Gene Watson Remembers Tammy Wynette and Merle Haggard: Thursday 6 April 2023

Gene Watson

On Thursday 6 April 2023, Gene Watson remembered Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) and Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).

Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998)

‘I don’t think I realised that two of our greatest country music legends died on the same day.

Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016)

Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) passed on this day, Monday 6 April in 1998 at just 55 years of age, and then Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) passed this day in 2016 from complications of pneumonia.

I know we all still miss them’

Source
Gene Watson on Facebook

Gene Watson and Tammy Wynette
Musical Connections


Steve Buckingham

On Wednesday 22 October 2014, Steve Buckingham, acclaimed record producer, and four-time Grammy Award winner, contributed a ‘Peer’s Quote’ about Gene Watson; in that quote, Steve Buckingham stated that Tammy Wynette said, on more than one occasion, that Gene Watson was one of her favourite singers.

Tammy Wynette: 'Higher Ground' (Epic Records, 1987)

In 1987, Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) saw the release of ‘Higher Ground’ (Epic Records, 1987), which was produced by Steve Buckingham; one of the included tracks was ‘Tempted’ (written by Al Turney), which featured background harmony from Gene Watson.

Gene Watson and Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
Musical Connections

Gene Watson: 'Heartaches, Love & Stuff' (MCA Records, 1984) 

Gene Watson recorded Merle Haggard‘s ‘I Must Be Somebody Else’ and included the track on ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984); the original version of the track was recorded by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), who included it on ‘Swinging Doors & The Bottle Let Me Down’ (Capitol Records, 1966).

Gene Watson: 'In A Perfect World' (Shanachie Records, 2007)

Gene Watson, with special guest, Lee Ann Womack, 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); the original version of the track was recorded by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), 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: 'My Heroes Have Always Been Country' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014)
Merle Haggard: 'Songs I'll Always Sing' (Capitol Records, 1977)

Gene Watson recorded Merle Haggard‘s ‘I Forget You Everyday’ and included the track on ‘My Heroes Have Always Been Country‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014); the original version of the track was recorded by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), who included it on ‘I Love Dixie Blues’ (Capitol Records, 1973), a ‘live’ album, which was recorded in New Orleans on Sunday 13 May 1973Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) 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.