these stories and putting them out there. This is history.
Loving this in England - thanks Otis! More joyful stuff ✌️🎸✨
Hey, you finally got Chris to tell some stories - awesome!!!
I did see Merle in Melbourne Australia back in the late 90s or early 2000s. He was part of a huge package show and practically every Australian country singer of note was there either singing or hanging around for a meet with Merle. Great show.
I went to School with Buck Owens sons and Merrel Haggard s son and daughter I was born and raised in Bakersfield California
Great story, great storyteller. Thank you. ✌️
I love this!! My dear friend Lauren Ellis was hired to work on Hag's TuffDog Tele on one of his last gigs in Austin at the Moody Theatre. I went to the venue early with her and got to see Merle's guitar and his son's nice Tele as well. Marty and the Superlatives opened the show and BLEW MY MIND! They were one of the finest groups in any genre of music that I have ever seen. As Merle was about to start, his band was warming up the crowd before he came out. I needed to pee and instead of going out into the lobby, I decided to go backstage. I walked right into Merle's pre-show ritual meeting with just his inner circle. He looked up at me, and I saw that "prison look" that Chris is referring to. I think I peed a little right then in my pants, then got the hell out of there!
Marty was kind enough to let me play the Clarence B-bender that evening as well. Memorable night.
I met Chris when I was Maintenance at the country Music HOF , and He was doing Steel guitar Demos- in the Hall. He would bring a Fender Amp most times -but one time He brought an Ampeg, and Chris is a Great all around Player, But the sound he got with the Fender fairly Humbled that Ampeg. Talk about a guy born to be a real Musician -Chris is the total package !
Merle has been my favorite singer songwriter since I was ten years old in 1965 , I love to hear these stories thank you so much 🎶🎶🎶
Thanks for signing my guitar at Bucks Place in Bakersfield,i have four redwood trees in Visalia.
OMgosh what an epic interview!! Chris Scruggs on Merle Haggard! Mr Gibbs you outdid yourself!, What a gift this is, thank you! Chris, I love your amazing mom too.
Great country music history, told by one who knows. Chris Scruggs is a great tele player, and a pretty dang good bass player with Marty Stuart, a Superlative with Kenny Vaughn, another good story teller, who you can hear right here on Otis's channel. Love this episode!
Scruggs is an incredible non-pedal steel player as well...and probably any other stringed instrument too...a guitar aficionado, a great story teller and a solid dude.
Thank you for sharing. Loved Merle Haggard! ❤ Ripp
Chris is awesome, great story!🙏🏻
Wow. Such a beautiful story. Thanks sharing your thoughts. From south Africa
If we make it through December Everything's going to be all right I know It's the coldest time of winter and I shiver when I see the falling snow no more shivering for the warmest heart in heaven
Was sitting a few feet in front of Merle some years ago at a concert he and Kristofferson were touring together; when Merle sat in a chair to let Kris sing I was just watching him, this being as close as I could ever get. He noticed me not grinning and bouncing around, etc, like the rest of the crowd, looked straight at me lowering his dark shades down his nose and just stared. Went on for a good full minute. Granted, maybe he thought I was a nut or something, who can say but it was really cool to me at the time. Had a stare down with Merle Haggard about ten feet in front of me on the stage. I don't think he was actually concerned, personally, more just the sort of thing he would do. I just stared right back and we remained expressionless. He died a few years later.
Loved all the stories. My parents were huge Ernest Tubb’s fans. He once played in Salem, Oregon in the late 60’s or early 70’s, and my parents were so excited for his show. They are both gone now.
Great interview. Chris was great. Straight forward and direct. Easy to understand. Merle was the real deal. Young tuff, prison learned and top of the charts. Wish I could have met him. Thanks Otis.
Hag was great. He was the man. His Dust Bowl Trilogy, should never be forgotten, lest we have to go back to that way of life. California Cottonfields, Tulare Dust, and One Row at a time. I understand the sentiment. I had family members who were transplanted Okies. I have also done that work, and lived that life, it is hard scrabble, and harsh way to make a living.
Great video - big fan of Hag, Marty, Chris and the rest of the Superlatives.
I went to see Merle Haggard at the Ventura Theatre in Ventura,
California in 1998. Before the show I was standing outside on the sidewalk smoking a cigarette. Hags bus was parked around the corner on the side of the theater next to the stage entrance. For whatever reason Hag chose to walk around to the front entrance to enter. I had my back to him and did not see him approach and suddenly there he was, standing next to me asking how I was doing and if I was there to see the show. I lived in Los Angeles for 27 years and was never starstruck when meeting someone famous, but I was dumbfounded and tongue tied. I finally managed to say hi and shake his hand and exchanged a few pleasantries before he disappeared down the center aisle to the stage where he put on one hell of a show that night. I saw him several times, but never this up close and personal and in such a small venue. It was amazing.
Thank you so much for this. I really enjoyed hearing this. I was raised on country music. It lives in my soul. The longer I live the more I regret living in defiance of my father's knowledge and experience. He was the epitome of a Hag fan. This video blessed my ❤.
Great stuff!! Can’t wait for more from Chris!! And as always you are awesome for sharing these amazing stories with us, Thank you ✌️😎
One of my favorite people. Rip. Thanks for all the music.
Mr. Scruggs is right about Merle Haggard being the biggest country music fan. Merle Haggard made me appreciate Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (especially Tiny Moore and Eldon Shamblin), Lefty Frizzel and Ernest Tubb. I listened to all of them after listening to Merle Haggard's records.
That is just too good!! Thank you for sharing that! Wow!
What a great story, this is just gold. I grew up not liking country at all until I grabbed a Merle cassette on the way through a Canadian Tire cash line (80’s) then bought his book. Still my favourite country player,
Wow, what a story, what an experience! Thanks Otis and Chris. Really and truly priceless!!!
