All my life knowing I shared a birthday with Raphael Sanzio, Merle Haggard and Billy Dee Williams.....I hadn't thought it probable until now.
Now I know when I'm gonna "go"... its the birthday. Watch out, Lando.
Merle Haggard died on his 79th birthday. He'd been fighting pneumonia bouts virtually every year lately. I'd missed chances to see him live due to cancels and rescheduling.
Hell of a storyteller. Hell of a songwriter and humorist. Fantastic guitarist and the most incredibly rich voice incountry music.
Sucks is all I can say.
Heck he even distanced himself from the extra unwanted following he got from the racist element after the success of Okie from Muskogee.
Seemed like a man of reformed character. Huge loss to real music everywhere