Welcome to Merle’s little spot on the web. Even good ole country boys are doing the “blog thing”. Family, friends, and fans are invited to post their messages in memory of Merle. Just click the comments section to add your own message.
Welcome to Merle’s little spot on the web. Even good ole country boys are doing the “blog thing”. Family, friends, and fans are invited to post their messages in memory of Merle. Just click the comments section to add your own message.
February 7, 2007 at 12:43 am |
Today marks the second year since Merle’s passing. In honor of him I’d like to start this blog to keep the memories alive.
February 7, 2007 at 12:49 am |
my name is james odell boyd and i only had the absolute pleasure of meeting merle once(early fall of 2004), i have lived in carroll county(westport,huntingdon area) all my life. not far from paris,tn. well my nephew and i where at parkers crossroads(Exit 108 off of I-40) i happened to spot him pumping gas, i told my nephew to “go by slow i think thats merle kilgore” When he made eye contact with me,he flashed that million dollar smile.i just laughed a little and made a signing motion with my hand. he kept smilling and said sure. he ask how i was and how i been doing like we where best friends. he looked all in his caddy trying to find a card to autograph for me. i pulled my camo hunting hat off and said “Hell this will work,I cant believe OL’ WOLVERTON MOUNTAIN him self right here”. Oh he laugh real good at that one. he made me feel like and old friend,shaking my hand twice,slapped me on the back. man it was fine. when i heard he passed away all i could think was “THE WORLD HAS LOST ONE FINE HUMAN BEING” my condolences to merle’s family james boyd
February 7, 2007 at 12:53 am |
We are so blessed to of known such an amazing man so full of life and to of called him — our grandfather and Daddy Merle. He is an inspiration to us all to chase our dreams, and to live life to the fullest. We miss him dearly. His energy and love of performing is evident within our own daughter and we only wish he could be here to see how much of him is in her.
February 7, 2007 at 10:57 pm |
just a thought…. we should give a few quiet moments to Merle’s memory tomorrow… TWO YEARS tomorrow since he passed…. hard to believe….
Robert A.
And still so hard to deal with. Two years ago today (the 6th) and every day that passes he is on my mind. So hard to let go of a good thing and good people. I can never forget him and all that he did to help me through a difficult period facing death. If only the whole human race had consideration for others as Merle did, what a pleasure it would be to live in. He took the time when his schedule really did not have the time to give. What a heart!
Thanks for caring and remembering too, Robert. I know your heart goes out to Judy and the family as mine does this day.
Have a good one and God bless.
Anne Blake
February 7, 2007 at 10:59 pm |
Dear Judy and Family
I received your gift on the eve of my 65th Birthday. I love it. What a labor of love. I will pass this on to my son Tyler who loved Merle as I did. The gift is a living memorial to a very special man. February 6th is a day like the day John Kennedy died. I will never forget that moment when the phone rang. It was half time of the Super Bowl and Paul Mc Cartney was on stage singing. I turned to Helen and said,” It’s about Merle I’m scared to answer.” It was Marty delivering the painful message. I still look at his smiling picture every day at the clinic and I will always believe that the phone will ring and Merle will be on the other end of the line. This will be a hard day but, God will see us though it.
Always and God Bless
Jim and Helen
James Carruth, P.A.
Clinical Coordinator
Gulf Regional Occupational Medical Center of Acadiana
February 7, 2007 at 11:00 pm |
Back in 1979, when I was only 14 years old, a friend of mine handed me a Hank Jr. cd and said that this is the guy I had been looking for to listen to his kind of music. It was as if The Good Lord handed me Merle and Hank in my hand that day. I had fallen in love with Hank’s music and have followed his every footstep since then.
Hank was playing in Cleveland, Ohio, that same year and my buddy and I were thrilled to be going to see him. We were able to get first row seats and I felt I needed to do something special to ‘welcome’ Hank and Merle into my life.
So, as an art project in school, I took a white bed sheet and painted Hank’s logo on it. It was huge and the logo covered the entire sheet. It looked awesome.
We get to the show and of course, Hank was about an hour late getting on the stage at that point in his career so Merle was the opening-act and he sang the songs he had written and we were amazed at his stage presence. He owned the stage and the people were loving him.
Finally, Hank was helped down to the stage and the place was complete bedlam! Merle had everybody going crazy and I was in absolute Heaven.
My friend and I started holding-up the bed sheet and about ½ way through the show Merle grabbed the sheet from us and was holding it up to the crowd and the place was going crazy! He then draped it around him like a cape!
As Hank was finishing-up Family Tradition Merle took the sheet off and showed it to Hank, who then took one end of it while Merle held the other and they paraded around the stage! I still get the chills thinking about it. Merle took off with Hank and the bed sheet and we never saw it again.
Merle was very kind and gracious to me who ultimately got me to Hank. He was trusting and we became good friends the last five years of his life. He always made you feel part of the family. I am proud to say that I was one of the last people to speak to him before he passed away.
Merle didn’t die. He just went to Heaven to prepare for some more shows!
God Bless ya Merle.
