I've never heard this story before. Waylon went through a lot of heavy loss in his life/career. If anyone doesn't know they should look up his early life and friendship with Buddy Holly and how we almost never even had Waylon Jennings.
@@davidcorcoran7634 the poster didn't know this either but "Omaha" was written because someone close to Waylon passed in a house fire up there and Billy Joe and Tom T Hall's brother went up to help out.Turned out to be a not very good idea. AINT IT FUN BEING FROM TEXAS!
Buddy Holly's death really messed up Waylon too...last words being "I hope your plane crashes" to one of your best friends has to be hard to live with, even tho it was a joke.
@@galewinds7696 Yes, that would be tough to live with. If he had been on that plane, it would have been someone else singing the DOH ballad and narrating the show. There would've been someone else singing "The HIghwayman w/ Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson & the Man In Black. & so on. It wasn't his time.
@@SoonerBear Well, you could also point out that Buddy Holly might have lived another 60 years and made fifteen more albums. All the love in the world for Waylon, though, and I'm with what you're saying about people's time. But losing Buddy was no small thing, and I'm (guessing Gen Xer?) might not understand how huge that loss was and how young and tragic he was... (edit: my point being, you could tell that stayed on Waylon's mind and it had to be a HELL of a mindf*ck, you know?)
The other side is probably exactly how it sounds. His youngest son, Ben to this day performs a song Merle wrote about his mother Teressa running and whoring around with her on stage singing backup. Merle was just a harsh, no nonsense person that was upfront in how they conducted themselves. So, yeah Waylon probably only had himself to blame losing that amount of money in poker.
Haggard wasn't known for being nice . My dad was a local known country band and when the big guys came around hed open for them . This was back in the country fair days . He said Haggard had a rough personality and wasn't the friend making type. He played with Dolly , Barbra Mandrel and the Mandrel Sisters , Hank jr , and many many more . I wish hed of chased his dream but he loved momma and wouldn't go on the road. They spent 57 yrs together till mom passed away and i really don't think he regrets any of it . He was always a weekend Music star at the local clubs and i think that is enough for him . Country music just has that family feel to it .
When I started working, those guys (curmudgeon/quiet type) were in the workforce. Many of them were old Vietnam Vets. If you made enough of a racket that they had to pause and give you that “look”….it was best that you just nod, go back to business and forget about the tomfoolery…
I imagine spending your early years narrowly avoiding the cops in a series of small crimes and ending up in prison for a while doesn't have a great effect on a person.
Merle is not outlaw most of the time. Merle is classic country honky Tonk. Merle is not rock, soul , rock and roll mostly. He adds jazz elements but holds honky tonk sound, fiddles, steel guitar and piano barrelhouse. It is honky tonk tradition as Hank Williams or Rodgers
Outlaw doesn't have to mean he was a part of the "outlaw country " movement. Merle can definitely be called an outlaw because of themes he tackled in his music, rather than the standard Nashville "love" or "cowboy" songs.
@@Michael_Chandler_Keaton He could be called outlaw in a sense I suppose. I agree he isn't one I typically associate with outlaw country, but hey, he actually did do time and live out the music he wrote 😁
I listen to both of these guys for over 40 years since I was a kid, I always wondered why these two were never seen together, playing together, even when they had so many mutual friends. It wasn’t until my 40s and I found out the story and it’s sad, these two are probably my most favorite entertainers in music. Both of them have had a tremendous impact on the way I sing and play guitar. I hope they’ve worked it out by now.
And another lesson. If you can't afford to lose it, you can't afford to gamble with it. It's sad and funny that a poker game is what ended their friendship
At Willie's 1983 4th of July Picnic at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, Waylon joined Willie and Merle onstage as they sang "Pancho and Lefty." Waylon sang harmony with Merle and Willie. I took a photo of them on stage together. The local country radio station had recorded the concert for rebroadcast but they were legally forbidden to do so. I hope someday that show is released in some format.
I knew Waylon and asked him about this specifically in 1990. He said it had nothing to do with the money or leaving him with nothing. It had more to do with HOW they left and how they said goodbye when they walked out. It was at that point that he realized Merle knew he was in a bad place and purposely made it worse. It was knowing that they took advantage of the situation on purpose that left a bad taste in Waylon’s mouth. I am a big Waylon fan. And also think Merle is great as well. In the same situation I’d like to think I would do Waylon better than Merle did, but honestly I probably would have done the same thing. If they had ever collaborated together it would have been amazing. One thing I know about Waylon and wish it wasn’t true is that he does hold a grudge. He and Tompall Glaser had a falling out. He and Merle definitely did. Willie and Waylon were in an out for years but they weren’t talking at the time of Waylon’s death. Waylon and Kris Kristofferson never saw eye to eye on a lot of things especially politics and they argued a lot but also had tons of respect for one another.
I delivered packages to Waylon's house as a UPS driver almost daily but never got to meet Waylon. Jesse Coulter always came to the door and we would briefly Chit-Chat and she was a very sweet lady. I delivered their packages in the 90's, and I often pass by that house off Old Hickory Blvd in Brentwood Tn and it still has the famous wrought Iron Waylon "W" logo above the entrance gate. The security gaurd building is also at the front gate but in the 90's I never seen a security guard. I wonder if Jessi is still alive and well and if she still lives in that house. She was a pleasure to meet and talk to even though I was very busy and our conversations were brief. The Brentwood / Cool Springs area of South Nashville has many superstars on my route and I was fortunate to meet many of them, but the Jennings house was one of my favorite stops because I was always greeted with a smile.
@@katlynklassen809 It wasn’t a set up game If You play porker , be ready to lose , I think it’s absolute ridiculous that Waylon would even tell that story , to me it makes him looks like a poor loser
Steve: Right, sad to say. Why are so many of our heroes alcoholics and drug addicted, no matter how talented and successful they are? So sad and something I will never understand.
I will start by saying I think Waylon Jennings was the greatest voice to ever sing country music. Yes! The Possum is the standard by which we measure, but Waylon Jennings voice just brings something alive inside me. I also love Merle Haggard, and believe he belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of Country Music right beside Waylon. My aunt was a waitress down in Panama City for many years when she was younger. She told a story about Merle Haggard walking up to the lunch counter, and ordering a cup of coffee. He was very polite, and down to Earth. She wasn't gonna charge Merle because she was a huge fan. He asked her for a check. So she gave it to him. She got busy, and she never even saw him leave. Under the coffee cup sat a $100 bill. Actions speak louder than words, and to me such a gesture has class act written all over it. For the record Kern River has to be one of the best songs ever made.
@@camlacasse3760 It's all about perspective. A counter argument can easily be made that Merle shouldn't have gambled with Waylon to begin with knowing the shape he was in. If you're really friends with someone and you know they aren't in their right mind, would you willingly take advantage of them?
