The Strangers (American band)
The Strangers are 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 " 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
1960's
Lead guitarist Roy Nichols was from Chandler, Arizona, and 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 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 played the piano. But when Ward left, Willard "Gene" Price 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, the drummer for the Strangers, co-wrote the title track "Okie From Muskogee" with Merle Haggard.
1970's
Clair "Biff" Adam from Reading, Pennsylvania, 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 from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and they got their own showcase on the instrumental "Stealin’ Corn". A second rhythm guitarist, Marcia "Nichols" Ashcraft, also joined the band, 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. Ronnie would also sing lead vocals on albums like Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album. Gaffney, South Carolina-born 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
Bakersfield, California-born 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 Eldon Shamblin, who was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, 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 from Port Arthur, Texas 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, Alabama-born Gordon Terry joined the Strangers on fiddle. Terry had previously played with Bill Monroe, Faron Young, and Johnny Cash.
1980's
After Gordon Terry left the band, fiddler Jimmy Belken joined the Strangers. Born in Dallas, Texas, 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 Princeton, Illinois-born trumpet player Gary Church, and Los Angeles, California-born 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.
Discography
Albums credited to the Strangers
Singles credited to the Strangers
Albums credited to [Merle Haggard] and the Strangers
Singles credited to [Merle Haggard] and the Strangers
Albums credited to [Bonnie Owens] and the Strangers
Singles credited to [Bonnie Owens] and the Strangers
Albums credited to [Leona Williams] and the Strangers
The Strangers as Backing Band
Contribution to [Merle Haggard] Albums
Songwriting
| Song | Songwriter | Album | Year |
| Falling For You | Ralph Mooney | Strangers | 1965 |
| Mary's Mine | Jerry Ward | I'm a Lonesome Fugitive | 1967 |
| Blue Rock | Roy Nichols and Norm Hamlet | Okie from Muskogee | 1969 |
| In The Arms of Love | Gene Price and Buck Owens | Okie from Muskogee | 1969 |
| Okie From Muskogee | Eddie Burris and Merle Haggard | Okie from Muskogee | 1969 |
| Hammin’ It Up | Norm Hamlet | The Fightin’ Side of Me | 1970 |
| Harold's Super Service | Bobby Wayne | The Fightin’ Side of Me | 1970 |
| Stealin’ Corn | Roy Nichols and Norm Hamlet | The Fightin’ Side of Me | 1970 |
| Champagne | Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, and Biff Adam | I Love Dixie Blues | 1973 |
| Come On Into My Arms | Marcia Nichols | If We Make It Through December | 1974 |
| Girl Who Made Me Laugh | Roy Nichols and Merle Haggard | Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album | 1974 |
| It Don't Bother Me | Mark Yeary | Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album | 1974 |
| Travelin’ | Tiny Moore and Ronnie Reno | Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album | 1974 |
| I’ve Got A Darlin’ | Ronnie Reno and Merle Haggard | Keep Movin' On | 1975 |
| After Loving You | Ronnie Reno, Merle Haggard, and Leona Williams | It's All in the Movies | 1976 |
| Cotton Patch Blues | Tiny Moore, Bob Wills, and Billy Joe Moore | It's All in the Movies | 1976 |
| I Won't Give Up My Train | Mark Yeary | My Love Affair with Trains | 1976 |
| Union Station | Ronnie Reno | My Love Affair with Trains | 1976 |
| I Always Get Lucky with You | Gary Church, Merle Haggard, Freddy Powers, and Tex Whitson | Big City | 1981 |
| I Think I'm Gonna Live Forever | Dennis Hromek, Merle Haggard, and Benny Binion | Big City | 1981 |
| Silver Eagle | Gary Church and Freddy Powers | A Taste of Yesterday's Wine | 1982 |
| My Life's Been Grand | Gordon Terry and Merle Haggard | Out Among the Stars | 1986 |
Production
| Producer | Album | Year |
| Roy Nichols | Goin' Home for Christmas | 1982 |
| Mark Yeary | 1989 | |
| Mark Yeary | Blue Jungle | 1990 |
| Ronnie Reno | The Bluegrass Sessions | 2007 |
| Ronnie Reno | Timeless | 2015 |
Lead Vocal
Merle">Merle Haggard "> Merle Call-Outs
