Merle and Willie

Merle and Willie

“When you get your chance to say something, say something good.”

Merle Haggard

I grew up on rock and roll, so I wasn’t overly enthusiastic when a couple of friends of mine suggested that we go to a Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard concert at Anaheim Stadium. Willie was pretty much everywhere in 1980, and Merle went on to have thirty-eight number-one hits. Every male country singer after him was influenced by Merle. He was the Frank Sinatra of his genre, in his phrasing, extraordinary voice, guitar playing and songwriting.

I couldn’t have named any of their songs at the time, but that concert of Outlaw Country made me a lifelong fan of both of them. I should mention that Emmylou Harris and Alabama were also on the bill.

We got good seats on the second level. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in October, and there was a fair chance we could have died at the concert. You see, Merle’s song “The Running Kind” had a bouncy beat, and the whole audience got up and danced. But somehow we were all in perfect time, and the four-row level we were on began to bounce up and down…a lot.

I remember feeling, This isn’t right, and an urgent voice came over the PA system: “Attention! For your own safety, please do not dance on the stadium second level!” The crowd got it in an instant, and hundreds of somewhat woozy people stopped dancing, and there was plenty of relief to go around.

I’d had it on my bucket list, before there was such a term, to attend a concert that became a live album. Well, this was the one: Rainbow Stew. And if you listen closely to Merle’s performance, you’ll hear the quick-thinking announcer who saved the day.

And I’ve always been grateful for that.

-Hank