@@bfsgmanA) I highly doubt they were great friends, work companions at most B) whether Melre 'took advantage of him or not' it was still Waylons and ONLY WAYLONS fault that he lost the money. He could have stopped while he was ahead but he didnt and he went and gambled on anyway. (By the way someone who he could have made made a great friendship with Melre, Willie was best freinds with both so they must have something in common Waylon just decided to take the huff with Merle because of the consequences of he own actions) Its waylons fault and only waylons fault, he had the choice to leave but he didnt.
These two guys are in my top 5 favorites of all time. I’ve listened to them since I was a little kid. I did notice that they were never together a few times but didn’t give it much thought really. Lookin back low it’s pretty amazing that they never did anything together. Never heard either of them say anything bad about the other. After watching this I see why now. Such a shame to have carried this with them for probably 2/3 of their lives. Must have been some sort of mutual respect between them for it to never have boiled over. RIP Fellas! Thanks for the great music.
My dad used to work security for music venues back in the 70's. Merle was playing a show here and my dad was working the venue. He said some lady came up and claimed to be Merle's mother. My dad wouldn't let her in. Someone went to get Merle to vouch for her, and he did and my dad let her in. She thanked my dad for doing his job and protecting her son. She said you don't know me, I could be anyone and could have had a grudge or meant to do wrong.
I love Waylon and Merle so not taking a side. Waylon seems like he always hung on to a grudge have read other articles about him falling out with other artists and new getting over it. Would have loved hearing them sing together
love Waylon. I went to a concert of his in the 90s it was so great u felt like u were at a party with a bond fire with him singing and talking to some people there. you can tell his fame didn't go to his head it was so layed back. I have never been to a concert like that.
My brother and sister drove all day to see Waylon back in the late 70s. He played a couple of songs, complained about the sound system, and left. I was in Duluth Minnesota in the 80s. He was supposed to play there. The people I knew who went to see him said he played a few songs, complained about the sound system, and left. He had a plan back then. Play just enough they have to pay him, then split. He lost a lot of fans back then. But then cocaine IS one hell of a drug.
I've gambled with friends and lost every penny to them. I never expected them to give it back. It was my fault. "The got me in a poker game" C'mon Waylon, you were a grown man. You made your own decision.
If I saw a friend of mine was in a really bad place and self-medicating, I couldn't bring myself to clean him out. As for Waylon, holding that grudge seems to be more about having a place to channel his anger than the actual deed.
Let's not forget the Ralph Mooney angle. Ralph was a great steel guitar player...much imitated but never duplicated...very stylistic. He played with Merle in the early days and toured with him. But somewhere north of St. Louis Ralph decided he didn't want to tour anymore, so he left Merle in a not very friendly way, i.e. he tried to steal one of Merle's buses to drive it home to Bakersfield (probably under the influence of alcohol). Ralph then drifted around for awhile until Waylon, who was a great admirer of Ralph's playing hired him and the rest is history. Mooney almost single handedly defined Waylon's sound for the rest of Waylon's career, as I'm sure Waylon would readily admit. But there once was Waylon's famous utterance from a live recording of Merle's "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down", where he hollers out during Ralph's pedal steel solo "Eat your heart out, Haggard !" It shows Waylon's great sense of humor. The recording is out there and is easy to find. A classic for sure.
It’s a shame that all these artist lose their lives, ruin their careers as well as their health. They just don’t know when to leave something alone some of them are like Elvis, and had the world and a palm of his hand, and he let Drugs take it away from him as well as his life.
They are people, like any of us. We all are born with the ability to use our will to choose everything that comes at us. Including choosing to believe all that comes in the blinding brightness of fame, fortune, and rapid accumulation of wealth, prosperity and acclaim. Some of us are older than they when they passed. (I am older than Waylon and younger than Merle), and I turned my back on many things that tripped them up, and also experienced some very great things without ever stepping into the light. "Like a moth to the flame". None of this is criticism, that light is strong, and it has taken a great many people. I have learned to appreciate the things people give of themselves, but also regret and am mindful of the cost to many of them. No hate, no insult or derision. But it is still painful to see the hardships many endured, because of the life, not always because they were foolish or deserving of it.
That so sad about his band member whom only came on less than 2wks before😭😢 Love both Waylon and Merle. Wish they could have worked it out. But I believe everything happens for a reason. They both did very well separately though. And the band member rest his soul with Our Heavenly Father.
I loved both Waylon and Merle but I’m wondering if maybe Waylon was a bit of a sore loser that night. None of us were there so I guess we’ll never know the whole story. RIP Waylon and Merle. I hope you mended fences in heaven.
In them days friends may feud or split, but the friends that circled around the two friends didn't abandon them. It was their problem, we didn't let it become our problem. You see, friends were earned like earning respect, the meaning of friend(s) had a meaning of having your back, even laying their life down for their friend(s). Today, friend is too loosely used and not many people have "true" friends, real friends don't kick you in the gut when you're down. Just an observation of an ole fart- end!!
Unless Merle and his manager had a strategy to purposely have an advantage to take Waylons money which I don't know but if so then shame on Merle. If it was just a poker game and there was no plan to gang up on Waylon then sounds to me like Waylon needed to learn that playing poker can break you. Maybe it was more about after the game was over the fact that Merle may have not asked Waylon if he was ok and needed anything. Such as money to eat on. Hard to say but I don't feel sorry for either. They made plenty of money and that was just one night. Love both
"but the friends that circled around the two friends didn't abandon them. It was their problem, we didn't let it become our problem." Generally agreed but there's always the exception. Like murder/attempted murder, cheating them out of their $$$, even stealing one of their wives. Not that Merle cheated Waylon out of his money, of course, he won it fair and square.
Waylon was always one of my favorites, but when you sit down to play cards, you better know who you are playing against. Sounds like Merle was just better at cards and Waylon got shellacked that night. I wish it wouldn't have made them enemies because i bet a duo song or two would have been great. Sorry to hear it ruined their relationship so early on. Two of the best ever.
The story didn’t say Waylon couldn’t afford to play … He could afford it and paid up. Merle acting like he’s Jewish was the problem. Faking friends to take money from people. This relationship never was a two way street. One thought they were actual friends and the other was acting like a Jew .
@@trmatt01that's not true at all, Waylon was just trying to justify his story by saying that he thought Merle was his freind when in a matter of fact, it was false from Waylon. Just look at Waylons demeanours and you'll notice that he was a card shark. He sang about it all the time. Merle was honest and he played the game honestly. I'm surprised he won again waylon who was a professional card shark but once waylong knew merle won, he took a childish tantrum.
I love Waylon for that exact reason, agreed. Waylon is my all time favorite country singer followed very closely by Merle. The reason they may not have gotten along is they are too alike.
If you bet thousands of dollars and someone cleans you out, whether you're down and out or not, you have only yourself to blame. Gambling isn't charity.
Same story every time. When you hear "never meet your heroes" or "don't learn too much about them," I'd listen. Drug addiction and self-destructive behavior--Why idolize people like that?
If your going to absolutely clean someone out of every cent they own (especially thousands of dollars) you gotta at least throw a few bucks for some gas to get home or a cab ride and maybe even a pack of smokes or something, it's just common courtesy (ESPECIALLY if they supposed to be a friend) that reallyis pretty scummy
Love both of them & the music they made & In a way I could understand Waylon's position on this but, if you gamble it's either you win big or lose big unfortunately Waylon lost big.
Right! I mean I love both of these guys....but if you're playing cards for money, there is always a possibility you could get cleaned out if you don't know when to quit. $5,000 is a lot of money to be losing in a poker game in '69....especially when you haven't even hit as big as you will in the next five years. Plus, know who you're playing...Merle grew up in poverty (his family leaving OK becase of the Dust Bowl and settling in California) and had spent several years in prison.....you can bet if he gambled it was probably serious business.
I grew up on the Country of the 50s, 60s and 70s. The only heroes i had were my dad and big brother. These musicians sure helped pass the time though. Country Gold Forever!
That is correct. J.P. Richardson, aka The Big Bopper, Had the flu and the heater on the bus wasn't working. So Waylon gave J.P. his seat so that he could get to the next show quicker and get treatment. Buddy was joking around with Waylon and said, "I hope your ol' bus freezes up". Waylon told Buddy, "I hope your plane crashes".
Thats a sad situation I can relate to a tiny bit. Ya see I used to work for Mr.H. Sort of. We were very distantly related but that never came into play. Ya see when my I was 8,9,and 10 we had a family from our cul-de-sac move, and buy the Lakeview Resort on Lake Shasta. So the Pipers, and the Korff's would drive up from the Bay Area area to visit. Wonderful story short. Mr. H was renting room from the Lakeview. We weren't too worried about his presence . We knew not. We were getiing a quarter a beer, and a quarter for cleaning his fish. We loved the guy. Hey work is work! Years later Merle bought the Silverthorn Resort(or built it) near the old and time gone Lakeview Resort. We were Okies from CA, but sometimes we stick together. Merle was real quiet and courteous.
I know someone who was raised as family friends with Merle when he lived on Silver Bridge Road in Palo Cedro, CA. I've heard the houseboat stories....Merle was not a decent man.
Yes, US 150 crosses the Mackinaw River between Congerville and Goodfield on the way from Bloomington to Peoria. An interesting bit of trivia information is that crossing is just 5 or 6 miles South of Eureka College, Ronald Reagan’s alma mater.
@jameshepburn4631 Yep, I know the area very well, I grew up around Macomb, Illinois and lived near Rockford, Illinois for many years. Both of my kids graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington/Normal.
I wasn’t aware of a riff between the two Legends. This is new to me. Post script : when you set down at a poker game, that’s is what it’s about. Winner take all! If you had won, then Merle would have been pi$$ed off. Neither men should have played each other. Being a sore looser is only a human trait. Waylon was human.
Oh, Lord, yes, Waylon was human. He was a Texican, and had a tendency to carry a grudge. And there's a couple of tracks of them both, but it was just that they both showed up to help friends and charity and both, as well as a few on stage cameos to honor those who loved them both. I'm 51 years old. My Mom does not like country music in general, but LORD, she loves Willie Nelson lol. And Johnny Cash. And Patsy, but who didn't? Waylon knew better than to keep betting, and Merle knew better than to take all Waylon's money. "Them's Fighting Words--tell a man at a poker game he should've have taken your money, and he'd best laugh and say to quit betting".
ITS NEVER HARD TO FIND AN EXCUSE FOR LOSING. IM WONDERING HAD WAYLON WON,WOULD THE STORY INCLUDE THE DEATH,HIS OWN STATE OF BEING AT THE TIME,ETC. NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM WAYLON,IVE LOVED HIM(AND HAGG) FOR DECADES! LIKE I SAID,ITS NEVER HARD TO FIND AN EXCUSE FOR LOSING!. REM. THE CHARACTER PLAYED BY GEORGE C. SCOTT IN THE HUSTLER,WITH PAUL NEWMAN? HE EXPLAINS FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF IS THE GREATEST INDOOR SPORT EVER INVENTED!
Gamblin' is one thing but showin' up with a partner to clean out a "friend" who you knew was havin' problems much like your own is some lowdown sorry shit. Let's be honest. Don't get me wrong, I've always been a huge fan of Merle Haggard's, but, for me, Waylon Jennings is and always will be the most Legendary Country Music Superstar Outlaw to ever live. To almost anybody else this was just another story from back in the day that Waylon oughta get over and let go of. It was only a couple grand, right? Now, I don't care who you are or how much you have. If someone I consider a friend and his bass player plan to beat me out of anything, as far as I'm concerned from that point on, we aren't gonna ever be the same. I'm sure this embarrassed and pissed Waylon off but in the end it only took a couple grand to figure out all Waylon needed to know about Hag.
I agree with you. You lose you, pay up. Nobody makes you gamble other than yourself. I watched my father lose money gambling. He paid and even though he was mad he never blamed anyone else. It’s the reason I’m a professional gambler. I don’t really gamble though. If I don’t have a mathematical advantage I just don’t place a bet. I still lose a lot though. I certainly wouldn’t hold a grudge for decades about it.
I love Waylon's music and he like Merle Haggard both had issues with all that goes wrong with the music industry.. however as much as I love Waylon's music for me Merle Haggard has no rivals, Merle wrote a lot of the songs and live that life. I think what was country music at that time and up into the 80s and the 90sMerle haggard's greatest singer and songwriter in storyteller ever been. . for me it starts with Haggard at the top, Jones, cash, Willie and you can make a case for anyone else after them.. if you ask 20 people you'd probably get 15 different answers. But Merle was King
I seen waylon at a table listening to merle haggard., waylon sang tonight the bottle let me down., they weren't close., but by no means enemies. Both legends.
A musician friend of mine had an encounter with Hag in a hotel lobby. Said he was a bigger than life A whole, screaming and yelling, "don't you know who I am", at the desk clerk. Cussing at people standing by, having a complete childish temper tantrum. He said it was so bad it really made it hard for him to listen to Hag anymore, even though he was one of his favorites.
Some one doesn't like Merle, what a funny story, if it had of happend there would have been some record about it and it would have happend in more instances. FAKE NEWS.
Again, like the narrator said: they BOTH had issues (throughout life). Not defending it. Who KNOWS what had happened 🤷🏼♂️. Not JUSTIFYING it, but, I will never stop listening to either…
What surprised you? That Merle and Waylon played cards and Waylon lost? I love them both, but if you’re going to gamble, it’s a gamble. Maybe Waylon expected some mercy shown to him, on the other hand, Waylon could’ve called it quits well before he lost all his money.
Hard to feel sorry for someone who claims they were struggling and gambled $4,000- $5,000 away. Especially when the average household income was around $10,000yr.
It is in games where people reveal their true natures. This was clearly a high stakes game, which friends should never participate in. There is nothing good about gambling.
Even though they weren't friends their still 2 of the greatest singers ever and 2 of my musical heroes their music will live on forever
I seen waylon jennings sitting at a table watching merle haggard at some bar room .
"greatest singers ever" really?
Where when? @@Paul-s2l7p
Never play cards with a bunch of ex cons
👍
I've never heard this story before. Waylon went through a lot of heavy loss in his life/career. If anyone doesn't know they should look up his early life and friendship with Buddy Holly and how we almost never even had Waylon Jennings.
Since you know so much about Waymore, who wrote 90% of the "Honky Tonk Heroes" record?
@@knifelyfe6565 Billy Joe Shaver.
@@davidcorcoran7634 Checkout:
Billy Joe w/ Tab Benoit "Comin' on Strong" Billy Joe and Eddy are missed.GBNF
HAPPY LISTENING!
@@davidcorcoran7634 the poster didn't know this either but "Omaha" was written because someone close to Waylon passed in a house fire up there and Billy Joe and Tom T Hall's brother went up to help out.Turned out to be a not very good idea.
AINT IT FUN BEING FROM TEXAS!
Let this be a lesson to everyone, don’t gamble when you’re broke and don’t let money destroy your friendships !!!
Nobody but Waylon was betting with Wayon's money. His own damned fault he lost.
@@rogereriksen2472Watch your BLOODY language mate. Waylon Jennings is almost a legend here like bocephus
@@wildestcowboy2668 Your "legend" is pretty whiny for a supposed outlaw.
@@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364 I said bocephus is a bloody legend here mate never said anything about outlaw.
Yeah I'm gonna remember that
Buddy Holly's death really messed up Waylon too...last words being "I hope your plane crashes" to one of your best friends has to be hard to live with, even tho it was a joke.
Yeah, who knew 🙄
@@galewinds7696Fiddle myFaddle
@@galewinds7696 Yes, that would be tough to live with. If he had been on that plane, it would have been someone else singing the DOH ballad and narrating the show. There would've been someone else singing "The HIghwayman w/ Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson & the Man In Black. & so on. It wasn't his time.
@@SoonerBear Well, you could also point out that Buddy Holly might have lived another 60 years and made fifteen more albums.
All the love in the world for Waylon, though, and I'm with what you're saying about people's time. But losing Buddy was no small thing, and I'm (guessing Gen Xer?) might not understand how huge that loss was and how young and tragic he was... (edit: my point being, you could tell that stayed on Waylon's mind and it had to be a HELL of a mindf*ck, you know?)
One side of a two-sided story remembered through a haze. I do enjoy the music of these two men. Wish they were still around.
Truth,lies and inbetween
The other side is probably exactly how it sounds. His youngest son, Ben to this day performs a song Merle wrote about his mother Teressa running and whoring around with her on stage singing backup. Merle was just a harsh, no nonsense person that was upfront in how they conducted themselves. So, yeah Waylon probably only had himself to blame losing that amount of money in poker.
Merle and Fuzzy double teamed Waylon, and Waylon knew it.
Haggard wasn't known for being nice . My dad was a local known country band and when the big guys came around hed open for them . This was back in the country fair days . He said Haggard had a rough personality and wasn't the friend making type. He played with Dolly , Barbra Mandrel and the Mandrel Sisters , Hank jr , and many many more . I wish hed of chased his dream but he loved momma and wouldn't go on the road. They spent 57 yrs together till mom passed away and i really don't think he regrets any of it . He was always a weekend Music star at the local clubs and i think that is enough for him . Country music just has that family feel to it .
When I started working, those guys (curmudgeon/quiet type) were in the workforce. Many of them were old Vietnam Vets. If you made enough of a racket that they had to pause and give you that “look”….it was best that you just nod, go back to business and forget about the tomfoolery…
Beautiful ….family & community🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I imagine spending your early years narrowly avoiding the cops in a series of small crimes and ending up in prison for a while doesn't have a great effect on a person.
@@MatsThyWit no need to bring Martha Stewart into this
Hag had an ego. He knew he was the best in Country Music.
May Merle and Waylon be resting in peace. 2 of the best outlaw musicians in history
Merle is not outlaw most of the time. Merle is classic country honky Tonk. Merle is not rock, soul , rock and roll mostly. He adds jazz elements but holds honky tonk sound, fiddles, steel guitar and piano barrelhouse. It is honky tonk tradition as Hank Williams or Rodgers
Merle wasn't outlaw.
5k common man
That’s penny’s
Outlaw doesn't have to mean he was a part of the "outlaw country " movement. Merle can definitely be called an outlaw because of themes he tackled in his music, rather than the standard Nashville "love" or "cowboy" songs.
@@Michael_Chandler_Keaton
He could be called outlaw in a sense I suppose. I agree he isn't one I typically associate with outlaw country, but hey, he actually did do time and live out the music he wrote 😁
Where there's a WILLie, there's a WAYlon.
Thats a ⭐⭐⭐⭐COMMENT!!! 🤠🤠
I listen to both of these guys for over 40 years since I was a kid, I always wondered why these two were never seen together, playing together, even when they had so many mutual friends. It wasn’t until my 40s and I found out the story and it’s sad, these two are probably my most favorite entertainers in music. Both of them have had a tremendous impact on the way I sing and play guitar. I hope they’ve worked it out by now.
@@satbobsmith7261 Everyone dies. It's the impact they left behind that matters.
@@dcsj6837not really.. that “impact” or “legacy” is also eventually forgotten to time. Nothing lasts forever in the physical realm..
Wow what a sleazy scumbag Merle Haggard was he could have given Waylin some money back.
Haven't seen much of Merle and Kenny or Don either.
@@satbobsmith7261 nah… you don’t say. Lol I mean in the afterlife homie.
The lesson is simple. You don't hold a grudge - a grudge holds you.
They were too much Alike
And another lesson. If you can't afford to lose it, you can't afford to gamble with it. It's sad and funny that a poker game is what ended their friendship
A friend wouldn't do that to you when you are messed up. Love Merle's music, but he wasn't much of a person.
If your good friend got drunk and kicked you in the balls and broke your nose, you might forgive him, but you wouldn't forget.
Don't tell lies and you you won't have any grudge
At Willie's 1983 4th of July Picnic at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, Waylon joined Willie and Merle onstage as they sang "Pancho and Lefty." Waylon sang harmony with Merle and Willie. I took a photo of them on stage together. The local country radio station had recorded the concert for rebroadcast but they were legally forbidden to do so. I hope someday that show is released in some format.
That would have been unreal
I wonder who wrote
"Pancho and Lefty?"
AINT IT FUN BEING FROM TEXAS!
@@knifelyfe6565 townes wrote it!
@@Frtemplin lol I know.Townes is missed.
@@Frtemplin Will's daughter Paula is the one who turned him on to the song.
I knew Waylon and asked him about this specifically in 1990. He said it had nothing to do with the money or leaving him with nothing. It had more to do with HOW they left and how they said goodbye when they walked out. It was at that point that he realized Merle knew he was in a bad place and purposely made it worse. It was knowing that they took advantage of the situation on purpose that left a bad taste in Waylon’s mouth.
I am a big Waylon fan. And also think Merle is great as well. In the same situation I’d like to think I would do Waylon better than Merle did, but honestly I probably would have done the same thing. If they had ever collaborated together it would have been amazing.
One thing I know about Waylon and wish it wasn’t true is that he does hold a grudge. He and Tompall Glaser had a falling out. He and Merle definitely did. Willie and Waylon were in an out for years but they weren’t talking at the time of Waylon’s death. Waylon and Kris Kristofferson never saw eye to eye on a lot of things especially politics and they argued a lot but also had tons of respect for one another.
And the moral of the story is simple... "If you don't want to Lose... Don't Gamble". Simple as that.
Waylon could left this off,of u dance u must pay the fiddler
You've got to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. You got to walk away when you can...
I delivered packages to Waylon's house as a UPS driver almost daily but never got to meet Waylon. Jesse Coulter always came to the door and we would briefly Chit-Chat and she was a very sweet lady. I delivered their packages in the 90's, and I often pass by that house off Old Hickory Blvd in Brentwood Tn and it still has the famous wrought Iron Waylon "W" logo above the entrance gate. The security gaurd building is also at the front gate but in the 90's I never seen a security guard. I wonder if Jessi is still alive and well and if she still lives in that house. She was a pleasure to meet and talk to even though I was very busy and our conversations were brief. The Brentwood / Cool Springs area of South Nashville has many superstars on my route and I was fortunate to meet many of them, but the Jennings house was one of my favorite stops because I was always greeted with a smile.
Jesse is still alive lives in Arizona and just his past year remarried.
Waylon and Jessi moved from the Brentwood house, around 1999 and 2000.
Freddy, great memory and thanks for posting! I believe that Jesse retired to Arizona. What a nice short visit you had with her, many times. Lucky!
@marlenepitts1509 she lives in chandler Az. I've actually seen their house before way died.
Thanks for sharing this friend
Actually never thought about these two never singing together.....would've been greatness if they had!
On David Allen coe you never called me by my name
@@FloridaRT I fairly certain that was Coe singing all roles.
@@MurdersMachineIt 100% was Coe singing in their styles.
Waylon, a voice like no other.
My thoughts too!
Always better than little bro Willie
I appreciate that nearly all of your video is related to the title and not killing time to make the video longer.
Been betrayed by a few friends through the years. Few things stick with you as deep.
Gambling your LAST dollar is NOT the friends fault or obligation! Stupid is as stupid does! Sounds more like a case of sore loser‼️
I don't think it was betrayal. He got in a poker game but he was a no state to play. You can't lose your money and then get sour about it
@@dustinbrown7246I don't know. A set up game is theft
@@katlynklassen809 who said it was “set up”??? Y’all make sht up in your own heads
@@katlynklassen809
It wasn’t a set up game
If You play porker , be ready to lose , I think it’s absolute ridiculous that Waylon would even tell that story , to me it makes him looks like a poor loser
Just because they are iconic performer doesn’t make them stellar human beings.
Steve: Right, sad to say. Why are so many of our heroes alcoholics and drug addicted, no matter how talented and successful they are? So sad and something I will never understand.
Nobody is claiming this. Take a breath, give the keyboard a rest
I will start by saying I think Waylon Jennings was the greatest voice to ever sing country music. Yes! The Possum is the standard by which we measure, but Waylon Jennings voice just brings something alive inside me.
I also love Merle Haggard, and believe he belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of Country Music right beside Waylon.
My aunt was a waitress down in Panama City for many years when she was younger. She told a story about Merle Haggard walking up to the lunch counter, and ordering a cup of coffee. He was very polite, and down to Earth. She wasn't gonna charge Merle because she was a huge fan. He asked her for a check. So she gave it to him. She got busy, and she never even saw him leave. Under the coffee cup sat a $100 bill. Actions speak louder than words, and to me such a gesture has class act written all over it. For the record Kern River has to be one of the best songs ever made.
Hard times and life's experiences make for some of the best country music.
Hey Friend, I want to gamble, but I am broke, so if I lose, give me back my money since it is mine. Waylon you are a mouse of a man!
@@camlacasse3760 It's all about perspective. A counter argument can easily be made that Merle shouldn't have gambled with Waylon to begin with knowing the shape he was in.
If you're really friends with someone and you know they aren't in their right mind, would you willingly take advantage of them?
@@bfsgmanA) I highly doubt they were great friends, work companions at most
B) whether Melre 'took advantage of him or not' it was still Waylons and ONLY WAYLONS fault that he lost the money. He could have stopped while he was ahead but he didnt and he went and gambled on anyway.
(By the way someone who he could have made made a great friendship with Melre, Willie was best freinds with both so they must have something in common Waylon just decided to take the huff with Merle because of the consequences of he own actions)
Its waylons fault and only waylons fault, he had the choice to leave but he didnt.
Don't be a sore loser unless he cheated.
There are two kinds of people who should never gamble. Those who can’t afford to lose and those who can.
In other words NOBODY!!!
Never gamble if you aren't willing to loose.
Waylon is & always be one of the greatest music entertainer.
Facts
Hes a big crybaby
These two guys are in my top 5 favorites of all time. I’ve listened to them since I was a little kid. I did notice that they were never together a few times but didn’t give it much thought really. Lookin back low it’s pretty amazing that they never did anything together. Never heard either of them say anything bad about the other. After watching this I see why now. Such a shame to have carried this with them for probably 2/3 of their lives. Must have been some sort of mutual respect between them for it to never have boiled over. RIP Fellas! Thanks for the great music.
Just top 5 ? Top3 Jesus Hag. Ouatachia
Never leave a man completely broke.
Got to know when to hold em,know when to fold em.Lesson for life😂
Two of my personal favs.. Best era of country music imo. Legendary country singers.
