Merle Haggard Was a Friend of Mine

Merle Haggard Was a Friend of Mine

by Raymond H. McDonald
Merle Haggard Was a Friend of Mine

Merle Haggard Was a Friend of Mine

by Raymond H. McDonald

Paperback

$19.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
    Choose Expedited Shipping at checkout for delivery by Tuesday, April 2
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

Author Raymond H. McDonald wrote this book as a tribute to his lifelong friend, Merle Haggard. Merle had millions of fans who were passionate about his music. This memoir chronicles the life a humble man from humble beginnings in California.

His legacy is well established in hundreds of articles written about him in major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, USA Today Newspaper, The Los Angeles Times, and dozens of others. His 50 plus year career garnered Merle the highest awards that are given to an artist, ie; Lifetime Grammy, Country Music Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Honors, Songwriters Hall of Fame.

This is a positive book that Merle's fans will enjoy. He was a kind and ornery man, very funny and very serious. He was a proud American and loved every State and the people in it. This memoir is meant as a tribute to a lifelong friend and country music icon, Merle Haggard.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781098353070
Publisher: BookBaby
Publication date: 03/08/2021
Pages: 326
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

I lived at Merle and Bonnie Owens' home my sophomore year of high school in Bakersfield, Ca. My friends Mike & Buddy Owens convinced them to let me live with them. this journey started in 1964. I was a close friend and confidant of Merle's for 52 years. I actually drove his personal tour bus the last years of his career.
Robert E Price, author of," The Bakersfield Sound " gave this review of " Merle Haggard Was a Friend of Mine": Merle Haggard was a storyteller with few peers but as it turns out that other guy on the bus, the one who was by his side for so many shows, so many tours, so many interactions with others, is a pretty good storyteller himself. Ray McDonald witnessed, and often participated in, hundreds of telling moments in the Hag's life. That McDonald was able to boil them down to these few dozen is an achievement in and of itself. " Merle Haggard Was a Friend of Mine" is a must-read for every fan of Haggard's, every country-music historian, every person who simply enjoys a good, entertaining read. ( Thanks Bob!! Raymond)

Table of Contents

1 Going to California 1

2 An Indian in Oildale 9

3 Sophomore Year at Bonnie and Merle's 15

4 Chasing Rolling Stones 30

5 Ray-Baby from K-Baby 37

6 Same Train, a Different Time 50

7 Merle vs. Buck 54

8 Buck and Merle at the Palace 62

9 Trip to Kansas 65

10 The Weather Radio 73

11 His Music 76

12 The Language of Music 82

13 Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash 86

14 Cry, Cry, Cry, Third Eye Blind 92

15 Almost Stuck in Folsom Prison 95

16 Daddy Sang Bass 99

17 Honky-Tonk Night Time Man 101

18 Merle in Oildale for Roy Nichols 104

19 Frank Sinatra Party 113

20 Gene Autry Is God 117

21 Cher Infused Christmas 122

22 Natalie Cole: Sister to History 126

23 Brother George Jones 132

24 Why Me? Kris Kristofferson 137

25 Fishlips - Bakersfield's Downtown Bar 141

26 213 in a Dream with Haggard, Dylan and Starr 144

27 The Beatles at Merle's House 149

28 Garth Brooks - Another Okie 153

29 The Marty Stuart Show 162

30 Legends in Bronze 167

31 Willie 'Pancho' Nelson 172

32 Tribute to Willie Nelson 177

33 Fuzzy! 178

34 Mayor Buddy Cannon 182

35 Don Markham - Trailer Park Genius 185

36 The 'Sirius-ness' of Renato Caranto 190

37 Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood 192

38 Q-Ball and a Pitcher of Whiskey 200

39 Ray Wills' Dream is Answered 204

40 Dean Holloway, Merle's Best Friend 211

41 Shared Dreams 215

42 Movie Stars and Movie Songs 219

43 Kennedy Center Honors 226

44 The Grammys and Hollywood 237

45 February 3, 1960 - A New Life! 244

46 Merle Loved Animals 247

47 American Diners 251

48 Buffalo, Missed It by That Much! 256

49 Modern Technology 263

50 My Three Songs 266

51 Merle Haggard Interview 51

52 Until We Meet Again 287

Afterword 289

Acknowledgments 291

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews