The Strangers (American band)

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The Strangers
Roynichols sm.jpg
Roy Nichols, lead guitarist of the Strangers.
Background information
Origin Bakersfield, California
Genres
Years active1966–2016
Labels Capitol Records
MCA Records
Past members Merle Haggard
Biff Adam
Paul Anastasio
Johnny Barber
Jimmy Belken
Eddie Burris
James Burton
Glen Campbell
Renato Caranto
Jim Christie
Gary Church
Doug Colosio
Eddie Curtis
Iris DeMent
Terry Domingue
Floyd Domino
Wayne Durham
George French
Johnny Gimble
Ben Haggard
Dana Haggard
Noel Haggard
Theresa Haggard
Norman Hamlet
Dennis Hromek
Sidney Hunter
Jeff Ingraham
Scott Joss
Red Lane
Abe Manuel
Joe Manuel
Don Markham
Randy Mason
Will McGregor
Johnny Meeks
Eugene Moles
Ralph Mooney
Tiny Moore
Marcia Nichols
Roy Nichols
Fuzzy Owen
Bonnie Owens
Gene Price
Taras Prodaniuk
Joe Reed
Ronnie Reno
Sheril Rodgers
Eldon Shamblin
Clint Strong
Gordon Terry
Jimmy Tittle
Kenny Vernon
Redd Volkaert
Jerry Ward
Bobby Wayne
Mark Yeary

The Strangers were an American country band that formed in 1966 in Bakersfield, California. They mainly served as the backup band for singer-songwriter Merle Haggard, who named them after his first hit single "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers". [1] In addition to serving as his backing band, members of the Strangers also produced many of Haggard's records, sang lead vocals on select tracks, and co-wrote many of Haggard's songs with him, including the No. 1 singles, "Okie From Muskogee" and "I Always Get Lucky with You".

Contents

From 1969 to 1973, they issued several records independent of Haggard, released on Capitol Records, and even had their own Top 10 hit single called "Street Singer" on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. Three members of the Strangers would go on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Between 1969 and 1987, the Strangers were voted Band of the Year by the Academy of Country Music eight times—more than any other group in history. [2]

History

Ralph Mooney, original steel guitarist for the Strangers. CR014-Ralph-Mooney-The-Sound-of-Country-Music-1024x538.jpg
Ralph Mooney, original steel guitarist for the Strangers.

1960s

Lead guitarist Roy Nichols had previously played with the Maddox Brothers and Rose, Lefty Frizzell, Wynn Stewart, and Johnny Cash before playing with the Strangers from 1965 until 1987, when health problems forced him into retirement. [3] Duncan, Oklahoma-born steel guitarist Ralph Mooney (September 16, 1928 - March 20, 2011) had previously played with Wynn Stewart and written the song "Crazy Arms", and after leaving the Strangers recorded a duo album with James Burton and then joined Waylon Jennings band. [4]

Norm Hamlet joined the Strangers on steel guitar in 1967 and, shortly afterward, became its bandleader. [5] Howard "Jerry Ward" Lowe was the Strangers original bass player and George French (March 6, 1926 - August 14, 1992) played the piano. [6] But when Ward left, Willard "Gene" Price (February 27, 1944 - August 13, 2013) from Shamrock, Texas, replaced him on bass just in time for the Okie from Muskogee album in 1969, on which he also sang lead vocals. [7] Tulsa, Oklahoma-born Roy "Eddie" Burris (October 27, 1931 - April 19, 2011), the drummer for the Strangers, co-wrote the title track "Okie From Muskogee" with Merle Haggard. [8]

1970s

Clair "Biff" Adam replaced Burris as the Strangers drummer in 1970 and also served as Merle's publicist and bus driver. [9] On the album, The Fightin' Side of Me , the Strangers added rhythm guitarist Robert "Bobby Wayne" Edrington (December 11, 1941 - September 21, 2009) from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and they got their own showcase on the instrumental "Stealin’ Corn". [10] A second rhythm guitarist, Marcia "Nichols" Ashcraft (May 23, 1950 - October 1976), also joined the band [11]

Gordon Terry, fiddle player for the Strangers. Gordon Terry.png
Gordon Terry, fiddle player for the Strangers.