My dad used to work security for music venues back in the 70's. Merle was playing a show here and my dad was working the venue. He said some lady came up and claimed to be Merle's mother. My dad wouldn't let her in. Someone went to get Merle to vouch for her, and he did and my dad let her in. She thanked my dad for doing his job and protecting her son. She said you don't know me, I could be anyone and could have had a grudge or meant to do wrong.
Mama tried😋
I'm not sure a little old lady would be a security threat. May have asked her for some i.d. to prove her relationship?
Jimbrew4529 You ever hear of Salina?
@@jonahmosher3024 Id'nt that over in Kansas somewhere ? . . .🙃
I love Waylon and Merle so not taking a side. Waylon seems like he always hung on to a grudge have read other articles about him falling out with other artists and new getting over it. Would have loved hearing them sing together
He didn't take any shit.
Merle Haggard was known for being a card shark.Hag learned how to play cards in prison. Waylon should have known better
Im not much on country music but these two gentleman are exceptional musicians. I hold them both in high regard. Thanks for sharing.......
love Waylon. I went to a concert of his in the 90s it was so great u felt like u were at a party with a bond fire with him singing and talking to some people there. you can tell his fame didn't go to his head it was so layed back. I have never been to a concert like that.
I'm jealous. I saw Merle at DelMar fairgrounds in the 80's.
He actually showed up.
Waylon is one I would have loved to see. SRV is another.
Bonfire?
@@jamespollock11Laid back ?
My brother and sister drove all day to see Waylon back in the late 70s. He played a couple of songs, complained about the sound system, and left.
I was in Duluth Minnesota in the 80s. He was supposed to play there. The people I knew who went to see him said he played a few songs, complained about the sound system, and left.
He had a plan back then. Play just enough they have to pay him, then split.
He lost a lot of fans back then.
But then cocaine IS one hell of a drug.
@@BaxterThewall well,,maybe that night. lol
Too bad Kenny Rodgers wasn't there would'a put a stop to it..
Ya got to know when to hold'em
Play your song "Sweet Music Man"
I will always love Waylon he was the man bless you Waylon.
Two of the all time greats no doubt about it. Both Western, both Country as it gets.
Loved Hag and Jennings both. Obviously, they are both legends.
R. I. P.
WAYLON 🎸🇨🇱 JENNINGS
Ralph Mooney
MERLE HAGGARD
Bonnie Owens
I've gambled with friends and lost every penny to them. I never expected them to give it back. It was my fault. "The got me in a poker game" C'mon Waylon, you were a grown man. You made your own decision.
If I saw a friend of mine was in a really bad place and self-medicating, I couldn't bring myself to clean him out. As for Waylon, holding that grudge seems to be more about having a place to channel his anger than the actual deed.
Horse shit. A friend who takes you for $5000 ain’t your friend any more.
Waylon and Merle are great Entertainers.
Were....they both passed now
@@michaelward944ciao Michael!🙋😊😘💘🌅
Let's not forget the Ralph Mooney angle. Ralph was a great steel guitar player...much imitated but never duplicated...very stylistic. He played with Merle in the early days and toured with him. But somewhere north of St. Louis Ralph decided he didn't want to tour anymore, so he left Merle in a not very friendly way, i.e. he tried to steal one of Merle's buses to drive it home to Bakersfield (probably under the influence of alcohol). Ralph then drifted around for awhile until Waylon, who was a great admirer of Ralph's playing hired him and the rest is history. Mooney almost single handedly defined Waylon's sound for the rest of Waylon's career, as I'm sure Waylon would readily admit. But there once was Waylon's famous utterance from a live recording of Merle's "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down", where he hollers out during Ralph's pedal steel solo "Eat your heart out, Haggard !" It shows Waylon's great sense of humor. The recording is out there and is easy to find. A classic for sure.
Waylon clearly didn’t know when to walk away and when to run.
So sad they couldn't be freinds but MERLE AND WAYLON ARE 2 OF THE BIGGEST ICONS IN COUNTRY MUSIC. THEY MADE IT THE HARD WAY. GOD BLESS THESE 2 MEN
"...freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose..."
Oh well. I guess you can’t trust your friends. But I love them both two great artists in their field. ❤❤❤❤❤I hope country music never dies.
Why? Sounds like Waylon willingly gambled and lost.
God bless Waylon, he's buried here in Mesa Az
The 2 best country artists of all time!
Johnny Cash not even close
2 of my favorite artist.
Merle was known to brutal at times.
Why did Merle look up to Marty so much? Hell, he named one of his sons after Marty.
It’s a shame that all these artist lose their lives, ruin their careers as well as their health. They just don’t know when to leave something alone some of them are like Elvis, and had the world and a palm of his hand, and he let Drugs take it away from him as well as his life.
They are people, like any of us. We all are born with the ability to use our will to choose everything that comes at us. Including choosing to believe all that comes in the blinding brightness of fame, fortune, and rapid accumulation of wealth, prosperity and acclaim.
Some of us are older than they when they passed. (I am older than Waylon and younger than Merle), and I turned my back on many things that tripped them up, and also experienced some very great things without ever stepping into the light.
"Like a moth to the flame".
None of this is criticism, that light is strong, and it has taken a great many people.
I have learned to appreciate the things people give of themselves, but also regret and am mindful of the cost to many of them.
No hate, no insult or derision. But it is still painful to see the hardships many endured, because of the life, not always because they were foolish or deserving of it.
Merle died at old age from a lung infection and Waylon from complications for diabetes. Not drug use.
And yet, look at Willie Nelson.. still going strong 💪 90 YEARS OLD!😅😅 🎉😅😅🎉❤❤❤
@jgatkinson 744 we’ll excuse your ignorance as you clearly have no experience with addiction.
That so sad about his band member whom only came on less than 2wks before😭😢 Love both Waylon and Merle. Wish they could have worked it out. But I believe everything happens for a reason. They both did very well separately though. And the band member rest his soul with Our Heavenly Father.
Hopefully Waylon learned not to gamble. Merle was probably so high he didn't know he was playing cards
I loved both Waylon and Merle but I’m wondering if maybe Waylon was a bit of a sore loser that night. None of us were there so I guess we’ll never know the whole story. RIP Waylon and Merle. I hope you mended fences in heaven.
For me Waylon still the king
Bob Wills is Still the King
@@shannonbowlingchannel That's what Waylon said fo sho!!!
In them days friends may feud or split, but the friends that circled around the two friends didn't abandon them. It was their problem, we didn't let it become our problem. You see, friends were earned like earning respect, the meaning of friend(s) had a meaning of having your back, even laying their life down for their friend(s). Today, friend is too loosely used and not many people have "true" friends, real friends don't kick you in the gut when you're down. Just an observation of an ole fart- end!!