Tom
Thomas Spagnola
EVP/Airline and Cruise Partnerships
OneTravel Group, Inc.
1200 Lake Hearn Rd., 3rd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30319
Phone: 818-943-9594
http://www.OneTravel.com
http://www.CheapSeats.com
http://www.11thHour.com
http://www.DiscountHotels.com
February 7, 2007 at 11:02 pm |
THE WEATH WAS BEAUTIFUL , EVERYTHING RED AND FESTIVE ! Kim sent the white wreath with our names and i brought some roses out their with a red heart .
everybody that views his grave will love it … 2 years wow . i stood there
in the cold remembering everything………
don’t we all miss him ? thanks for my letter , that daddy had wrote to me . i remember that like it was yesterday. Iknow everybody was thinking of daddy merle yesterday !
love Pam
February 7, 2007 at 11:03 pm |
My favorite memory was me and my wife Debbie, meeting him backstage at a Hank Jr. concert at Reunion arena in Dallas, Tx. Back in the late 80’s. ( picture attached )
Thank You, Frank Farmer (gttorino)
March 19, 2007 at 10:03 pm |
I have 2 favorite Merle Memories:
The first was the day I met him, which was in a job interview (back in 1999). Little did I know at the time how very much he would come to mean to me.
The second was the day I told him I was leaving to go work for Sun Records (owned by Merle’s good friend, Shelby Singleton). After getting over some initial shock he became upset that Shelby was “stealing” me away and said to me, “Tell Shelby he is not to speak to me publically or privately ever again!” He was only half joking, of course.
That was Merle.
Being out of town and unable to attend his funeral is one of my biggest regrets. He was a very special man – one of the few I can honestly say was “a character” (and he was a pretty darned good boss, too).
Rest in Peace, Merle.
Love, Shannon
March 21, 2007 at 12:19 am |
I am Merle’s Godson from NC. He is one of the biggest mentors I have ever had. He inspired me to be a fine musician. Merle always had a moment for me and that meant the greatest. I would tell him “When I am ready I want you to come see me play.” He would always respond with “Just tell me when and where”
I love you Merle and I will never forget you!
Love,
Merle Lee
April 17, 2007 at 6:22 pm |
Hello everyone,
I just want to say that it never gets any easier without Daddy Merle. I was a little girl about 11 years old in the music industry when i met him and he made me who I am today. I honestly can say that I drove him crazy with questions…I always depended on him when I was lost in the music and didn’t know which way to turn or who to trust. I could always trust him! He allowed me to just sit for hours in his office doing absolutely nothing but watching him talk business. He listened to really…I mean really bad karaoke tapes of me and gave me the worst criticism ever!! I wouldn’t take nothing for those days. I remember being in the middle of really important business meetings in Nashville with the labels or management and I would always be calling Paris for Merle’s advice on decisions.
To me…he was my second daddy….I was so young when i met him and couldn’t understand just how important Merle was to the music industry…I really don’t believe that it hit me till he passed. The amazing thing about Merle is that I am only one person that he made a difference in and there are so many just like me, that feel so attached to him and like me I am sure they fill an emptiness since he’s gone.
I am almost 26 now and still I depend on him everyday! I always take his memory and his advice with me wherever I go. The one thing I do miss is that pat on the back he would give me…the funny thing is his hand would cover my entire back!!!
Sincerely,
April Michelle
May 29, 2007 at 1:29 am |
Hello All.
I remember when I was a kid and listening to merle sing plus all the songs he wrote I never relized I was related to Merle until a year before his death I wrote to him And he said to send my ancestry history to his cousin John so I did and I found out I was not only related to him but To june carter cash also from that day on Merle always called me cousin,If Merle seen somebody without a smile he would gime them his,believe he had had a thousand of them.
Thank You for giving me a chance to share my memory of Merle
November 8, 2007 at 10:56 pm |
My story: I met Merle and his beautiful wife Judy on a flight from Nashville to NY in 2001. I was working at CMT at the time and heading home from a business trip. Exhausted and longing to sit down, I walked to my seat all the while waiting for the person in front of me to sit down. This person, who I later found to be Merle Kilgore was stopped by so many passengers that knew him, that it seemed to take forever for me to get to my seat. Coincidently I was seated next to Merle on this flight. Merle touched my heart with his stories of Hank Williams Jr, his family (especially his grandchildren), his humor, and his overall genuine good spirit. I was 36 years old at the time and have met three people in my entire life who have been able to touch my soul in the way that Merle did. Merle completely impressed me with his love of life, family, and of course his accomplishments in the music industry. What most impressed me above all was Merle’s good heart which he seemed to wear on his sleeve. I felt lucky and very blessed to have met Merle. From time to time, I would send him an email to say hi and see how he’s doing. I called his office once or twice not knowing if Merle would remember me. Merle returned one of my phone call’s saying “Hello Ducky! (Ducky was my nickname) of course I remember you…” I saved that message on my answering machine right next to the other special people in my life. The flight from Nashville to New York may have been a few hours…but the impression that Merle made on me will last a life time! Merle is still in my thoughts and heart every single day!!!