After Bobby Wayne and Marcia Nichols left, Ronnie Reno of Reno and Smiley and the Osborne Brothers joined the Strangers on rhythm guitar, and he also produced Merle's duo album with Mac Wiseman as well as Merle's The Bluegrass Sessions . [12] Ronnie would also sing lead vocals on albums like Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album . [13] Johnny Meeks, previously a member of Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, the Champs, and Michael Nesmith and the Second National Band, played bass with the Strangers in the early 1970s and later got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [14] After Meeks left, Jimmy Tittle played bass with the band. [15] After leaving the Strangers, Tittle would go on to play with his father-in-law Johnny Cash. [16] He was replaced by bassist Sherman "Wayne" Durham.

Saxophonist Don Markham, who had played with Sly & the Family Stone, the Ventures, the Bakersfield Brass, and Johnny Paycheck played with the Strangers from 1974 to 2013. [17] In the mid-1970s, former Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys guitarist Estel "Eldon" Shamblin was invited to join the Strangers. [18] After retiring from the Strangers, Eldon Shamblin would continue to perform with them whenever they played in Tulsa. [19] Electric mandolinist Billie "Tiny" Moore also joined the Strangers during the 1970s. [20] Like Eldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore had also been a member of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. [21]

In the late 1970s Decatur, Gordon Terry joined the Strangers on fiddle. [22] Terry had previously played with Bill Monroe, Faron Young, and Johnny Cash. [23]

1980s

After Gordon Terry left the band, fiddler Jimmy Belken joined. [24] Belken had previously played with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys as well as Mel Tillis and the Statesiders. [25] In addition to serving as Strangers bassist, Dennis Hromek would also sing some lead vocals at Strangers shows. [26] When Hromek left Bobby Wayne returned to the Strangers, this time playing bass. [27]

Other noteworthy members of the band included trumpet player Gary Church and keyboardist Mark Yeary, who also served as Merle's co-producer on his records. [28] Clint Strong, who had studied under Stan Kenton, joined the Strangers on lead guitar during the mid-1980s. [29] Sheril Rodgers, co-wrote with Merle and singer/songwriter Freddy Powers. Sheril toured with the Strangers as backup singer from 1983 to 1984 and co-wrote "Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room Tonight".

Discography

Albums credited to the Strangers

ReleasedAlbum US Country Label
February 23, 1969The Instrumental Sounds of Merle Haggard's Strangers36 Capitol Records
April 6, 1970Introducing My Friends the Strangers34
October 5, 1970Getting to Know Merle Haggard's Strangers44
June 21, 1971Honky Tonkin'34
May 1, 1973Totally Instrumental...With One Exception23

Singles credited to the Strangers

ReleasedSingleChart positionsAlbum
US Country CAN Country Bubbling Under Hot 100
April 18, 1970"Street Singer"9124Introducing My Friends the Strangers

Albums credited to Merle Haggard and the Strangers

ReleasedAlbum US Country Label
April 11, 1966 Just Between the Two of Us (with Bonnie Owens)4 Capitol Records
October 17, 1966 Swinging Doors 1
April 3, 1967 I'm a Lonesome Fugitive 3
August 28, 1967 Branded Man 1
January 8, 1968 Sing Me Back Home 1
April 8, 1968 The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde 6
September 9, 1968 Mama Tried 4
February 10, 1969 Pride in What I Am 11
May 12, 1969 Same Train, a Different Time 1
September 15, 1969 A Portrait of Merle Haggard 3
December 29, 1969 Okie from Muskogee 1
July 6, 1970 The Fightin’ Side of Me 1
November 16, 1970 A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills) 2
March 15, 1971 Hag 1
August 16, 1971 Someday We'll Look Back 4
November 8, 1971 The Land of Many Churches 15
March 6, 1972 Let Me Tell You About a Song 7
November 20, 1972 It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) 1
May 13, 1973 I Love Dixie Blues 1
February 18, 1974 If We Make It Through December 4
September 17, 1974 Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album 1
April 21, 1975 Keep Movin' On 1
February 16, 1976 It's All in the Movies 1
July 5, 1976 My Love Affair with Trains 7
November 22, 1976 The Roots of My Raising 8
September 12, 1977 A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today 28

