I wish I could have been Merle Haggard's steel man

Larry Behm · From: Mt Angel, Or 97362

I think Merle is the best country song writer of my generation. I could sing and or play MH songs all night every night and never get tired of them.

I wish Norm would have broken his leg and Merle would have called me to take his place even for one gig, I would have been there in a heartbeat. There is nothing like playing steel behind a slow MH song, they cry out for soulful steel. Think of Silver Wings, Momma's Hungry Eyes, Sing Me Back Home etc.

When I say to my students "play every note as if it was the last note you were ever going to play" you could play just 3 notes on a MH song and speak volumes.

Thanks Merle for thinking of me even if we never got a chance to play together. Very Happy

Larry Behm

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

I'd LOVE to be there the day that you get to meet Norm!!!! Whoa!

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Larry Behm · From: Mt Angel, Or 97362

Norm is a good friend, he would laugh his butt off, at the same time he is using a walker and a cane or two just to make sure he does not stumble and fall, knowing that my bags are packed.

Larry Behm

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

I think he may be trying to make you feel good...talking with him in January he looked
pretty damned mobile to me!! Winking

_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Barry Blackwood · Posted 8 May 2010 9:33 am

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Larry,I'm with ya! I've been listening to a lot of Norm lately not to offend anyone but I can't think of anyone else I'd rather hear on Merle's songs,Norm never overplays,every note he plays is the perfect one for the song...He plays for the love of the song.I've been studying his minimalist approach lately trying to get into his way of thinking editing out a lot of moves that aren't necessary...What a gem. Winking

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Carson Leighton · From: N.B. Canada

Norm is most certainly one of the best steel players in the business..Good on dobro too..I like his phrasing and his choice of licks,,just puts the right amount into the song..Merle couldn't have found a better steel player than Norman Hamlet for his type of music and his voice IMHO....I too,,would like a chance to play a few songs with Merle......Regards,,,Carson

Ransom Beers · Posted 8 May 2010 11:51 am

I think Red Rhodes done some of the recordings with Mr. Haggard in the studio,Phil Baugh also did some of the recordings instead of my good friend Roy Nichols,albeit Roy & Norm also did some studio sessions as well.Phil Baugh was one of the most versital guitar players I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

I completely agree with Stu on his take of what the Steel Guitar should be in a Band. I know many of the newer players have no opportunity to play with a solid band. With some players it's all about impressing other players with their technical abilities. I've heard some of the U-Tube posts where they completely destroy the intent of the Song by playing so many Jazz type chords and passages that your not sure what song your listening to.

Kevin Mincke · From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

Steel players dream come true! I've said this about Amber Digby not too long ago Cool

Let's see, quit the PD, go on the road, give your gear a good work out, buy more gear Laughing

I'm bout' ready fer that

Ray Harrison · From: Tucson, Arizona, USA (deceased)

Ransom, I spend a lot of time with Norm at the Feenix show and About the only steelers Merle has used on sessions are Moon and Norm.
The guitars on Merle's stuff between 67(Farmer's Daughter) and early 82 were mostly Roy and Al Bruneau (Bruno).
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Daniel Policarpo · Posted 9 May 2010 5:10 am

Norm Hamlet is one of my favorite steelers..There's a steel line he pulls in the lead break during the
"bottle let me down" that sound like a drunk a little wobbly, pulling away from his bar stool trying to steady himself. just a wonderful effect. The opening chord to'Swinging Doors'is the first thing I ever heard from Merle Haggard and the Strangers , and it still gets me everytime(Phil Baugh, lead guitar on that track)I believe
James Burton played quite a bit on the Lonesome Fugitive and Branded Man sessions, Roy Nichols was still playing dates with Wynn Stewart and fullfilling other sessions.
I just joined this forum, and I can't say how grand of a place this really is! The six issues of Steel Guitar Magazine" are just incredible...I think I see myself becoming a hermit this coming year! So much to soak up, I hope to be able to give something back...thanks b0b and everyone!

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I just picked up a DVD at Wally World of Merle's 1st appearance on Austin City Limits. It was in 1978 and it definitely is a keeper, a lot of Norm on it! Very Happy

Ransom Beers · Posted 9 May 2010 6:30 am

Well then I guess I was misinformed but I was told by some close to Hag that on some of the earlier sessions Phil & Red were doing some sessions with Hag,or went into the studio & finished a project or maybe laid down some tracks.Course you hear all kinds of stuff from some that would like to think they know what they're talking about.I never got to meet Mr.Haggard but did meet Roy,Phil,Norm & several of the org. "Strangers" band when I was bumming on the west coast.

Fred Justice · From: Mesa, Arizona

I'm gonna go hang with Norm this evening for a while and then The Hag concert later tonight here in Mesa Arizona.
Should be a good time and I'm looking forward to it. Very Happy

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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Hey Fred, tell Norm to break a leg for all of us, will ya? Winking

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chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Norm is a gem. I had the good fortune to be able to hang with him and hear him play at Deke's Guitar Geek Festival.

Darrell Birtcher · Posted 10 May 2010 9:11 am

Had dinner with Norm and Fred last night at the Hag show. It was a true honor getting acquainted with one of my idols (no Fred, I don't mean you!) and getting to hear Norm play live still gives me goosebumps. He wasn't using any canes or walkers, got around just fine. All the guys on Hag's crew are great. They were kind enough to let us use their amps and drums. I enjoyed this show more than any other Hag show I've been to, and he was one of my firsts as a youth. Hag is having more fun than I've ever seen and the atmosphere reflected that. I'll post some photos for y'all later. It was nice seeing Joe Naylor again too.

Rick Schacter · From: Portland, Or.

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

I'm with you all the way, Larry, but I would never wish an accident to befall Norm. He's a great guy and a great steelman.

Hag's the best F*** the rest.

Joe
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Kevin Mincke · From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

Oh, oh Joe, forum police b0b will be gettin' after you Embarassed

Joe Naylor · From: Avondale, Arizona, USA

Well I went and saw Norm play and he had that guy singing up front tooooooo.

Last weekend he was in Mesa - I saw Fred there too.

Merle has not lost a thing in the vocals - he was great. On the 6 string guitar is his 17 year old son --- he blew me away.

After the show I was talking to Norm and he mentioned he had an easy evening. I said did Merle change the play list to give you a break.

Norm just looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Play list???? I have been playin' with Merle for 43 years and have not seen the first play list YET."

We had a big laugh - he went on to say Merle just does what HE want to do that night and that seems to work.

Great simply Great - he simply walked out on stage strapped on that Tele and started singin' - the clapiin was still going when the second song started up and the same with the third - It was just Great (but I said that)

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
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