Merle Haggard arrived at the gates of Heaven this morning. It is a sad day on earth and a great day in Heaven. These guitar picks were made for Merle and Willie’s “upcoming concerts” which were to begin in mid April. There were only 14 printed, 7 of each for review. The first says, Django and Jimmie, the second, Pancho and Lefty. They will never be printed again and they will be sent to Willie. I received the sad news from Budrock not an hour after Merle’s passing this morning. Today is also Merle’s birthday, April 6th, It is my understanding that Merle and Willie’s duo album, “Django and Jimmie,” was Merle’s last full length recording. Merle and Willie were close friends, and their duo album instantly reached the top of every country chart late last year.
Here’s to one of the last of the true and genuine country artist’s that will ever grace this earth. Rest in peace, Merle Haggard, rest in peace…”
Last month, Willie Nelson announced a bunch of Florida dates, but Broward and Palm Beach counties sadly weren’t on his mind. But guess sometime in the past month, we got in there somehow, cause the Red Headed Stranger is storming into town in a haze of pot smoke and country music and he’s bringing Merle Haggard with him. These two legends of American music are coming to Hard Rock Live on February 7, and we’re rolling mad doobies and packing old cigarette boxes full of ’em in anticipation, right now.
In just the past year, Nelson put out three albums, including one with Wynton Marsalis and Norah Jones, Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles. His newest book not only has the best name in rock and roll or country music history, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, but it landed on the top 10 on The New York Times best-seller list. And the other grandfather of country Merle Haggard released an album in recent years, I Am What I Am, proving, these two aren’t old, they’re seasoned. Here are a few tunes to spark you up for their arrival.
This 1982 collabo might get you crying thinking about your mama or weepy for those lonely long nights with your horse, Mary Jane, out on the range. Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys, stoners have much more fun.
This song came from Merle’s hater days. Let’s hope he realizes South Florida is a long way away from Muskogee.
One thing Willie and Merle and their fans can agree upon, whiskey’s an acceptable form of intoxication.
But sometimes whiskey just ain’t enough, and the bottle lets ya down. Guess that’s when it’s time to pack a big beautiful bowl.
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. 7:30 p.m., Thursday, February 7, Hard Rock Live, One Seminole Way, Hollywood. Tickets on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, January 11. Tickets are $104, $84, $64 and $49. Call 800-745-3000, or visit Ticketmaster.com.