Singles credited to Merle Haggard and the Strangers

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US Country US Hot 100 Canada Country US Adult Contemporary
1966"Just Between the Two of Us" (with Bonnie Owens)28 Just Between the Two of Us with Bonnie Owens
"Swinging Doors"5 Swinging Doors
"The Bottle Let Me Down"3
1967"I'm a Lonesome Fugitive"1 I'm a Lonesome Fugitive
"Someone Told My Story"32
"I Threw Away the Rose"2 Branded Man
"Branded Man"1
1968"Sing Me Back Home"17 Sing Me Back Home
"The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde"13 The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde
"Mama Tried"11 Mama Tried
1969"I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am"31 Pride in What I Am
"Hungry Eyes"12 A Portrait of Merle Haggard
"Workin' Man Blues"11
"Okie from Muskogee"1413 Okie from Muskogee
1970"The Fightin' Side of Me"1921 The Fightin’ Side of Me
1971"Jesus, Take a Hold"31073 Hag
"I Can't Be Myself" b/w "Sidewalks of Chicago"31062
"Soldier's Last Letter"390
"Someday We'll Look Back"21192 Someday We'll Look Back
"Carolyn"158235
1972"Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)"12 Let Me Tell You About a Song
"Grandma Harp" b/w "Turnin' Off a Memory"15
"It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)"11 It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)
1973"I Wonder If They Ever Think of Me"11 I Love Dixie Blues
"The Emptiest Arms in the World"312
"Everybody's Had the Blues"1621
1974"If We Make It Through December"128116 If We Make It Through December
"Things Aren't Funny Anymore"12 Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album
"Old Man from the Mountain"11
1975"Kentucky Gambler"11 Keep Movin' On
"Always Wanting You"13
"Movin' On"115
1976"It's All in the Movies"111 It's All in the Movies
"The Roots of My Raising"17 The Roots of My Raising
"Cherokee Maiden" b/w "What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana"11
"Here Comes the Freedom Train"101 My Love Affair with Trains
1977"A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today"168 A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today
"Running Kind" b/w "Making Believe"1210
1978"The Way It Was in '51"8258The Way It Was in '51

Albums credited to Bonnie Owens and the Strangers

YearAlbum US Country Label
1967All of Me Belongs to You35 Capitol Records
1969Somewhere Between34
Lead Me On-
1970Mother's Favorite Hymns-

Singles credited to Bonnie Owens and the Strangers

DebutSong US Country Album
November 19, 1966Consider the Children69All of Me Belongs To You
February 15, 1969 Lead Me On 68Lead Me On

Albums credited to Leona Williams and the Strangers

YearAlbum US Country Label
1976San Quentin’s First Lady- MCA Records

The Strangers as Backing Band

ArtistAlbumYear
Merle Haggard Merle Haggard's Christmas Present 1973
Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium 1981
Songs for the Mama That Tried
Big City
Johnny Paycheck Mr. Hag Told My Story
Merle Haggard Going Where the Lonely Go 1982
Goin' Home for Christmas
That's the Way Love Goes 1983
The Epic Collection (Recorded Live)
Merle Haggard and Leona Williams Heart to Heart
Rose Maddox Queen of the West
Merle Haggard It's All in the Game 1984
Kern River 1985
Amber Waves of Grain
A Friend in California 1986
Willie Nelson The Promiseland
Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson Seashores of Old Mexico 1987
Merle Haggard Chill Factor
5:01 Blues 1989
Blue Jungle 1990
Live from Austin, TX ’852006
Live from Austin, TX ‘782008

Contribution to Merle Haggard Albums

Songwriting

SongSongwriterAlbumYear
Falling For You Ralph Mooney Strangers 1965
Mary's MineJerry Ward I'm a Lonesome Fugitive 1967
Blue Rock Roy Nichols and Norm Hamlet Okie from Muskogee 1969
In The Arms of Love (Gene Price on lead vocal) Gene Price and Buck Owens
Okie From Muskogee Eddie Burris and Merle Haggard
Hammin’ It Up Norm Hamlet The Fightin’ Side of Me 1970
Harold's Super ServiceBobby Wayne
Stealin’ Corn Roy Nichols and Norm Hamlet
Champagne Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, and Biff Adam I Love Dixie Blues 1973
Come On Into My ArmsMarcia Nichols If We Make It Through December 1974
Girl Who Made Me Laugh Roy Nichols and Merle Haggard Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album
It Don't Bother MeMark Yeary
Travelin’ (Ronnie Reno on lead vocal) Tiny Moore and Ronnie Reno
I’ve Got A Darlin’Ronnie Reno and Merle Haggard Keep Movin' On 1975
After Loving YouRonnie Reno, Merle Haggard, and Leona Williams It's All in the Movies 1976
Cotton Patch Blues Tiny Moore, Bob Wills, and Billy Joe Moore
I Won't Give Up My TrainMark Yeary My Love Affair with Trains
Union StationRonnie Reno
I Always Get Lucky with You Gary Church, Merle Haggard, Freddy Powers, and Tex Whitson Big City 1981
I Think I'm Gonna Live ForeverDennis Hromek, Merle Haggard, and Benny Binion
Silver EagleGary Church and Freddy Powers A Taste of Yesterday's Wine 1982
My Life's Been Grand Gordon Terry and Merle Haggard Out Among the Stars 1986

Production

ProducerAlbumYear
Roy Nichols Goin' Home for Christmas 1982
Mark Yeary 5:01 Blues 1989
Mark Yeary Blue Jungle 1990
Ronnie Reno The Bluegrass Sessions 2007
Ronnie RenoTimeless2015

Lead Vocal

Lead SingerSongAlbumYear
Gene Price In The Arms of Love Okie from Muskogee 1969
Ronnie RenoTravelin’ Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album 1974

Liner Notes

Liner Notes WriterAlbumYear
Mark Yeary Keep Movin' On 1975

Merle call-outs

Merle Haggard famously called out members of the Strangers by name on his records prior to their solos. He sometimes prefixed their name with “Brother,” as in the song "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" when he called out “Brother Don” Markham. For 20 years (1969–1989) he regularly called out 16 different members of the Strangers and 14 guest musicians on 70 songs on 31 different albums. Roy Nichols received the most call-outs (42), followed by Norm Hamlet (24), Tiny Moore (13), Mark Yeary (10), and Don Markham (9). Below is a list of all the songs and Stranger call-outs Merle made over his career. Not listed are callouts the Strangers received by others than Merle, such as when Leona Williams called out Roy Nichols during “Yes Ma’am This One Can” on her 1976 Strangers-backed album “San Quentin’s First Lady,” or when Rose Maddox called Roy Nichols out prior to his “Downtown Modesto” solo on her 1983 Strangers-backed album “Queen of the West.”

