Merle Haggard and Leona Williams from That Nashville Music originally aired in 1977 on TNN. Merle and Johnny Gimble playing for Ralph Sloan and The Tennessee Travelers.
I loved Merle and Bonnie and I believe he loved Bonnie for the rest of his life and hers. I would rather hear them sing than anything else I can do and I listen to them every day. I am sorry they are both gone and I miss them very much.
@@normanmcneal3605 Can you explain what you really mean? I found that my first and love of my life my first real boyfriend - who I had to leave. Then came a love/impressed by an older handsome man, but, once again I had to leave. Then I met the man I finally married and had many heartaches, but had two sons and stayed until they were in college. He was someone I at first felt sorry for and dated four years before marriage - which lasted 25 years - hills of heartaches. Then, at 70 married again and why -- well perhaps an escape from loneliness. It lasted 7 years and I had to leave. I left all of them - why - did I just never find the right one? Why do men cheat and are controlling and abusive? One has to leave. I know we pick the wrong ones - so easy to say and so hard to understand. I feel Merle's true love was Leona Williams - Bonnie was more of a mother type and she should be credited with much of his success. But she had to leave. We all love Merle as the King of Country and that doesn't change by how marriages he had. Leona had to leave also. Bonnie said she knew it was not a forever marriage, that he would cheat (which he did and even had Scott during their marriage) - so finally she left but stayed to sing and make a living.
I saw him in an interview and he said him and Bonnie realized that what they thought was love was a very close friendship..he said he would go to her anytime she ever needed his help, she would go to him if he ever needed her..they had so much mutual respect for each other and she was a beautiful woman, an amazing friend to have but they both realized it wasn't love, not the same love you have for a partner...they stayed friends forever..he said Leona Williams was and is the woman that showed him what real love between a man and woman is, and she would always be his love even though the marriage didn't last, that was a great loss to him because he would always love her..I saw this and heard him say it and you could see the pain in him when he talked about it 😥💔😕
My Husband and I absolutely love Merle Haggard. We have listened to his music from his first album. Actually it was the 1st album I bought when I purchased my very own Zenith Circle of Sound record player. We never stopped buying his records! As soon as we found out he'd put a new album out, we went and bought it! We'll see Him someday, singing beautiful songs in Heaven, "What a Glorious Day That Will Be..." AMEN!!
The 1st time to saw and heard Merl sing.,Iwas 13 years old and fell in love with him then as now.In Dolly Parton's hometown.We all lost so much with him gone.
@ Shakeyleg by Elvismerle - Thanks for posting this. Back in the early 70's I played guitar in a band that did gigs for wedding receptions, dances for CB Radio fans, graduation parties, and anyplace else that liked real country. Merle's music was the number one requested. Willie, Waylon, Kristofferson, Johnny Cash and others were requested occasionally and we always had them in our repertoire anyway, but Merle's songs were stories of real life put to music. That is what the folks could relate to at the time.
Greatness. Thanks for posting. Anyone know the musicians on Workin' Man. I identify Hal Rugg on steel, Leon Phodes on acoustic rhythm. It kinda looks like Spider Wison in the upper right, but I can't tell for sure. I'm guessing Jerry Whitehurst on piano. He calls out "Redd" for the guitar into, but I don't recognize him or the guy that played the electric solo.
Ms Leona Williamz is still a Great Singer. Her Son Ron is too on Some Songs. Loved Bonnie & Love Leona. BONNIEwas in Their Wedding. BONNIE WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON. SHE HDLP RAISE MR MERLE'S FIRST 4 CHILDREN.
Thanks for the comment! Merle didn't write this song it is a great song by Dave Kirby. Dave Kirby is an amazing songwriter that wrote several songs Merle recorded. Many other artists such as Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Ray Price and Johnny Cash also recorded his songs.
