Ralph Mooney/ Merle Haggard mini documentary

[Ryan Cook]

For the last year, I've been working on a series of youtube videos called the Stars of Steel which feature biographies on different steel guitarists, country and non-country. I'm presently working on a video titled Merle Haggard: The Ralph Mooney Years. I will discuss the 5 Haggard albums on which Ralph Mooney played, a bit about the back story, Ralphs style, the Bakersfield sound, etc.

I can find only 1 televised performance that appears to show Ralph Mooney performing with Merle (Swinging Doors/Branded Man) -on the Country Music Holiday Show (1968).

I cannot find any photographs from their brief time together. Does anyone have a Mooney/Haggard, picture from this era 1964-1968, a link to other video footage, or even, any additional details you'd like to share for the project?
Thank you
ryan@ryancook.ca
iHonkyTonk

[scott murray]

I’m not aware of any footage of Moon with Merle, including photos. the only Country Music Holiday clips I can find on youtube feature Norm Hamlet.

before that, there’s some Buck Owens Ranch episodes with Fuzzy Owen on steel, and this one with Red Rhodes all doing their best to sound like Moon!

the earliest film footage of Moon I’ve seen is with Waylon Jennings in August 1971

and this Hee Haw footage looks to be around the same time, aired in Feb 72

[Colin Boutilier]

Moon only toured with Merle until late '67, so you'd have to hunt for footage from 65-67 and see what you can find. I don't think I've any seen any footage, myself, and I've been watching Merle clips since the dawn of internet videos.

[Ryan Cook]

I'm really glad you pointed that out. Norm is sounding just like Mooney in those Country Music Holiday clips, playing a Fender 1000/2000 I believe. Since I hadn't seen young photos of Norm I thought maybe it was in fact Ralph Mooney based on their frame. I suppose there are in fact no clips of Mooney playing with Haggard, after all.

I have researched the albums extensively and see Mooney being credited on the following 5 albums:

Strangers (1965)
Swinging Doors and the Bottle Let Me Down (1966)
Bonnie Owens And Merle Haggard With The Strangers – Just Between The Two Of Us (1966)
I'm a Lonesome Fugitive (1967)
Branded Man (1967)

Norms first album seems to be Mama Tried (1968)

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

[scott murray]

yes I believe Moon was on those first 5 but before Mama Tried there was Sing Me Back Home and Bonnie & Clyde with Norm.

Merle was really cranking out the albums in those days

[Colin Boutilier]

I think Moon was more or less a session man by day, and largely a house musician at Califonia/Vegas clubs by night, until the Waylors days took him on the road full-time.

Like a lot of those studio aces, going on the road was not always desirable as it led to missed calls for sessions.