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