Merle Haggard Brings Green Business to Oildale
Country music legend Merle Haggard is singing the praises of renewable energy. His hometown of Oildale, CA has been – as the name implies – historically rich with oil.
But it’s time for the U.S. to kick its fossil fuel addiction, says Haggard. He’s working with local resident and actor Charles Napier (from Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Austin Powers, among others) to create a “sensible” green energy project. Haggard hasn’t lived in Oildale for three decades, but is considering buying a second home in order to be involved in the business. His friend Willie Nelson has famously championed alternative fuels, but no word yet on the type of green business Haggard is considering.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:18 pm
A song by Dr Bruce L. Thiessen, aka, Dr. BLT of Bakersfield, California, paying tribute to Merle Haggard’s fighting side is climbing this chart, jumping over 1200 notches in one week to land at number 243 this week:
http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/lwwsongspage.html
The Dr. BLT song that proceeded it, Neil Young (Have you Forgotten), hit #1 on this chart back in July of 2006 and now rests at #155. It was also named the # 8 Best Record of 2006 by Blogcritics magazine writer, Al Barger here:
http://www.morethings.com/music/best_songs_2006.htm
The Merle Haggard tribute song can be heard and downloaded for free at the site of the chart or here.
Merle Hasn’t Lost His Fightin’ Side
Dr BLT
words and music by Dr Bruce L. Thiessen, aka Dr. BLT (c) 2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/MerleVeryLast.mp3
“Sonically, Dr. BLT offers up a mix of country, folk and rockabilly, while vocally he tends to come off as a Dylan with clear diction. No, scratch that. I liked the line so much I had to include it, but Dr. B’s voice is smoother and clearer than that. Especially on what I think is the best cut, “Merle Hasn’t Lost His Fighting Side.” I hear slight hints toward country legend John Anderson in that one.” (Junkyard Blog)
Bryan Preston, National Review Writer