SongCall-OutsAlbumYear
Mule Skinner Blues James Burton, Roy Nichols Same Train, a Different Time 1969
No Hard Times Roy Nichols
Silver Wings Okie from Muskogee
Blue Rock
In The Arms of LoveGene Price
Brain Cloudy Blues Eldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols, Johnny Gimble A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills) 1970
Stay a Little Longer Biff Adam, Dennis Hromek, George French, Joe Holley, Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols, Alex Brashear
Misery Johnnie Lee Wills, Eldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols
Roly Poly Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, Alex Brashear
Old Fashioned LoveTiny Moore
Corrine, Corrina Johnny Gimble, George French, Joe Holley, Tiny Moore
Take Me Back to Tulsa George French, Johnny Gimble, Tiny Moore, Joe Holley
Trouble in Mind George French Down Every Road 1962–1994
Corrine, Corrina Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, Chubby Wise The Fightin’ Side of Me
Every Fool Has a RainbowRoy Nichols
T.B. BluesNorm Hamlet
When Did Right Become Wrong?Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols
Harold's Super ServiceBobby Wayne, Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet
Stealin’ CornBiff Adam, Dennis Hromek, Bobby Wayne, Norm Hamlet, Roy NicholsIntroducing My Friends the Strangers
Blue RockRoy Nichols, Norm Hamlet
Where Could I Go But To The Lord?Bobby Wayne The Land of Many Churches 1971
I’ve Done It All Hag
StumblinAl Bruno, Earl Poole Ball, Johnny Gimble, Roy Nichols, Norm HamletHonky Tonkin’
Bring It on Down to My House, HoneyBilly Leibert, Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet Let Me Tell You About a Song 1972
Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now) Roy Nichols I Love Dixie Blues 1973
I Ain't Got Nobody
Nobody Knows I'm Hurtin’
The Emptiest Arms in the World Norm Hamlet
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans Gene Bowen, Dale Hampton, Biff Adam
Sitting on Top of the World Roy Nichols, Marcia NicholsTotally Instrumental...With One Exception
I'm an Old ManNorm Hamlet, Roy Nichols, Johnny Gimble If We Make It Through December 1974
Come On into My ArmsRoy Nichols
Honky Tonk Night Time ManRoy Nichols, Norm Hamlet Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album
A Man's Gotta Give Up a LotTiny Moore, Roy Nichols Keep Movin' On 1975
Cotton Patch BluesEldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols It's All in the Movies 1976
Living with The Shades Pulled DownTiny Moore
StingareeRoy Nichols, Glen Hardin
Gambling Polka Dot BluesRoy Nichols, Norm Hamlet The Roots of My Raising
Moanin' the Blues Glen Hardin, Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today 1977
Silver WingsDon MarkhamLive from Austin, TX ’781978
Old Fashioned LoveMark Yeary, Roy Nichols
Brain Cloudy Blues
Cherokee Maiden Norm Hamlet, Don Markham
Got Lonely Too EarlyDon Markham, Jimmy Capps Serving 190 Proof 1979
(Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You Roy Nichols, Don Markham The Way I Am 1980
I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink Don Markham Back to the Barrooms
Keep On the Sunny Side Gordon Terry, Roy Nichols Songs for the Mama That Tried 1981
I'm a Lonesome Fugitive Roy Nichols Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium
Rainbow Stew Mark Yeary, Don Markham
Fiddle BreakdownTiny Moore, Gordon Terry
Good Old American GuestMark Yeary, Tiny Moore Big City
I Always Get Lucky with You Don Markham, Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols
I Can’t Hold Myself in LineRoy Nichols, Don Markham, Jimmy Murphy, Norm Hamlet Johnny Paycheck’s Mr. Hag Told My Story
Blue Yodel #2Norm Hamlet, Don Markham The Epic Collection (Recorded Live) 1983
Trouble in Mind Tiny Moore
(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers Roy Nichols
Workin' Man Blues
You Can’t Break the Chains of LoveNorm Hamlet Heart to Heart
Waitin’ on the Good Life to ComeRoy Nichols, Mark Yeary
Don't Ever Let Your Love Sleep AloneMark Yeary
Sally Let Your Bangs Hang DownTiny Moore, Jimmy Belken, Roy Nichols, Mark Yeary, Norm Hamlet
All I Want to Do Is Sing My SongTiny Moore It's All in the Game 1984
Thank Heaven for Little Girls Jimmy Belken
You Nearly Lose Your MindNorm Hamlet, Roy Nichols
The Okie from Muskogee's Comin' HomeRoy Nichols, Mark YearyLive from Austin, TX ‘851985
Take Me Back to Tulsa Gary Church
I Knew the Moment I Lost YouNorm Hamlet
Ida Red Norm Hamlet, Clint Strong, Jimmy Belken
The Okie from Muskogee's Comin' HomeRoy Nichols, Clint Strong, Mark Yeary A Friend in California 1986
Broken FriendMark Yeary 5:01 Blues 1989

Awards and recognition

Academy of Country Music Band of the Year Awards

Year ACM Band of the Year
1966Nominated
1967
1968
1969Winner
1970
1971
1972
1973Nominated
1974Winner
1975
1976Nominated
1977
1980
1981Winner
1982Nominated
1983
1984
1985
1987Winner
1988Nominated

Music City News Band of the Year Awards

Year Music City News Band of the Year
1971Winner
1972

Academy of Country Music Awards Won With Merle Haggard

YearAwardRecording
1969Album of the Year Okie from Muskogee
Song of the Year Okie From Muskogee
Single of the Year

