@@DJK-cq2uy I never got the chance to meet him but really wish I would have. Some people say he was a little bit standoffish, but he was absolutely one of my favorite players.
I am at a loss for words...that is one of the best live video recordings of Merle Haggard and The Strangers just killing it! All the while making it look effortlessly. Roy Nicholas takes the lead ride out of this world, and as someone commented, Roy played that lead, closed it and smoothly tucked his guitar. That's real, that's unbelievable talent, chemistry, and being f#*%&+* great!
There will always be another great singer or songwriter or success story from depths of poverty, but there will NEVER be another Merle Haggard....a man that wrote and sang from his giving heart to sooooo many.
WOW !!!!!! NOTHING AND I MEAN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CAN BEAT A FENDER TELECASTER IN THE HANDS OF THE RIGHT PICKER !!!!!!!!!!! U NAILED THAT ROY !!!!!!!!!!
Rumor has it that Jimmy Page used a Telecaster in the studio to play the lead to Stairway To Heaven. As a 71 year old working man - still working - I have a special reverence for Merle Haggard - the working man's poet. RIP Merle.
@@1guitar12 I've also heard a few other Led Zepplin solos, none of which come to mind right now, which sound like they were done on a Telecaster through the bridge pickup.
It never gets old. A friend of mine approached Merle as he was getting on his bus one time and asked.. "Do you have any advice for a young musician?" And Merel says. . "Yeah..Don't do it!" And them slammed the bus door. .lol!
People often forget, or never knew, how great a guitar player Hag was. He always gave Roy Nichols his well deserved credit but seems to have never sought it for himself as good as he was at it.
True - but that solo by Roy here, though. What a ripper!!! Jimmy Page would tip his hat to that one! Roy always had the most perfect country string-bends. This rendition would've still gone damn over well with just Merle's solo, but I'm glad Roy's is there too.
There’s a ton of classic country stations that stream. I listen to 99.7 The Legend out of somewhere in north Louisiana. I believe it’s around Monroe going by the advertisements.
Roy Nichols- wow that was so special. Digs right in deep and drives light at the same time. One of my top 5 solo's of all time. The irony- ask 99.9 % of the people in the world, and no one will know who he is. Sad. And Merle- need we say more. That's the way I'll always remember him.
Roy only drove on stage. I've read that he contractually specified that he would not drive at all, between shows. He carried his own amps too. I agree with you 100%. Easy top five, and in my ears, puts him right alongside Jimmy Page, and perhaps even Jimi Hendrix. Another thing 'they' never mention is how if Hendrix had never played a guitar, he could've easily made it on, and been widely loved and renowned for, his highly soulful singing! His singing was as right as his playing.
Now this is a real singer. The clarity of the words and spirit is fabulous. Great (first) Tele Solo Ronnie, Blows some of the greatest Blues players out of the water...
May Merle R.I.P. He was one of the very best singers/performers this country has every produced. We have lost all the greats. The younger generations have no idea what real music is.
@@SuperMikado282 It's a good practice to transcribe solos by ear. That's how any top guitarist learned to play, by listening to the masters of blues or jazz
I was born in 1965, grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and my late mother grew up in Nashville. She taught me about Hank, Johnny, Waylon, Loretta, and Merle. THIS is country. I don't dog people who listen to the new country, but I just can't get into it. I play a more classic rock and improve style music on my guitars, but can't tell you how many times in a solo I use the hammer-ons and bends that Merle and Roy use in their solos. Hope you all will check out this entire show (just wonderful!) and other stuff by Merle. Amazing!
I know that this is a James Burton lick, but Roy Nichols lays it down really hard and then just stops. You got to be pretty badass to drop a hot lick at the drop of a hat. Country Pickers!!
See and heard just for happyness remember my ”monument countryblues ’ Merle perfect unforgettable countryman and very beautifull man ❤❤❤ RIP sweetly with my heartache forever and admiration in the eternity ❤❤❤👍😭🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻you will be always my heartloving ❤thoughts sincerely respectueuses to merveilleuse Haggardfamily 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉(2023/06/28) 😭❤️
I always loved Roy's playing. However, when Merle recorded the song, he used James Burton, so that phenomenal solo on the Record is James. I have played it many many times over the years but never quite as good as James. Listen to the recording to hear James.
The guitar Merle is playing in this video is now the guitar that his son Ben repurposed and now plays regularly with Merle’s name carved into the top along with Kris Kristofferson’s.
Hey, does anyone know if Roy always sat down and played, and why? Is it simply that’s the way he learn to play and he’s comfortable, or is there some other reason? I know Merle was hard on his bandmembers. I’m sure he gave Roy a pastor, because of how good he was, and how lucky merle was to have him.
Matt Beeman - Roy wouldn't do that, tho he could, he was very improvisational and spontaneous, great musician as well as great guitar player - unique musical fingerprints.
![Merle Haggard - "Workin' Man Blues" [Live from Austin, TX]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