This is absolutely the BEST one I've seen, Otis! I was fortunate enough to see Merle not long before his passing. His death probably hit me harder than any other.
The biggest thing I got from this interview was that Merle was an inmate at the prison when Cash sang in the many concerts he performed at prisons in SanQuinton, Folsom and others. Wow!
Cash never knew what he was releasing in those prisons after he left his mark.
Holy cow!
Merle died a hero in my books.
Merle Haggard was in prison at San Quinten Prison when Johnny Cash performed there in 1959 and 1960. Haggard was serving time for a parole violation at the time and was actually one of the prisoners in attendance at those concerts. The performance, which was recorded in 1968 and released as the album "At Folsom Prison," became one of Cash's most famous and influential recordings but Merle was not there. He was long gone from the prison circuit. It made for a good story though to go with the “Folsom Prison Blues”. Haggard was released from San Quinten prison in 1960 and went on to become one of the most influential and successful country music artists of all time, with a career that spanned more than 50 years.
One of my favorite songs he sings is:
“If I could fly” ……. I’m assuming over the prison walls.
“If I could fly” was Blaze Foley song,Merle had nothing do with writing it.Check out Blazes version plz.
Great story right there. Thanks for sharing that with us Otis!
Otis and Chris great story. Keep ‘em coming. Brightens any day.
Short as it was, this really was an insightful interview. Thank you.
Otis you have a natural coolness about you. I have been listening to Chris playing with Marty. Unbelieveable. Such a great interview. From an ex con Okie.
Oh Otis. This is pure gold. You must have him on again if you ever get a chance.
If there was only a mic nearby when Hag started singing while Chris played Lefty's guitar.
Many thanks for this
Awesome stories. Thanks for sharing. I only saw Merle in person one time on my 21st birthday at the Lucky Spot. My childhood friend Andy Stewart was playing in the band. Six months after that I heard Andy had died in Alaska of alcohol poisoning.
Damn it Otis quit teaching me stuff it's making me tired,, lol ....
I knew Grady Martin was on that Long Black Veil session but I had no idea he was playing Lefty's guitar...
Thank you sir for all your excellent work !
This is very entertaining, Chris really tells great stories
This is so great -- to bear witness to these events and be willing to talk in such a respectful manner is cool.
Damit man
God Bless Merle Haggard i seen him at the Bob Hope theater in Stockton and he was fabulous,I loved every minute of it, he was great 👍👍👍. I love his bus and said out loud know that is when you're a legend I knew he heard me but I wanted to make him proud and happy and I found out that he did hear me 👍👍🙏🏽🙏🏽👍👍
Thank You Otis!!!!! This was great.
What a great storyteller. I could listen to this guy talk about Merle all day. 🧨
Wow! This was excellent! Thank you guys
This stuff is so precious. What a giant he was. I first saw him with the Strangers back in 1969 when I was sixteen years old. I was already a bit of a hippie and we all loved Okie From Muskogee because we knew exactly where he was coming from. And loved that music! Sure enough, when he did the song and sang "we don't make a party out of loving" someone in the band piped in with "we sure do!" Cracked everyone up, including Merle. It was one of the shows, and I've seen plenty of all kinds, that remains iconic. For my money, Merle is the GOAT.
Homeboy from South Central Los Angeles; Merle Haggard is one of my all time favorite artists. No one could pull you into a story with song quite like Merle.
I was working with Alabama at that my show. What a great show by Merle. Loved watching him every night
Great story teller about iconic folks.
Love the story and the history you shared! Thank you much!
Just found your channel. What a gift! Thank you!
Wow, another Fabulous Superlative! I hope you have many more videos with them! 🤠
Bob Wills fiddle. The exception to the rule. I love it.
Man I love merl haggard. I’ve lived my whole life in oildale right around the corner from his house his dad had bought. An old train car.
The place that they used to play at here in oildale burned down last year. It’s sad that history is now a vacant lot.
But the music scene is reviving over here. There are a lot of country musicians myself included trying to carry the torch that is the Bakersfield sound. None of that bullshit they play on the radio now.
Man, that was great, thank you.
All of your videos are great, but this was outstanding. Chris is as great a storyteller as he is a musician. I felt like I was in the room with him and Merle.
I saw Merle Haggard at the State Fair of West Virginia. The first half of the show something was off and it was a bad performance. They took a break and started back. The second half of the show was one of the best shows I have ever seen. Even Tanya Tucker who had opened for him, came out and sat on the stage with her new child and watched it. It was a great show.
This really made my day,,,,great story teller
my merle story. around 1999, i worked construction . motel next to a popular club/ music venue.okc early morning we were pressure washing the ceiling ,,remodel work.. merle came out and let us know what he thought of the remodeling at 7'30.. am loud pressure washer.. couldnt understand what he said exactly but we knew merle was upset and wanted to finish sleeping. and turned off the presure washer and let him go back to sleep. sorry merle .
What a great story!!! Thank you. What a tribute to Meryl.
To think...I ate at Lulu's in Redding in June 2022. I was in that town to see Bob Dylan!!!
Awesome story, thanks for sharing
Absolutely Fantastic Stories. Thanks a bunch for the content man
Enjoyed the stories, especially about the Long Black Veil and Lefty Frizzell and his J-200. Thanks, Otis!
This is such a great interview.
I defy anyone to find better content on YT. This is beyond amazing.
OTIS you are a treasure thank you 🙏
CS,you are a great story teller,,,,,it helps when the story is great!
I wish all of my friends were Chris Scruggs!
R.I.p. Merle thanks for the music
Great story as only this man could really tell it. Thank you Mr Scruggs for your words and to you Mr Gibbs for inviting us in.