Country Music Association Awards Won With Merle Haggard

YearAwardRecording
1970 Album of the Year Okie from Muskogee
Single of the Year Okie From Muskogee
1972 Album of the Year Let Me Tell You About a Song

Academy of Country Music Individual Nominations

YearGuitarist of the YearSteel Guitarist of the YearKeyboardist of the YearBassist of the YearDrummer of the YearFiddler of the YearSpecialty Instrument Player of the YearMost Promising VocalistSong(writer) of the Year
1965--George French------
1966- Ralph Mooney George French------
1967- Ralph Mooney -Jerry WardBiff Adam----
1968- Ralph Mooney --Biff Adam----
1969 Roy Nichols Norm Hamlet --Biff Adam Gordon Terry ---
1970---Dennis HromekBiff Adam Gordon Terry -Bobby Wayne-
1971- Norm Hamlet -Dennis HromekBiff Adam Gordon Terry ---
1972 Roy Nichols Norm Hamlet -Dennis HromekBiff Adam----
1973 Roy Nichols ---Biff Adam----
1974----Biff Adam----
1975----Biff Adam----
1976----Biff Adam----
1978- Ralph Mooney -------
1979- Ralph Mooney --- Gordon Terry ---
1980- Ralph Mooney -------
1981 Roy Nichols Ralph Mooney --Biff Adam----
1982----- Gordon Terry Don Markham--
1983------ Tiny Moore -Gary Church
1987- Norm Hamlet Mark Yeary-Biff Adam----
1988- Norm Hamlet -------

Members in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

StrangerYear InductedBand Inducted WithInducted By
Tiny Moore 1999Texas Playboys Chris Isaak
Eldon Shamblin
Johnny Meeks2012Blue Caps Smokey Robinson

Merle Haggard’s poem for the Strangers

For the back cover of their 1973 album Totally Instrumental...With One Exception, Merle wrote the following poem for the Strangers:

When Hag passes on
To the great unknown
They'll find written on the front
Of my headstone
“Here lies a man
Who had a hell-of-a-band
And who would never had made it alone.”

Timeline 1966-1991

The Strangers (American band)

Further reading

AuthorBookYear
Charles R. Townsend San Antonio Rose 1976
Merle Haggard Sing Me Back Home 1981
Tiny Moore Tiny Moore Mandolin Method 1982
Jonny Whiteside Ramblin' Rose: The Life and Career of Rose Maddox 1997
Merle Haggard For The Record 1999
Gerald Haslam Workin' Man Blues 1999
Susan VanHecke Race With The Devil 2000
Ken Nelson My First 90 Years Plus 3 2007
Gary Church Autobiography of a Nobody 2012
Freddy Powers The Spree of '83 2017
Rachel Lee Rubin Okie from Muskogee 2018
Fuzzy Owen Merle Haggard, Bonnie Owens, & Me 2019
Raymond H. McDonald Merle Haggard was a Friend of Mine 2021
David Cantwell The Running Kind 2022
Marc Eliot The Hag: The Life, Times, and Music of Merle Haggard 2022

Related Research Articles

<i>A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills)</i> 1970 studio album by Merle Haggard

A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World is the eleventh studio album by Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers, released in 1970.

<i>Okie from Muskogee</i> 1969 live album by Merle Haggard and the Strangers

Okie from Muskogee is the first live album by Merle Haggard and the Strangers released in October 1969 on Capitol Records.

Eldon Shamblin was an American guitarist and arranger, particularly important to the development of Western swing music as one of the first electric guitarists in a popular dance band. He was a member of the Strangers during the 1970s and 1980s and was the last surviving member of Bob Wills' band the Texas Playboys.

"Cherokee Maiden" is a Western swing love song written by Cindy Walker. "Cherokee Maiden" was one of Walker's first hits when it was recorded by Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys in 1941.

<i>The Fightin Side of Me</i> (album) 1970 live album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

The Fightin' Side of Me is the second live album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1970. Like the song "Okie from Muskogee" led to a quickly released album, The Fightin' Side of Me was also quickly released because of the run of success of Haggard's patriotic hit single "The Fightin' Side of Me".

