Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Warren Haynes & More Perform At Merle Haggard Tribute Concert
By Andy Kahn Apr 7, 2017 • 11:32 am PDT
Last night an all-star group of musicians came together at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the Sing Me Back Home: The Music Of Merle Haggard tribute concert. The event was staged on the one year anniversary the death outlaw country legend Merle Haggard on what would also have been his 80th birthday.
Merle’s widow Theresa Haggard along with Keith Wortman and Mark Rothbaum, served as executive producers of the all-star event. Don Was, Buddy Cannon and Merle’s son Ben Haggard,were last night’s musical directors, fronting a house band that backed the likes of John Mellencamp, Loretta Lynn, Jamey Johnson, Sheryl Crow, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lucinda Williams and others. Harmonica player Mickey Raphael, drummer Kenny Aronoff and mandolin/fiddle player Sam Bush were among the additional musicians sharing the stage last evening.
The Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was also part of the tribute, performing “Sing Me Back Home” with the aid of The McCrary Sisters. Richards was then joined by Haggard’s friend Willie Nelson for a rendition of “Reasons To Quit.” Nelson also teamed with Kenny Chesney for a performance of “Pancho & Lefty.” Guitarists Warren Haynes and Billy Gibbons joined forces for “Workin’ Man Blues” while The Avett Brothers covered “Mama Tried” and Alison Krauss led “Sing A Sad Song.” Audience-shot video footage from Music City can be viewed below:
