Haggard unquestionably became a country music legend, with more than three dozen No. 1 hits like “Okie from Muskogee,” “It’s All in the Movies,” and “Poncho and Leftie” with Willie Nelson. He was also a rabble-rouser in his younger days, eventually doing a stint in San Quentin, where a prison concert by Johnny Cash on New Year’s Day in 1959 cemented Haggard’s desire to pursue music as his career.
After divorcing his first wife, Leona Hobbs, Haggard married Buck Owens’ ex, Bonnie Owens, which is when McDonald came into Haggard’s life. Out of a deep desire to return to Oildale from LA, where his father had once again relocated them, he moved in for a school year with Buddy and Mike; their mom, Bonnie; and her new husband, Merle. It was the start of a friendship that spanned more than four decades.
Raymond was just 14 when he met Haggard. Did he have any idea of his fame, or Buddy and Mike’s dad Buck’s fame? Or did it not really register he was rubbing shoulders with country music greats?
“Buck was already a national country music star when I met him and his children in 1964, so I was aware of his fame,” McDonald explained. “Merle was just beginning his career, but we knew he was on his way to superstardom because of his incredible singing talent.”
In the book, McDonald shares the story of a fishing trip with Haggard when he pulled out a pistol from under his car seat and began shooting at a crow, and later after landing a Sacramento sucker fish, he shot it too.
Wasn’t it a shock to see an adult pull out a pistol and crack off shots at a crow and later a fish?