On Wednesday 24 May 2023, Gene Watson fondly remembered a visit with Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2012.
‘Here’s a photo I ran across – from 2012, I think.
I was performing at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville and, unbeknownst to me, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) was also there for some special event.
Like everyone else, I was a fan of Merle’s from the moment I heard him.
From his style and phrasing to his memorable songs, it was all something for me to study when I was coming up in the business.
Here, we talked over our business, songs we were liking and hoped to record, and much more’
During the course of his illustrious country music career, Gene Watson has recorded a number of Merle Haggard songs.
Gene Watson recorded Merle Haggard‘s ‘Somebody Else You’ve Known’ and included the track on ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984); the original version of the track was recorded by Merle Haggard, who included it on ‘Swinging Doors & The Bottle Let Me Down’ (Capitol Records, 1966).
Gene Watson recorded Merle Haggard‘s ‘Today I Started Loving You Again’, which was co-written with Bonnie Owens (Tuesday 1 October 1929 – Monday 24 April 2006), and included the track on ‘In A Perfect World’ (Shanachie Records, 2007), featuring background vocals from Lee Ann Womack; the original version of the track was recorded by Merle Haggard, who included it on ‘The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde’ (Capitol Records, 1968); the title track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in April / May 1968, while its ‘B’ side, ‘Today I Started Loving You Again’, was never released as a single.
Gene Watson recorded Merle Haggard‘s ‘I Forget You Every Day’ and included the track on ‘My Heroes have Always been Country‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014); the original version of this track was recorded by Merle Haggard, who included it on ‘I Love Dixie Blues’ (Capitol Records, 1973), a ‘live’ album, which was recorded in New Orleans on Sunday 13 May 1973.
Merle Haggard also recorded an alternative version of ‘I Forget You Everyday’ (written by Merle Haggard) and included the track on ‘Songs I’ll Always Sing’ (Capitol Records, 1977), a two-record compilation album, which was released by Capitol Records on Monday 11 April 1977.
Source
• Gene Watson on Facebook