<i>Let Me Tell You About a Song</i> 1972 studio album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

Let Me Tell You About a Song is the fourteenth studio album by American country singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1972. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Country album chart and #166 on the Pop album chart. The lead-off singles were "Grandma Harp" and "Daddy Frank " — both reached No. 1.

<i>Its All in the Movies</i> 1976 studio album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

It's All in the Movies is the nineteenth studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1976.

<i>My Love Affair with Trains</i> 1976 studio album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

My Love Affair with Trains is the twentieth studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1976. The LP rose to number 7 on the Billboard country albums chart.

<i>The Roots of My Raising</i> 1976 studio album by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

The Roots of My Raising is the twenty-first studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and The Strangers, released in 1976. It was his third release in 1976 and his last on the Capitol label until his return in 2004. It reached number 8 on the Billboard country albums chart.

"It's All in the Movies' is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in September 1975 as the first single and title track from the album It's All in the Movies. The song was Merle Haggard and The Strangers twenty-second number one single on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of thirteen weeks on the country chart.

"A Place to Fall Apart" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard as a duet with Janie Fricke and backed by The Strangers. It was released in October 1984 as the second single from the album It's All in the Game. The song was the first single where Haggard and Fricke worked together. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country chart. Haggard wrote the song with Willie Nelson and Freddy Powers.

<i>16 Biggest Hits</i> (Merle Haggard album) 1998 greatest hits album by Merle Haggard

16 Biggest Hits is a 1998 Merle Haggard compilation album. It is part of a series of similar 16 Biggest Hits albums released by Legacy Recordings.

"Here Comes the Freedom Train" is a 1976 song written by Stephen H. Lemberg, best known for being performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in May 1976 as the first single from the album My Love Affair with Trains. "Here Comes the Freedom Train" peaked at number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks in July 1976.

"I Had a Beautiful Time" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in January 1986 as the first single from the album A Friend in California. The song reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

<i>Down Every Road 1962–1994</i> 1996 box set by Merle Haggard

Down Every Road 1962–1994 is a compilation album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 1996. It covers music from his earliest work in the early 1960s to his Epic releases of the late 1980s. The boxed set includes three CDs of material recorded for Capitol and one of Haggard's later MCA and Epic recordings.

<i>Songs Ill Always Sing</i> 1977 compilation album by Merle Haggard and the Strangers

Songs I'll Always Sing is a two-record compilation album by American country music singer and songwriter Merle Haggard, released in 1977. It reached No. 15 on the US Country Charts. The album collects many of Haggard's best known recordings during his successful run at Capitol Records, including nine of his twenty-four No. 1 hits, dating back to 1966.

<i>Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium</i> 1981 live album by Merle Haggard

Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium is a live album by American country music artist Merle Haggard with backing by The Strangers. It was recorded in October 1980 and released in July 1981 on MCA Records.

<i>A Friend in California</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Merle Haggard

A Friend in California is the forty-first studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard with backing by The Strangers, released in 1986.

<i>Amber Waves of Grain</i> 1985 live album by Merle Haggard

Amber Waves of Grain is a live album by American country music artist Merle Haggard with backing by The Strangers, released in 1985. It was Haggard's third live album in four years and was recorded at the Hollywood Star Theater. It features a mix of Haggard's big hits and other, more obscure tracks. The title cut, written by Freddy Powers, is a paean to the American farmer, in keeping with the spirit of the Willie Nelson-spearheaded Farm Aid benefit, as does "Tulare Dust" and "The Farmer's Daughter." The LP peaked at number 25 on the Billboard country albums chart.

<i>Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard</i> 2006 compilation album by Merle Haggard

Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard is a compilation album by American country singer Merle Haggard, released in 2006.

References

  1. "The Life & Times of Merle Haggard". Rolling Stone. October 1, 2009.
  2. "Merle Haggard Obituary". The Guardian. April 6, 2016.
  3. "Roy Nichols; Merle Haggard's Guitarist". Los Angeles Times. July 4, 2001.
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