Unless Merle and his manager had a strategy to purposely have an advantage to take Waylons money which I don't know but if so then shame on Merle. If it was just a poker game and there was no plan to gang up on Waylon then sounds to me like Waylon needed to learn that playing poker can break you. Maybe it was more about after the game was over the fact that Merle may have not asked Waylon if he was ok and needed anything. Such as money to eat on. Hard to say but I don't feel sorry for either. They made plenty of money and that was just one night. Love both
"but the friends that circled around the two friends didn't abandon them. It was their problem, we didn't let it become our problem."
Generally agreed but there's always the exception. Like murder/attempted murder, cheating them out of their $$$, even stealing one of their wives. Not that Merle cheated Waylon out of his money, of course, he won it fair and square.
Don't sit in on a poker game if you aren't prepared to lose. His own fault, not Merle's.
They’d have to fight it out and stop this shit to me we all family 😂
Sounds like a case of sour grapes to me... he was just mad cause he lost a poker game...when you gamble, sometimes you lose... that's life...
Waylon was always one of my favorites, but when you sit down to play cards, you better know who you are playing against. Sounds like Merle was just better at cards and Waylon got shellacked that night. I wish it wouldn't have made them enemies because i bet a duo song or two would have been great. Sorry to hear it ruined their relationship so early on. Two of the best ever.
if you cant afford to lose you should not play then blame other people
That's true in most poker games
You don't do that to friends, merle should have been more considerate of his singing friend
The story didn’t say Waylon couldn’t afford to play … He could afford it and paid up. Merle acting like he’s Jewish was the problem. Faking friends to take money from people. This relationship never was a two way street. One thought they were actual friends and the other was acting like a Jew .
@@trmatt01that's not true at all, Waylon was just trying to justify his story by saying that he thought Merle was his freind when in a matter of fact, it was false from Waylon. Just look at Waylons demeanours and you'll notice that he was a card shark. He sang about it all the time. Merle was honest and he played the game honestly. I'm surprised he won again waylon who was a professional card shark but once waylong knew merle won, he took a childish tantrum.
Yes
@@trmatt01nice take, for a racist.
I remember this from when I read Waylon’s book about 20 years ago
I grew up with both played in our home; but Waylon was the favored by Far.
I love both of them. This is like when your Mom and Dad are fighting and you don’t want to pick sides.
If Waylon had won the poker game he would have done the same thing
You don't know that
PROBABLY, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
I love Waylon for that exact reason, agreed. Waylon is my all time favorite country singer followed very closely by Merle. The reason they may not have gotten along is they are too alike.
If you bet thousands of dollars and someone cleans you out, whether you're down and out or not, you have only yourself to blame. Gambling isn't charity.
“Never meet your heroes”
Same story every time. When you hear "never meet your heroes" or "don't learn too much about them," I'd listen. Drug addiction and self-destructive behavior--Why idolize people like that?
If your going to absolutely clean someone out of every cent they own (especially thousands of dollars) you gotta at least throw a few bucks for some gas to get home or a cab ride and maybe even a pack of smokes or something, it's just common courtesy (ESPECIALLY if they supposed to be a friend) that reallyis pretty scummy
No… that’s why they call it GAMBLING!
@@a.j.johnson692 you know nothing
Sad story about 2 greats. Wish it was a happyier ending, with the joy both have brought us!
Merle was a real outlaw, not just an act.
No doubt. Literally hopped trains as a hobo before he made it
@@dlcanady5251092
So a hobo not an outlaw :)
Just playin
Which means trusting him was taking a chance.
He was a pansy
Well Said
I wish they could of sang a couple duets together they would of have sounded great together. Two of my favorite singers.
Love both of them & the music they made & In a way I could understand Waylon's position on this but, if you gamble it's either you win big or lose big unfortunately Waylon lost big.
Waylon was a straight shooter, if he didn't like you, he didn't like you. Merle's behavior at that poker game must've really ticked him off.
Legend has it, that Waylon’s family is still looking for the person that twisted his arm to join that poker game.
Right! I mean I love both of these guys....but if you're playing cards for money, there is always a possibility you could get cleaned out if you don't know when to quit. $5,000 is a lot of money to be losing in a poker game in '69....especially when you haven't even hit as big as you will in the next five years. Plus, know who you're playing...Merle grew up in poverty (his family leaving OK becase of the Dust Bowl and settling in California) and had spent several years in prison.....you can bet if he gambled it was probably serious business.
It's called taking advantage of someone why you can't screw a girl while she's passed out
I like it. I like it a lot.
That is a really bad thing that thy never could have sang together! That record would have made history!
Just listened to “Good hearted woman” after watching this. May the two legends RIP🪽
Good Hearted Woman is about Tina Turner.
Not sure what that a code t story had to do with their falling out. He lost a card game. Just sounds like a sore loser.
I grew up on the Country of the 50s, 60s and 70s. The only heroes i had were my dad and big brother. These musicians sure helped pass the time though. Country Gold Forever!
I think Waylon traded his seat to Big Bopper on the Buddy Holly crash.
That is correct. J.P. Richardson, aka The Big Bopper, Had the flu and the heater on the bus wasn't working. So Waylon gave J.P. his seat so that he could get to the next show quicker and get treatment. Buddy was joking around with Waylon and said, "I hope your ol' bus freezes up". Waylon told Buddy, "I hope your plane crashes".
I dated Chuck Conway's daughter for many years and we are still friends to this day.
I've seen 2 times concerts back in the 1980's. I am a fan still to this day for Waylon Jennings. 😊 ❤
Thats a sad situation I can relate to a tiny bit. Ya see I used to work for Mr.H. Sort of. We were very distantly related but that never came into play. Ya see when my I was 8,9,and 10 we had a family from our cul-de-sac move, and buy the Lakeview Resort on Lake Shasta. So the Pipers, and the Korff's would drive up from the Bay Area area to visit. Wonderful story short. Mr. H was renting room from the Lakeview. We weren't too worried about his presence . We knew not. We were getiing a quarter a beer, and a quarter for cleaning his fish. We loved the guy. Hey work is work! Years later Merle bought the Silverthorn Resort(or built it) near the old and time gone Lakeview Resort. We were Okies from CA, but sometimes we stick together. Merle was real quiet and courteous.
There are a lot of people that Waylon Jennings did not get along with.
And a lot that he DID get along with. What's your point?
Thanks. I used to wonder why I never saw these great singers perform together (on yt). Now I know why.
I know someone who was raised as family friends with Merle when he lived on Silver Bridge Road in Palo Cedro, CA. I've heard the houseboat stories....Merle was not a decent man.
would you mind sharing some more about these stories?
just curious...
....and I've heard the stories of things that went on at Waylon's apt in Nashville from people who were there.Waylon was no angel either.
Love these stories, heard it from someone who knew someone who said: blah blah blah.
