The Strangers were an American country band that formed in 1966 in Bakersfield, California. They mainly served as the backup band for singer-songwriter Merle Haggard, who named them after his first hit single "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers". In addition to serving as his backing band, members of the Strangers also produced many of Haggard's records, sang lead vocals on select tracks, and co-wrote many of Haggard's songs with him, including the No. 1 singles, "Okie From Muskogee" and "I Always Get Lucky with You".
From 1969 to 1973, they issued several records independent of Haggard, released on Capitol Records, and even had their own Top 10 hit single called "Street Singer" on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. Three members of the Strangers would go on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Between 1969 and 1987, the Strangers were voted Band of the Year by the Academy of Country Music eight times—more than any other group in history.
History
1960s Lead guitarist Roy Nichols had previously played with the Maddox Brothers and Rose, Lefty Frizzell, Wynn Stewart, and Johnny Cash before playing with the Strangers from 1965 until 1987, when health problems forced him into retirement. Duncan, Oklahoma-born steel guitarist Ralph Mooney (September 16, 1928 - March 20, 2011) had previously played with Wynn Stewart and written the song "Crazy Arms", and after leaving the Strangers recorded a duo album with James Burton and then joined Waylon Jennings band.
Norm Hamlet joined the Strangers on steel guitar in 1967 and, shortly afterward, became its bandleader. Howard "Jerry Ward" Lowe was the Strangers original bass player and George French (March 6, 1926 - August 14, 1992) played the piano. But when Ward left, Willard "Gene" Price (February 27, 1944 - August 13, 2013) from Shamrock, Texas, replaced him on bass just in time for the Okie from Muskogee album in 1969, on which he also sang lead vocals. Tulsa, Oklahoma-born Roy "Eddie" Burris (October 27, 1931 - April 19, 2011), the drummer for the Strangers, co-wrote the title track "Okie From Muskogee" with Merle Haggard.
1970s Clair "Biff" Adam replaced Burris as the Strangers drummer in 1970 and also served as Merle's publicist and bus driver. On the album, The Fightin' Side of Me, the Strangers added rhythm guitarist Robert "Bobby Wayne" Edrington (December 11, 1941 - September 21, 2009) from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and they got their own showcase on the instrumental "Stealin’ Corn". A second rhythm guitarist, Marcia "Nichols" Ashcraft (May 23, 1950 - October 1976), also joined the band
After Bobby Wayne and Marcia Nichols left, Ronnie Reno of Reno and Smiley and the Osborne Brothers joined the Strangers on rhythm guitar, and he also produced Merle's duo album with Mac Wiseman as well as Merle's The Bluegrass Sessions. Ronnie would also sing lead vocals on albums like Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album. Johnny Meeks, previously a member of Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, the Champs, and Michael Nesmith and the Second National Band, played bass with the Strangers in the early 1970s and later got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After Meeks left, Jimmy Tittle played bass with the band. After leaving the Strangers, Tittle would go on to play with his father-in-law Johnny Cash. He was replaced by bassist Sherman "Wayne" Durham.
Saxophonist Don Markham, who had played with Sly & the Family Stone, the Ventures, the Bakersfield Brass, and Johnny Paycheck played with the Strangers from 1974 to 2013. In the mid-1970s, former Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys guitarist Estel "Eldon" Shamblin was invited to join the Strangers. After retiring from the Strangers, Eldon Shamblin would continue to perform with them whenever they played in Tulsa. Electric mandolinist Billie "Tiny" Moore also joined the Strangers during the 1970s. Like Eldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore had also been a member of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
In the late 1970s Decatur, Gordon Terry joined the Strangers on fiddle. Terry had previously played with Bill Monroe, Faron Young, and Johnny Cash.
1980s After Gordon Terry left the band, fiddler Jimmy Belken joined. Belken had previously played with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys as well as Mel Tillis and the Statesiders. In addition to serving as Strangers bassist, Dennis Hromek would also sing some lead vocals at Strangers shows. When Hromek left Bobby Wayne returned to the Strangers, this time playing bass.
