One Legend Honors Another, Merle Haggard Sings ‘Goodbye Lefty’

Artist's influence artist's.  Not only that, legend's influence legend's.

We all have our favorite singer or singer's.  It's no secret that my favorite all time country music artist is Merle Haggard.

Probably, if you took a survey of country music fans, the #1 favorite artist in country music history is George Jones.  In fact, in our own 'Legends Showdown', the Possum was the overwhelming winner (and 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' was voted all time favorite song).

• Jones, Haggard - Two Giants in Country Music Sit down for a Chat

And on top of that, how many singers and performers were influenced by George Jones?  Thousands.

And so it is with my favorite, Merle Haggard.  The Hag has honored the legends that influenced him, from Jimmie Rogers to Elvis Presley.  And then there was Lefty Frizzell.

There's no doubt that Lefty influenced hundred's of artist's in the musical genre that we love.  In this great song, Haggard says goodbye to his fellow Country Music Hall of Famer.

Merle has so many classic's of his own, songs that are solely identified with him, from 'Mama Tried' to 'Lonesome Fugitive' to 'Okie From Muskogee', and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

One of Merle's greatest hits was originally done by Lefty, and Merle put his 'Hag Stamp' on it and made it his own, the beautiful 'That's The Way Love Goes'.

Lefty Frizzell left the planet in 1975 at the way too young age of 47.  But even today, his musical footprint is all over the music that we love.  And years from now, artist's will still be paying homage to the great Merle Haggard.  Great music doesn't have an expiration date.