Merle Haggard famously called out members of the Strangers by name on his records prior to their solos. He sometimes prefixed their name with “Brother,” as in the song "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" when he called out “Brother Don” Markham. For 20 years he regularly called out 16 different members of the Strangers and 14 guest musicians on 70 songs on 31 different albums. Roy Nichols received the most call-outs, followed by Norm Hamlet, Tiny Moore, Mark Yeary, and Don Markham. Below is a list of all the songs and Stranger call-outs Merle made over his career. Not listed are callouts the Strangers received by others than Merle, such as when Leona Williams called out Roy Nichols during “Yes Ma’am This One Can” on her 1976 Strangers-backed album “San Quentin’s First Lady,” or when Rose Maddox called Roy Nichols out prior to his “Downtown Modesto” solo on her 1983 Strangers-backed album “Queen of the West.”| Song | Call-Outs | Album | Year |
| Mule Skinner Blues | James Burton, Roy Nichols | Same Train, a Different Time | 1969 |
| No Hard Times | Roy Nichols | Same Train, a Different Time | 1969 |
| Silver Wings | Roy Nichols | Okie from Muskogee | 1969 |
| Blue Rock | Roy Nichols | Okie from Muskogee | 1969 |
| In The Arms of Love | Gene Price | Okie from Muskogee | 1969 |
| Brain Cloudy Blues | Eldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols, Johnny Gimble | A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World | 1970 |
| Stay a Little Longer | Biff Adam, Dennis Hromek, George French, Joe Holley, Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols, Alex Brashear | A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World | 1970 |
| Misery | Johnnie Lee Wills, Eldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols | A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World | 1970 |
| Roly Poly | Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, Alex Brashear | A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World | 1970 |
| Old Fashioned Love | Tiny Moore | A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World | 1970 |
| Corrine, Corrina | Johnny Gimble, George French, Joe Holley, Tiny Moore | A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World | 1970 |
| Take Me Back to Tulsa | George French, Johnny Gimble, Tiny Moore, Joe Holley | A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World | 1970 |
| Trouble in Mind | George French | Down Every Road 1962–1994 | 1970 |
| Corrine, Corrina | Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet, Chubby Wise | The Fightin’ Side of Me | 1970 |
| Every Fool Has a Rainbow | Roy Nichols | The Fightin’ Side of Me | 1970 |
| T.B. Blues | Norm Hamlet | The Fightin’ Side of Me | 1970 |
| When Did Right Become Wrong? | Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols | The Fightin’ Side of Me | 1970 |
| Harold's Super Service | Bobby Wayne, Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet | The Fightin’ Side of Me | 1970 |
| Stealin’ Corn | Biff Adam, Dennis Hromek, Bobby Wayne, Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols | Introducing My Friends the Strangers | 1970 |
| Blue Rock | Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet | Introducing My Friends the Strangers | 1970 |
| Where Could I Go But To The Lord? | Bobby Wayne | The Land of Many Churches | 1971 |
| I’ve Done It All | Bobby Wayne | Hag | 1971 |
| Stumblin | Al Bruno, Earl Poole Ball, Johnny Gimble, Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet | Honky Tonkin’ | 1971 |
| Bring It on Down to My House, Honey | Billy Leibert, Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet | Let Me Tell You About a Song | 1972 |
| Big Bad Bill | Roy Nichols | I Love Dixie Blues | 1973 |
| I Ain't Got Nobody | Roy Nichols | I Love Dixie Blues | 1973 |
| Nobody Knows I'm Hurtin’ | Roy Nichols | I Love Dixie Blues | 1973 |
| The Emptiest Arms in the World | Norm Hamlet | I Love Dixie Blues | 1973 |
| Way Down Yonder in New Orleans | Gene Bowen, Dale Hampton, Biff Adam | I Love Dixie Blues | 1973 |
| Sitting on Top of the World | Roy Nichols, Marcia Nichols | Totally Instrumental...With One Exception | 1973 |
| I'm an Old Man | Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols, Johnny Gimble | If We Make It Through December | 1974 |
| Come On into My Arms | Roy Nichols | If We Make It Through December | 1974 |
| Honky Tonk Night Time Man | Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet | Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album | 1974 |
| A Man's Gotta Give Up a Lot | Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols | Keep Movin' On | 1975 |
| Cotton Patch Blues | Eldon Shamblin, Tiny Moore, Roy Nichols | It's All in the Movies | 1976 |