Other noteworthy members of the band included trumpet player Gary Church and keyboardist Mark Yeary, who also served as Merle's co-producer on his records. Clint Strong, who had studied under Stan Kenton, joined the Strangers on lead guitar during the mid-1980s. Sheril Rodgers, co-wrote with Merle and singer/songwriter Freddy Powers. Sheril toured with the Strangers as backup singer from 1983 to 1984 and co-wrote "Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room Tonight".
Discography
Albums credited to the Strangers {| class="wikitable" |- ! Released ! Album ! US Country ! Label |- | February 23, 1969 | The Instrumental Sounds of Merle Haggard's Strangers | style="text-align:center;"| 36 | rowspan="12"| Capitol Records |- | April 6, 1970 | Introducing My Friends the Strangers | style="text-align:center;"| 34 |- | October 5, 1970 | Getting to Know Merle Haggard's Strangers | style="text-align:center;"| 44 |- | June 21, 1971 | Honky Tonkin''' | style="text-align:center;"| 34 |- | May 1, 1973 | Totally Instrumental...With One Exception| style="text-align:center;"| 23
Singles credited to the Strangers Released Single Chart positions Album US Country CAN Country Bubbling Under Hot 100 April 18, 1970 "Street Singer" 9 1 24 Introducing My Friends the Strangers
Albums credited to Merle Haggard and the Strangers Released Album US Country Label April 11, 1966 Just Between the Two of Us 4 Capitol Records October 17, 1966 Swinging Doors 1 April 3, 1967 I'm a Lonesome Fugitive 3 August 28, 1967 Branded Man 1 January 8, 1968 Sing Me Back Home 1 April 8, 1968 The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde 6 September 9, 1968 Mama Tried 4 February 10, 1969 Pride in What I Am 11 May 12, 1969 Same Train, a Different Time 1 September 15, 1969 A Portrait of Merle Haggard 3 December 29, 1969 Okie from Muskogee 1 July 6, 1970 The Fightin’ Side of Me 1 November 16, 1970 A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills) 2 March 15, 1971 Hag 1 August 16, 1971 Someday We'll Look Back 4 November 8, 1971 The Land of Many Churches 15 March 6, 1972 Let Me Tell You About a Song 7 November 20, 1972 It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) 1 May 13, 1973 I Love Dixie Blues 1 February 18, 1974 If We Make It Through December 4 September 17, 1974 Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album 1 April 21, 1975 Keep Movin' On 1 February 16, 1976 It's All in the Movies 1 July 5, 1976 My Love Affair with Trains 7 November 22, 1976 The Roots of My Raising 8 September 12, 1977 A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today 28
Singles credited to Merle Haggard and the Strangers Year Single Peak chart positions Album US Country US Hot 100 Canada Country US Adult Contemporary 1966 "Just Between the Two of Us" (with Bonnie Owens) 28 — — — Just Between the Two of Us with Bonnie Owens "Swinging Doors" 5 — — — Swinging Doors "The Bottle Let Me Down" 3 — — — 1967 "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" 1 — — — I'm a Lonesome Fugitive "Someone Told My Story" 32 — — — "I Threw Away the Rose" 2 — — — Branded Man "Branded Man" 1 — — — 1968 "Sing Me Back Home" 1 — 7 — Sing Me Back Home "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" 1 — 3 — The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde "Mama Tried" 1 — 1 — Mama Tried 1969 "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" 3 — 1 — Pride in What I Am "Hungry Eyes" 1 — 2 — A Portrait of Merle Haggard "Workin' Man Blues" 1 — 1 — "Okie from Muskogee" 1 41 3 — Okie from Muskogee 1970 "The Fightin' Side of Me" 1 92 1 — The Fightin’ Side of Me 1971 "Jesus, Take a Hold" 3 107 3 — Hag "I Can't Be Myself" b/w "Sidewalks of Chicago" 3 106 2 — "Soldier's Last Letter" 3 90 — — "Someday We'll Look Back" 2 119 2 — Someday We'll Look Back "Carolyn" 1 58 2 35 1972 "Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)" 1 — 2 — Let Me Tell You About a Song "Grandma Harp" b/w "Turnin' Off a Memory" 1 — 5 — "It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)" 1 — 1 — It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) 1973 "I Wonder If They Ever Think of Me" 1 — 1 — I Love Dixie Blues "The Emptiest Arms in the World" 3 — 12 — "Everybody's Had the Blues" 1 62 1 — 1974 "If We Make It Through December" 1 28 1 16 If We Make It Through December "Things Aren't Funny Anymore" 1 — 2 — Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album "Old Man from the Mountain" 1 — 1 — 1975 "Kentucky Gambler" 1 — 1 — Keep Movin' On "Always Wanting You" 1 — 3 — "Movin' On" 1 — 15 — 1976 "It's All in the Movies" 1 — 11 — It's All in the Movies "The Roots of My Raising" 1 — 7 — The Roots of My Raising "Cherokee Maiden" b/w "What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana" 1 — 1 — "Here Comes the Freedom Train" 10 — 1 — My Love Affair with Trains 1977 "A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today" 16 — 8 — A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today "Running Kind" b/w "Making Believe" 12 — 10 — 1978 "The Way It Was in '51" 82 — 58 — The Way It Was in '51
Albums credited to Bonnie Owens and the Strangers Year Album US Country Label 1967 All of Me Belongs to You 35 Capitol Records 1969 Somewhere Between 34 Lead Me On - 1970 Mother's Favorite Hymns -
Singles credited to Bonnie Owens and the Strangers Debut Song US Country Album November 19, 1966 Consider the Children 69 All of Me Belongs To You February 15, 1969 Lead Me On 68 Lead Me On
Albums credited to Leona Williams and the Strangers Year Album US Country Label 1976 San Quentin’s First Lady - MCA Records
The Strangers as Backing Band Artist Album Year Merle Haggard Merle Haggard's Christmas Present 1973 Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium 1981 Songs for the Mama That Tried Big City Johnny Paycheck Mr. Hag Told My Story Merle Haggard Going Where the Lonely Go 1982 Goin' Home for Christmas That's the Way Love Goes 1983 The Epic Collection (Recorded Live) Merle Haggard and Leona Williams Heart to Heart Rose Maddox Queen of the West Merle Haggard It's All in the Game 1984 Kern River 1985 Amber Waves of Grain A Friend in California 1986Willie Nelson The Promiseland Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson Seashores of Old Mexico 1987Merle Haggard Chill Factor 5:01 Blues 1989 Blue Jungle 1990 Live from Austin, TX ’85 2006 Live from Austin, TX ‘78 2008
Contribution to Merle Haggard Albums
Songwriting
Song Songwriter Album YearFalling For You Ralph Mooney Strangers 1965Mary's Mine Jerry Ward I'm a Lonesome Fugitive 1967Blue Rock Roy Nichols and Norm Hamlet Okie from Muskogee 1969In The Arms of Love (Gene Price on lead vocal) Gene Price and Buck OwensOkie From Muskogee Eddie Burris and Merle HaggardHammin’ It Up Norm Hamlet The Fightin’ Side of Me 1970Harold's Super Service Bobby Wayne Stealin’ Corn Roy Nichols and Norm Hamlet Champagne Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, and Biff Adam I Love Dixie Blues 1973Come On Into My Arms Marcia Nichols If We Make It Through December 1974Girl Who Made Me Laugh Roy Nichols and Merle Haggard Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album It Don't Bother Me Mark Yeary Travelin’ (Ronnie Reno on lead vocal) Tiny Moore and Ronnie RenoI’ve Got A Darlin’ Ronnie Reno and Merle Haggard Keep Movin' On 1975After Loving You Ronnie Reno, Merle Haggard, and Leona Williams It's All in the Movies 1976Cotton Patch Blues Tiny Moore, Bob Wills, and Billy Joe MooreI Won't Give Up My Train Mark Yeary My Love Affair with Trains Union Station Ronnie Reno I Always Get Lucky with You Gary Church, Merle Haggard, Freddy Powers, and Tex Whitson Big City 1981I Think I'm Gonna Live Forever Dennis Hromek, Merle Haggard, and Benny BinionSilver Eagle Gary Church and Freddy Powers A Taste of Yesterday's Wine 1982My Life's Been Grand Gordon Terry and Merle Haggard Out Among the Stars 1986
Production