For some reason, Marley and Haggard have found far wider audiences than a lot of their contemporaries. You could make the case that both of these guys came out of the gate with music that was destined to appeal to, what would now be called, a “niche audience”. For some reason, the appeal of both crosses all the lines of demographics.

Also, the music of both has been victim of glomming. Personally, I’ve always felt a little sick to my stomach when playing a cheesy version of “Stir It Up” while the prop jet set fills the dance floor and does that weird butter churning, dirty dancing thing whilst tipsy on watermelon schnapps.

And, when I see one of these pre-fab, slicked up, juice box drinking, neo quasi country singers waxing about the effect that Haggard’s music had on them coming up; I know that that guy has no idea what it’s like to get his ass kicked all over a sawdust floor because he said the wrong thing to a welder’s wife.

That happens when you find the secret mojo that tickles the masses collective fancies though. Once you do that, you are bound for bastardization and along with it, mailbox money. So, it all evens out I suppose.

Way back in the day, I worked on the road with a country singer that was a full blooded Ogalalla Sioux. He was a Haggard freak. If it was a slow night, this guy would start pulling out some obscure Hag songs. Two songs that I remember from that time, that became regulars in the set were “Red Bandanna” and “Dealin’ With The Devil”(?). I never hear these tunes anymore. I think “Bandanna” has been covered a couple times but, the second one-”I’m not dancin’ with those demons, I’m not dealin’ with that devil anymore”, is a great song. It could be a hit for somebody.

Hey you want to see something really funky-check out Bob ‘73 or so.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gNl_t7GgQVg

Merle is the better, and that is that. He never smiles.

Haggard’s older brother gave him a guitar when Merle was twelve years old and he taught himself to play.

Merle attended three of Johnny Cash’s concerts at San Quentin. Seeing Cash perform inspired Haggard to straighten up and pursue his singing. Several years later, at another Cash concert, Haggard came up to Johnny and told him “I certainly enjoyed your show at San Quentin.” Cash said “Merle, I don’t remember you bein’ in that show.” Merle Haggard said, “Johnny, I wasn’t in that show, I was in the audience.”

…Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band “The Strangers” helped create the Bakersfield Sound, characterized by twangy telecaster guitars, tight vocal harmonies, and a rough edge…

In October 2005, Haggard released his newest album, “Chicago Wind”, to mostly positive reviews. The album contained an anti-Iraq war song titled “America First,” in which he laments the nation’s economy and faltering infrastructure, applauds its soldiers, and sings, “Let’s get out of Iraq, and get back on track.”

(open sores; why Iki peed ya)

Merle, with his early eat up childhood and later making good choices, and good luck, makes a blue collar true blue. This is what is called the working class performer.

Hey Bob Marley is very cool too. I just have a greater love for Merle, closer to home. Both men are national treasures, fabulous artists, and hands down originals. Maybe it’s in my head Merle over Bob because Bob is a Gibson Les Paul guy; Merle — tele.

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I heard that Ron Howard used to play clarinet for Black Uhuru.

Merle tried it and said: “Well, I’m kinda like George Carlin. I think that there ought to be a time where everybody should have all the drugs they want and there’d be nobody in charge, sort of like… now!”

A real Okie from Muskogee would never go there.

I prefer to take my reality with a dose of reality. People who smoke dope up tend to eat all the fondue and dance rather poorly. They usually don’t know beans about architecture. Rollin’ & Tumbling Mr. Muddy Waters has my vote tonight ’cause he’s preaching from the heart. Coming in a close second is Lewd Buddha for that uptown sound.

BTW I found this video of Merle singing “Never gonna give you up” on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T5yMoKOiNo

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One of the first songs I ever learned by heart was “Redemption Song”, and it’s still the first song I pick up when I learn an instrument.

I suppose it’d be kinda heartless to say Merle simply because he’s still alive.

Sidemen: Roy and Redd vs. Bunny and Peter.

This just doesn’t get easier.

First time I saw Bob, it was him on Night Flight, singin’ “Jammin’”, and I just sorta froze until the end of the song. First time I saw Merle, it didn’t hit as hard. So, Robert Nesta Marley.

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