Columnist Joe Delaney: Merle Haggard a world chronicler in song

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 20, 1998 | 10:35 a.m.

MERLE HAGGARD is an authentic American original, a country music legend along with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristoffersen and Willie Nelson. ... Haggard performs tonight at 7 & 9 p.m. in the Boulder Station Railhead Saloon. ... Ticket prices start at $20 and top at $29.50, a real bargain price for Haggard and The Strangers.

Haggard, born in Bakersfield, Calif., was a wayward child, born for trouble, in and out of jail in his teens, and later did time at San Quentin Penitentiary. ... After his release from San Quentin, Haggard formed a band as bass guitarist and played Bakersfield's infamous "Beer Can Hill." ... This led to a recording contract.

His second release, "Sing A Sad Song," broke into the Top 20 in the Billboard Magazine country charts. ... His new band, The Strangers, has won the "Touring Band of the Year" award eight consecutive years, a record.

More Haggard

Be sure that Merle Haggard will sing "Okie From Muskogee," "Sing Me Back Home," "Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink" and "Lonesome Fugitive" among other hits from his 65 albums to date. ... Haggard is the real thing, a multiple-award winner, including a Grammy in 1984 for "That's The Way Love Goes," one of several.

Haggard is an aged-in-the-wood (so appropriate) artist, a person who has experienced hard times and good times, a survivor, a natural poet, a chronicler of the world that existed before the homeless became city dwellers, a true King of the Road.

Like his fellow Outlaws, Willie, Johnny, Kris and Waylon, Haggard represents living history; a singer, songwriter, remarkable musician, band leader and historian. ... Merle is also the complete performer. ... His award-winning band, The Strangers, are the near-perfect complement.

Anent Joe Guercio

Maestro Joe Guercio called from Pittsburgh Tuesday night to report on the Elvis "Live" Tour, SRO all the way thus far, heading for New York City's Radio City Music Hall this weekend, three days, 6,000 seats, sold out in advance. ... Guercio was the Hilton musical director during the Presley days, 1969-1977, and conducted for Elvis when he went on the road.

It was Guercio who created the arrangement for Elvis' "My Way," his last million-seller record. ... Joe also wrote the chart for Gladys Knight's cover record on Streisand's "The Way We Were," which outlasted Barbra's version on the best-seller charts.

His most memorable achievement at the Hilton was convincing a reluctant Natalie Cole to acknowledge her father, the late Nat "King" Cole, by singing a duet with Nat's "Unforgettable" which, 10 years later, as a recording, swept the Grammy Awards.

Local events

Community theater: Final weekends for Actors Repertory Theatre's "Don't Dress For Dinner" (Summerlin Library Theatre); Community College of Southern Nevada's "Bleacher Bums" (Black Box Theatre); and "As You Like It " (UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre). ... Continuing: "Lies In The Looking Glass" (Winchester Center) and "Beau Jest" (Off-Broadway Theatre), extremely well reviewed elsewhere.

Ronnie Rathers Jazz Trio, direct from NYC's Hamilton's, performs at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Whitney Library). ... Marv Koral's All-Stars are at Brittany's on West Ann Road, Fridays, 7-11 p.m. ... Sunday jazz: The Jazz Organ-ization, noon to 3 p.m. (Santa Fe).

There's more: The Godfathers of Jazz are at the Sand Dollar, Sundays from 4-8 p.m. ... Monday nights belong to the Don Menza Big Band, in the Riviera Lounge.

Friday addenda

Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Gordon Cooper launch the non-profit "Space Explorers of Nevada Educational Program this Sunday, 1-4 p.m. at the home of Lt. Gov. Lonnie and Sandy Hammergren. ... Call 474-4000 for details. ... It's War at Sunset Station's Club Madrid, 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday. ... Sunday, catch the UNLV Symphony at 7:30 p.m., UNLV's Ham Hall. ... Enjoy. ... See you next Thursday.