@@camlacasse3760 Some of those songs Waylon got credit for, other folks wrote while Waylon played pinball at the apt for days.
@@camlacasse3760Almost the whole
"Honky Tonk Heroes" record was written by Billy Joe Shaver.
The successful life we're livin' got us feudin' like the Hatfield's and McCoys.
You said that the accident happened on I-50, there is no such road in that area. I believe that it would have been route 150.
Yes, US 150 crosses the Mackinaw River between Congerville and Goodfield on the way from Bloomington to Peoria. An interesting bit of trivia information is that crossing is just 5 or 6 miles South of Eureka College, Ronald Reagan’s alma mater.
@jameshepburn4631 Yep, I know the area very well, I grew up around Macomb, Illinois and lived near Rockford, Illinois for many years. Both of my kids graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington/Normal.
Waylon made the comment that Haggard was nothing but a Lefty Frizzell imitation.
I wasn’t aware of a riff between the two Legends. This is new to me.
Post script : when you set down at a poker game, that’s is what it’s about. Winner take all! If you had won, then Merle would have been pi$$ed off. Neither men should have played each other. Being a sore looser is only a human trait. Waylon was human.
Oh, Lord, yes, Waylon was human. He was a Texican, and had a tendency to carry a grudge.
And there's a couple of tracks of them both, but it was just that they both showed up to help friends and charity and both, as well as a few on stage cameos to honor those who loved them both.
I'm 51 years old. My Mom does not like country music in general, but LORD, she loves Willie Nelson lol. And Johnny Cash. And Patsy, but who didn't?
Waylon knew better than to keep betting, and Merle knew better than to take all Waylon's money. "Them's Fighting Words--tell a man at a poker game he should've have taken your money, and he'd best laugh and say to quit betting".
Waylon should not have gambled.Akways someone elses fault!
A valuable and fascinating tidbit about these two icons. The best part is the great narration, involved and authoritative.
ITS NEVER HARD TO FIND AN EXCUSE FOR LOSING.
IM WONDERING HAD WAYLON WON,WOULD THE STORY INCLUDE THE DEATH,HIS OWN STATE OF BEING AT THE TIME,ETC.
NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM WAYLON,IVE LOVED HIM(AND HAGG) FOR DECADES!
LIKE I SAID,ITS NEVER HARD TO FIND AN EXCUSE FOR LOSING!.
REM. THE CHARACTER PLAYED BY GEORGE C. SCOTT IN THE HUSTLER,WITH PAUL NEWMAN?
HE EXPLAINS FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF IS THE GREATEST INDOOR SPORT EVER INVENTED!
I love Merles' music and songs, but I must admit when I read one of his Autobiography books it was a bit of an eye opener. 😮
Hello how are you? So sorry for the infringe on your privacy. Beautiful song
im a bigger waylon fan than merle, but im team merle on this one. when you gamble, you play to win. be a man and accept it when you lose
Gamblin' is one thing but showin' up with a partner to clean out a "friend" who you knew was havin' problems much like your own is some lowdown sorry shit. Let's be honest.
Don't get me wrong, I've always been a huge fan of Merle Haggard's, but, for me, Waylon Jennings is and always will be the most Legendary Country Music Superstar Outlaw to ever live.
To almost anybody else this was just another story from back in the day that Waylon oughta get over and let go of. It was only a couple grand, right?
Now, I don't care who you are or how much you have. If someone I consider a friend and his bass player plan to beat me out of anything, as far as I'm concerned from that point on, we aren't gonna ever be the same.
I'm sure this embarrassed and pissed Waylon off but in the end it only took a couple grand to figure out all Waylon needed to know about Hag.
I agree with you. You lose you, pay up. Nobody makes you gamble other than yourself. I watched my father lose money gambling. He paid and even though he was mad he never blamed anyone else. It’s the reason I’m a professional gambler. I don’t really gamble though. If I don’t have a mathematical advantage I just don’t place a bet. I still lose a lot though. I certainly wouldn’t hold a grudge for decades about it.
I love Waylon's music and he like Merle Haggard both had issues with all that goes wrong with the music industry.. however as much as I love Waylon's music for me Merle Haggard has no rivals, Merle wrote a lot of the songs and live that life. I think what was country music at that time and up into the 80s and the 90sMerle haggard's greatest singer and songwriter in storyteller ever been. . for me it starts with Haggard at the top, Jones, cash, Willie and you can make a case for anyone else after them.. if you ask 20 people you'd probably get 15 different answers. But Merle was King
@@jonnytlong yea but as a pro gambler would you take advantage of someone struggling with drink and drugs?
@@augustusappling139 probably not
two of the best... especially Merle!
You lost your money in a poker game. In gambling there are winners AND losers.
I seen waylon at a table listening to merle haggard., waylon sang tonight the bottle let me down., they weren't close., but by no means enemies. Both legends.
A musician friend of mine had an encounter with Hag in a hotel lobby. Said he was a bigger than life A whole, screaming and yelling, "don't you know who I am", at the desk clerk. Cussing at people standing by, having a complete childish temper tantrum. He said it was so bad it really made it hard for him to listen to Hag anymore, even though he was one of his favorites.
Some one doesn't like Merle, what a funny story, if it had of happend there would have been some record about it and it would have happend in more instances. FAKE NEWS.
Again, like the narrator said: they BOTH had issues (throughout life). Not defending it. Who KNOWS what had happened 🤷🏼♂️. Not JUSTIFYING it, but, I will never stop listening to either…
@sec9788 what will justify you to not listen to someones music?
More often than not hero's shouldn't be met because they're often dicks, Maybe its fame does it or maybe it just comes naturally, who knows
This really surprises me about Merle. I've been a long time fan of both.
What surprised you? That Merle and Waylon played cards and Waylon lost? I
love them both, but if you’re going to gamble, it’s a gamble. Maybe Waylon expected some mercy shown to him, on the other hand, Waylon could’ve called it quits well before he lost all his money.
@@tinacampbell8539
Is that right.
@@chuckg2016 No, what’s right is Merle is a card shark lol
@@tinacampbell8539and a bad ass ❤️❤️❤️
At least they were real people, unlike the fake like the "artists" of today who sing through their noses and plastic teeth.
My 2 favorite county singer
Hard to feel sorry for someone who claims they were struggling and gambled $4,000- $5,000 away. Especially when the average household income was around $10,000yr.
It is in games where people reveal their true natures. This was clearly a high stakes game, which friends should never participate in. There is nothing good about gambling.
Waylon aguitar playing country legend I really loved watching Waylon pick that guitar Love Merle Ilove all the country singers
They did sing together on a track, but their parts were recorded remotely.
“It Just Don’t Get Any Better Than This” from the George Jones album of the same name in the late 90s.