Rip Merl

[Zach O]

Totally ruined my day.

[DavieD55]

R.I.P

[pickenup]

Another good one gone.

[TRnCO]

no doubt, and we're left with Alden, Hunt, and a bunch of other NOT country singers to take his, and other legends, places. Good country music is hard to come by these days. RIP Merle.

[StagLefty]

CMT did a nice tribute last night RIP

[wctriumph]

I won't swim the Kern River either.

RIP and Godspeed.

[Ah Pook]

Found this on a FB page. While I'm not a Toby Keith fan, kudos for helping a man keep his dignity.

Merle's Final Show. It was Super Bowl weekend. Merle had already cancelled months of shows, but this particular booking was a big payday. Merle had to pay his band and crew, so there was no calling in sick for this gig.

Toby Keith was in town with his wife to watch some football and have some fun. Toby got word that Merle was in Vegas, so he went to see him… Merle was in bad shape. He needed to be in a hospital - not on a stage; but

The Show Must Go On. Merle would not take charity from anyone, but he did turn to Toby and say, "How many songs of mine do you know?"

"All of 'em" answered T.
"All of 'em?"
"Yep. And I won't need a teleprompter."
"Well, stay nearby."

After four or five songs, Merle's infected lungs were spent. He couldn't draw enough air to sing any longer. "We've, uh, we've got a special guest here tonight…" Toby came out and sang the rest of the show. Merle gave his last concert. The Strangers got paid. And the audience, while not realizing it at the time, saw something special.

Thanks to Toby Keith, Merle exited the stage his last time with his dignity intact.

Thanks Merle.

[Hummer]

RIP, Merl Haggard. In the seventies, I worked as a body guard for Merl Haggard and rocked to "Okie from Muskogee" on stage when he performed in Boulder. I was in a martial arts group that provided personal security services for musicians and other celebrities when they came to town. Although I didn't talk with Mr. Haggard, I did have more interesting personal involvement with Waylon Jennings, Joni Mitchell, Steve McQueen and others. Fun times.