Thursday, April 7, 2016

* ANOTHER LEGEND LEAVES US *

I  was shocked and saddened to hear about the recent death of Merle Haggard. He was younger than I'd thought, too. I guess because of his hard life...and hard livin'....it took its toll on him.

As a teenager, I DID NOT like country music. I was into The Beatles, MoTown, Rolling Stones, etc.

But as a young 20-Something wife of an Army Specialist in Germany during the early 1970s, I learned to not only tolerate country music, but to really love many of the songs and performers. We had no TV or telephone, but did have a nice stereo system with a radio, turntable, and great speakers. I listened to the Armed Forces Network (AFN) all day long, and the programs varied because of the diverse community of the US Army. Pretty smart, huh? SO, when country music came on, I began to like it and sing along. Plus, when bands played at our local Service Club (a small version of a USO) they, too, played an assortment of music genre.

One of the songs performed countless times, "Silver Wings" was a big hit of Merle Haggard's. It held special meaning to all of us wives and servicemen since we were so far from home...and to those who maybe had to leave their spouses back in the States.

from You Tube

When a "celebrity" dies, I'm less saddened because of what we still have them: movies, records, TV appearances, etc. I'll be playing my Merle Haggard CDs and loving that voice of his again and again.



What a handsome man he was...way back when....

20 comments:

  1. I, too, was a fan of the British Invasion ... way slow to appreciate C/W music. (But I've tried making up for it ever since!)

    Mighty Merle, gone too soon. My h.s. chum shared "Silver Wings" on her Facebook page last night, saying she listened to it every day while her hubby was in Viet Nam. Now, of course, that's become my new ear-worm!

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    1. Hello dear Myra! Thanks so much for stopping by! Reading about your friend listening to Silver Wings while her husband was in Vietnam gave me goosebumps. Thank you for sharing that!

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  2. Ditto, Becky. I think we go back to country because as older, experienced people we appreciate the life lessons and laments that those songs hold. I too will miss another voice going down.

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    1. Claudia, I agree...and I pretty much only listen to OLD country, like Merle, and Willie Nelson, and ohhhh, Patsy Cline!

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  3. What a sweet tribute to a musical legend.

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    1. Thank you, Donna! You know how much I loved Nick Nixon...as a person and as a singer/guitar player. I always thought he sounded a bit like Merle Haggard.

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  4. "When a celebrity dies, I'm less saddened because of what we still have of them..."
    That was me, right up until Jon English died recently. An Australian performer I'd loved since I was a teen and I just went completely to pieces. Got depressed (unheard of for me) and cried for a week. Still get teary now.

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    1. Oh River, I'm so sorry! I hadn't heard about his death, so I just read the news online. How very sad and so unexpected! My husband has had surgery on 3 or 4 aortic aneurysms! I hope your grief will pass, and you'll feel more like your usual self really soon. Big hugs...

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  5. What a beautiful voice he had. I never heard of him, but enjoyed the video of Silver Wings. You have had an interesting life, Becky! I love reading about it. Hugs Jo

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    1. Oh Jo...you are so sweet! I'm so glad you think I've had an interesting life and that you love reading about it! :)

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  6. He had a silver voice, didn't he? Yes, at least when someone famous dies, we have their legacy of artwork to listen to, read, watch [movies, shows], and look at [physical artwork]. Thanks for sharing this, Becky!

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    1. Hi Victoria! Thank you so much! And thanks for your e-mail. I will reply soon! :)

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  7. Yes, hearing of Merle Haggard's death was very sad news indeed. I grew up listening to his music and to the music of many other great country superstars many of whom are very old if not passed. Thankfully we do have their music to listen to.

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    1. Hi Joyful! Thanks so much for stopping by! Our cable TV provider has lots of music channels to listen to, without commercials, and I usually listen to only two channels: the Solid Gold Oldies, and the Classic Country. Now, there is some good music! ...to dance to, clean house to...etc

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  8. It seems like so any well known artists have passed recently. So sad. I did get to hear him in St Louis a few years ago, and his voice was still fantastic!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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    1. Hi Pat! Thanks! I keep forgetting to mention that I also thought Nick Nixon's voice sounded like Merle's sometimes. I sure do miss Nick. He was one of a kind.

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  9. WAYLON is my favorite Country performer, followed by HANK WILLIAMS, JR. ("BOCEPHUS")

    I also enjoy some Willie, Brenda Lee, Kathy Mattea, Dwight Yoakam. Roger Miller, OF COURSE! And Jim Stafford.

    I wouldn't say I'm a Country music fan generally, but the artists I do dig, I pretty much love.

    My best friend, Kelly, who killed himself in 1986, pretty much idolized Merle Haggard.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    1. Hey Stephen T! I like all of those performers, too! I LOVE Kathy Mattea's voice. It reminds me of Karen Carpenter's .....pure and beautiful. I know just a little bit about your friend, Kelly, from what you've shared on your blog. That's such a tragic way to lose your best friend....I'm so sorry.

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  10. Hi Susan! Thanks so much for commenting! You're a sweetie!

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