| Living with The Shades Pulled Down | Tiny Moore | It's All in the Movies | 1976 |
| Stingaree | Roy Nichols, Glen Hardin | It's All in the Movies | 1976 |
| Gambling Polka Dot Blues | Roy Nichols, Norm Hamlet | The Roots of My Raising | 1976 |
| Moanin' the Blues | Glen Hardin, Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols | A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today | 1977 |
| Silver Wings | Don Markham | Live from Austin, TX ‘78 | 1978 |
| Old Fashioned Love | Mark Yeary, Roy Nichols | Live from Austin, TX ‘78 | 1978 |
| Brain Cloudy Blues | Mark Yeary, Roy Nichols | Live from Austin, TX ‘78 | 1978 |
| Cherokee Maiden | Norm Hamlet, Don Markham | Live from Austin, TX ‘78 | 1978 |
| Got Lonely Too Early | Don Markham, Jimmy Capps | Serving 190 Proof | 1979 |
| I'm the One Who Loves You | Roy Nichols, Don Markham | The Way I Am | 1980 |
| I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink | Don Markham | Back to the Barrooms | 1980 |
| Keep On the Sunny Side | Gordon Terry, Roy Nichols | Songs for the Mama That Tried | 1981 |
| I'm a Lonesome Fugitive | Roy Nichols | Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium | 1981 |
| Rainbow Stew | Mark Yeary, Don Markham | Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium | 1981 |
| Fiddle Breakdown | Tiny Moore, Gordon Terry | Rainbow Stew Live at Anaheim Stadium | 1981 |
| Good Old American Guest | Mark Yeary, Tiny Moore | Big City | 1981 |
| I Always Get Lucky with You | Don Markham, Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols | Big City | 1981 |
| I Can’t Hold Myself in Line | Roy Nichols, Don Markham, Jimmy Murphy, Norm Hamlet | Johnny Paycheck’s Mr. Hag Told My Story | 1981 |
| Blue Yodel #2 | Norm Hamlet, Don Markham | The Epic Collection | 1983 |
| Trouble in Mind | Tiny Moore | The Epic Collection | 1983 |
| Strangers | Roy Nichols | The Epic Collection | 1983 |
| Workin' Man Blues | Roy Nichols | The Epic Collection | 1983 |
| You Can’t Break the Chains of Love | Norm Hamlet | Heart to Heart | 1983 |
| Waitin’ on the Good Life to Come | Roy Nichols, Mark Yeary | Heart to Heart | 1983 |
| Don't Ever Let Your Love Sleep Alone | Mark Yeary | Heart to Heart | 1983 |
| Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down | Tiny Moore, Jimmy Belken, Roy Nichols, Mark Yeary, Norm Hamlet | Heart to Heart | 1983 |
| All I Want to Do Is Sing My Song | Tiny Moore | It's All in the Game | 1984 |
| Thank Heaven for Little Girls | Jimmy Belken | It's All in the Game | 1984 |
| You Nearly Lose Your Mind | Norm Hamlet, Roy Nichols | It's All in the Game | 1984 |
| The Okie from Muskogee's Comin' Home | Roy Nichols, Mark Yeary | Live from Austin, TX ‘85 | 1985 |
| Take Me Back to Tulsa | Gary Church | Live from Austin, TX ‘85 | 1985 |
| I Knew the Moment I Lost You | Norm Hamlet | Live from Austin, TX ‘85 | 1985 |
| Ida Red | Norm Hamlet, Clint Strong, Jimmy Belken | Live from Austin, TX ‘85 | 1985 |
| The Okie from Muskogee's Comin' Home | Roy Nichols, Clint Strong, Mark Yeary | A Friend in California | 1986 |
| Broken Friend | Mark Yeary | 1989 |
Awards
Academy of Country Music">Academy of Country Music Awards "> Academy of Country Music Band of the Year Awards
| Year | ACM Band of the Year |
| 1966 | Nominated |
| 1967 | Nominated |
| 1968 | Nominated |
| 1969 | Winner |
| 1970 | Winner |
| 1971 | Winner |
| 1972 | Winner |
| 1973 | Nominated |
| 1974 | Winner |
| 1975 | Winner |
| 1976 | Nominated |
| 1977 | Nominated |
| 1980 | Nominated |
| 1981 | Winner |
| 1982 | Nominated |
| 1983 | Nominated |
| 1984 | Nominated |
| 1985 | Nominated |
| 1987 | Winner |
| 1988 | Nominated |
Music City News (Now named [CMT Music Awards]) Band of the Year Awards
| Year | Music City News Band of the Year |
| 1971 | Winner |
| 1972 | Winner |
[Academy of Country Music Awards] Won With [Merle Haggard]
| Year | Award | Recording |
| 1969 | Album of the Year | Okie from Muskogee |
| 1969 | Song of the Year | Okie From Muskogee |
| 1969 | Single of the Year | Okie From Muskogee |
[Country Music Association Awards] Won With [Merle Haggard]
| Year | Award | Recording |
| 1970 | Album of the Year | Okie from Muskogee |
| 1970 | Single of the Year | Okie From Muskogee |
| 1972 | Album of the Year | Let Me Tell You About a Song |
Strangers in the [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]
| Stranger | Year Inducted | Band Inducted With | Inducted By |
| Tiny Moore | 1999 | Texas Playboys | Chris Isaak |
| Eldon Shamblin | 1999 | Texas Playboys | Chris Isaak |
| Johnny Meeks | 2012 | Blue Caps | Smokey Robinson |