February 6, 2008 at 2:46 pm |
Remembering you on this day in 2008. The memories are too numerous to name but your influence and friendship will be cherished for a lifetime. From the stage to the grave, from “These are my people” to “Hello Brother,” from backstage to Kentucky Lake, you were both entertaining and inspiring.
The legend lives on for me.
Mike E. Wilson
Paris, TN
May 23, 2008 at 8:30 pm |
Also gone, one of my favorite artists with a great sound and voice. Never met him, because I live in The Netherlands, but got his music on tape and cd. The people die, but the music they made never do. I came on this side because I was thinking of so many real artists, who had a heart for countrymusic. I met a lot of his colleagues when they appeaed over here (Del Reeves, Tommy Cash, Roy Orbison, Hank Thompson, Bobby Bare, Roy Orbison, Faron Young, Lloyd Green, Hoyt Axton, Carl Perkins, my list is long and I got from all the artists a signature on lp, scrapbook or single. So I regret that I never had the pportunity to see Merle live. But his music will always remembered. Merle was on that mountain and met Johhny Reb and I???? I still enjoy every day the hits that he wrote. A multi talented man, Merle Kilgore. Love from The Netherlands
August 29, 2008 at 3:03 pm |
Merle always treated me like kin. We only got to see each other 2 or 3 times a year when he would come to Calif. Or I go to Nashville. He always had a bear hug for me. He would always have the latest stories and gossip for me. Never missed a chance to tease me that I hade been in Asia aging chasing them oriental woman, when he knew I was really in Asia filming movies.
For allowing me to promote some of Hank Jr’s concerts. The times we were on the side of the stage or in the green room. YOU have enriched my life and I thank you for it.
For all the FUN at the parties for the Academy of Country Music Awards and CMA Awards. Thanks for letting me be part of your family.
You’re Bud,
Mark
September 18, 2008 at 2:32 pm |
When I first heard of Merle, I was a die hard Hank Jr. fan. I followed his concerts, I was so caught up in him that it was scary.
I went to Hank’s store in AL. and bought some boots and shirts and that is when I first heard of Merle.
Then I began to hear more about him as I followed Hank around.
I was at one of the Honey Island hoedowns, near the Honey Island Swamp at Hank’s concert when I was walking around the bus checking it out and out stepped Merle. I knew who he was and and when he smiled at me and said hello,
I almost passed out.
I realized that he was as big or bigger than Hank Jr. himself.
He asked me my name and if I would like to see the inside of the bus.
I would love to, was my reply. He kept laughing because I was dressed Hank from head to toe! I was about 18 or 19.
Merle was such a sweetheart. I will never forget him.
He made a young fan’s dream come true. He even joked with me about being such a big fan. He said after tonight, you’ll be a Merle fan too. And so I was, because he made it possible for me to meet Hank Jr.
I will always remember Merle as a GREAT BIG part of Country, and Country Music.
He was someone who made a difference and really loved people and cared for people. He wanted to be part of people smiles.
I would like to thank Merle’s family for sharing him with the world. I know it had to be a big sacrifice for the family.
Always You’re Fan,
Felica
February 19, 2009 at 3:10 pm |
I never met Merle but have heard so much about him over the years. You see, my mother-in-law, Burlene Clowers Stell, was Clifton Clower’s pretty young daughter as referenced in Merle’s song. She was also a cousin to Merle which a lot of people don’t know. She is still living in Morrilton, Arkansas and is still a very pretty lady. I married her third son, Alan, with whom she was pregnant when the song came out in the 60s. Another thing a lot of people don’t know is that Clifton “Papa” Clowers was quite the musician himself. He had a very impressive talent for being able to play many different musical instruments and this “gift” was passed to our son, Dustin Williams, who is lead guitarist and singer in a local band here in Arkansas. Another thing a lot of people don’t know is that Papa Clowers was a kind and gentle man who always urged us to “sweep off our own doorsteps before trying to sweep off someone elses.” He never had a harsh word to say about anyone. He lived a long, loving and productive life to the ripe old age of 102. Thank you Merle, for writing a song about him – although he wasn’t necessarily accurately depicted – it brought notariety to someone who very much deserved it.
Melanie Williams
August 4, 2009 at 3:32 pm |
There will never be enough words to tell how much I miss Merle.
He could make me laugh, he made me cry. But he truly was my hero and inspiration and I loved him so much.
There is no one story that sticks out in my mind, but many, many stories! He would call me and ask me crazy things, and I would just hurt from laughing.
My cousin Hillous would have been so happy at the friendship Merle and I had.
Merle, I miss you, and will never, ever forget you.
Debi
August 26, 2009 at 8:48 am |
So many memorys of my buddy,co-writer,manager,best friend. I could fill three books with the stories Merle told me and the things we did together.
My friend Merle gave Eddie Rabbit a place to stay, Roger Miller money to get to hollywood. Tom T Hall his guitar,John Cash a shoulder to lean on and this country boy a very dear frindship that will never end.
Dallas Howard.