The Strangers (American band)

The Strangers
Roy Nichols, lead guitarist of the Strangers.
Background information
Origin	Bakersfield, California, United States
Genres	Country Western Western Swing Outlaw Country Bakersfield Sound
Years active	1965–present
Labels	Capitol MCA Epic Curb ANTI Vanguard
Website	www.facebook.com/MerlesStrangers
Members	Renato Caranto Jim Christie Doug Colosio Floyd Domino Ben Haggard Dana Haggard Noel Haggard Theresa Haggard Norman Hamlet Scott Joss Taras Prodaniuk
Past members	Merle Haggard Biff Adam Paul Anastasio Johnny Barber Jimmy Belken Eddie Burris James Burton Glen Campbell Gary Church Eddie Curtis Iris DeMent Terry Domingue George French Dennis Hromek Red Lane Abe Manuel Joe Manuel Don Markham Randy Mason Will McGregor Johnny Meeks Eugene Moles Ralph Mooney Tiny Moore Marcia Nichols Roy Nichols Fuzzy Owen Bonnie Owens Gene Price Ronnie Reno Sheril Rodgers Eldon Shamblin Clint Strong Gordon Terry Jimmy Tittle Kenny Vernon Redd Volkaert Jerry Ward Bobby Wayne Mark Yeary

The Strangers are an American country band that formed in 1965 in Bakersfield, California. They mainly served as the backup band for singer-songwriter Merle Haggard. However, from 1969 to 1973, they issued several records independent of Haggard, released on Capitol Records. Merle Haggard named the band after his first hit single (My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers.^[1] The Strangers were voted touring band of the year by the Academy of Country Music eight times. ^[2] The band continues to tour with longtime member Norman Hamlet, as well as Haggard's children Ben and Noel Haggard.

History

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. ^[3] Steel guitarist Ralph Mooney 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. ^[4]

Norm Hamlet joined the Strangers on steel guitar in 1967 and, shortly afterward, became its bandleader. ^[5] Howard "Jerry Ward" Lowe was the Strangers original bass player and George French played the piano. ^[6] But when Ward left, Gene Price replaced him on bass just in time for the Okie from Muskogee album in 1969, on which he also sang lead vocals. ^[7] Eddie Burris, the drummer for the Strangers, co-wrote the title track Okie From Muskogee with Merle Haggard.^[8] Biff Adam replaced Burris as the Strangers drummer in 1970 and also served as Merle’s publicist and bus driver.^[9] On the album, The Fightin' Side of Me, the Strangers were joined by rhythm guitarist Robert "Bobby Wayne" Edrington, and they got their own showcase on the instrumental “Stealin’ Corn.” ^[10] A second rhythm guitarist, Marcia Nichols, also joined the band ^[11]

Gordon Terry, fiddle player for the Strangers.

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. ^[12] Ronnie would also sing lead vocals on albums like Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album.^[13] 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.^[14] After Meeks left, Jimmy Tittle played bass with the band.^[15] After leaving the Strangers, Tittle would go on to play with his father-in-law Johnny Cash. ^[16]

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. ^[17] In the mid-1970s, former Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys guitarist Eldon Shamblin was invited to join the Strangers.^[18] After retiring from the Strangers, Eldon Shamblin would continue to perform with them whenever they played in Tulsa.^[19] Electric mandolinist Billie "Tiny" Moore also joined the Strangers during the 1970s.^[20] Like Eldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore had also been a member of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.^[21]

In the late 1970s Gordon Terry joined the Strangers on fiddle.^[22] Terry had previously played with Bill Monroe, Faron Young, and Johnny Cash. ^[23] After Gordon Terry left the band, fiddler Jimmy Belken joined the Strangers. ^[24] Belken had previously played with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys as well as Mel Tillis and the Statesiders. ^[25] In addition to serving as Strangers bassist, Dennis Hromek would also sing some lead vocals at Strangers shows. ^[26] When Hromek left Bobby Wayne returned to the Strangers, this time playing bass.^[27] 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.^[28] Clint Strong, who had studied under Stan Kenton, joined the Strangers on lead guitar during the mid-80s.^[29]

Current members

• Renato Caranto – tenor saxophone
• Doug Colosio – keyboards
• Jim Christie – drums
• Floyd Domino – keyboards
• Ben Haggard – electric guitar, lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
• Dana Haggard – backing vocals
• Noel Haggard – lead vocals, electric guitar
• Theresa Haggard – backing vocals
• Norman Hamlet – steel guitar
• Scott Joss – fiddle, mandolin, guitars, backing vocals
• Taras Prodaniuk – bass guitar

Discography

• The Instrumental Sounds of Merle Haggard's Strangers, 1969 (Capitol Records)
• Introducing My Friends the Strangers, 1970 (Capitol Records)
• Getting to Know Merle Haggard's Strangers, 1970 (Capitol Records)
• Honky Tonkin' , 1971 (Capitol Records)
• Totally Instrumental with One Exception, 1973 (Capitol Records)

Timeline 1966-1994

Further reading

Cantwell, David; Merle Haggard: The Running Kind, 2013
Church, Gary; Autobiography of a Nobody, 2012
Haggard, Merle; Sing Me Back Home, 1981
Haggard, Merle; For The Record, 1999
Moore, Tiny; Merle Haggard Presents Swinging Texas Fiddlin', 1982
Rubin, Rachel Lee; Okie from Muskogee, 2018

References

External links

• AllMusic entry
• Brochure, ca. 1970