Merle Haggard on stage in Oakland Feb. 13, the date of his final public performance. At left is his son Ben on guitar. He was upbeat despite his apparent weakness, writes Bakersfield native Jill Fordyce.
Merle Haggard on stage in Oakland Feb. 13. What I’ll remember the most from this last show is Merle singing “If I Could Only Fly,” writes Jill Fordyce of Haggard's final concert appearance.
Merle Haggard on stage in Oakland Feb. 13, the date of his final public performance. At left is his son Ben on guitar. Writer and Bakersfield native Jill Fordyce says of Haggard: He sang about the places I knew, the scenery I grew up with; his voice was the one I heard at backyard barbecues, in the parking lot of high school football games, from the open window of a passing car.
Merle Haggard on stage in Oakland Feb. 13, the date of his final public performance. At left is his son Ben on guitar. He was upbeat despite his apparent weakness, writes Bakersfield native Jill Fordyce.
Photo courtesy of Jill Fordyce
Bay Area writer Jill Fordyce is a Bakersfield native. She caught what would be Merle Haggard's last concert on Feb. 13 in Oakland.
Photo courtesy of Jill Fordyce
Merle Haggard on stage in Oakland Feb. 13. What I’ll remember the most from this last show is Merle singing “If I Could Only Fly,” writes Jill Fordyce of Haggard's final concert appearance.
Photo courtesy of Jill Fordyce
Merle Haggard on stage in Oakland Feb. 13, the date of his final public performance. At left is his son Ben on guitar. Writer and Bakersfield native Jill Fordyce says of Haggard: He sang about the places I knew, the scenery I grew up with; his voice was the one I heard at backyard barbecues, in the parking lot of high school football games, from the open window of a passing car.
On Feb. 13, I was in the audience at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland for Merle Haggard’s final public performance.
On stage that night, Merle’s son, Ben, his lead guitarist, and the rest of the band seemed watchful, playing longer at times to allow more space between songs. Merle even picked up a violin and played, and he seemed to delight in it. He spoke about his double pneumonia in a matter-of-fact way, explaining why he sometimes had trouble catching his breath. But even with the acknowledgment of his illness, I never thought it would be the last time I’d see Merle in concert.
