Thus begins Merle’s Career
In honor of Merle Haggard’s birth and death on April 6th, let’s take a quick look into what very well may have been the defining moment in his career. Here’s a story straight from The Hag: The Life, Times and Music of Merle Haggard by Marc Elliot
In 1954, Merle Haggard had recently been released from the reformatory heard from his musician buddies that Lefty Frizzell was coming to Bakersfield for a one-night, all ages show. At this point, Merle had been playing music for some time and had also perfected his Lefty impression. So of course they needed to see this show!
Merle went to the show with his friend Bob Teague. And Bob just happened to know Billy Mize from the opening band that night. One thing led to another and Billy Mize was convinced to bring Teague and Haggard backstage, and somehow right into Lefty Frizzell’s dressing room.
That’s when Merle Haggard remembered quite vividly, “Bob asked Lefty if he’d like to meet a guy who sang like he did. He said sure. So I was Brought in…” Merle performed a pitch perfect version of “Always Late With Your Kisses” and Lefty loved it!
That’s when Lefty Frizzell told the promoters, “I want this kid to sing a song out there before I go on.” And despite the protests of the venue (mainly because Lefty refused to play otherwise) Merle Haggard was pushed on stage with Lefty’s band to sing the Jimmie Rodger’s song “My Rough and Rowdy Ways.” The crowd loved it so much they demanded more! So Merle sang Hank Williams’ “You Win Again.”
As Lefty was walking his way on stage he patted Merle’s shoulder and told him he’d done a fine job. And as Merle watched the rest of the show he recalled, “I seen that and I knew that’s probably what I was going to do.”
This wasn’t his first show either, Check out this and the rest of the Classic Country Cartoon Archive from Greg Holcomb, posted every Monday morning on mybobcountry.com!