Sarah and I were watching a TV profile of Merle Haggard the other night (which among other things confirmed how strongly he was influenced vocally, but also revealed how he was helped, by Lefty Frizzell). At one point Merle told the interviewer he wasn’t trying to trade on his time in prison. Odd, then, that he mentions it in almost every sentence and every song. What struck Sarah, though, is how clearly current Merle seems the sartorial style model for Bob Dylan.

As it says at the end of his entry in The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, “Haggard’s official website greets you with the branding ‘Haggard: Poet of the Common Man’. The common man, of course, retires; like the common woman, the performer generally doesn’t, and Merle, in his 70s, grey-haired and – well, yes, haggard – keeps on keeping on.” Again, just like Bob.

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the death of Long John Baldry (no connection intended). He died in Canada, aged 64.

Taken from this post:
HAGGARD & BALDRY