I lived at Merle and Bonnie Owens' home my sophomore year of high school in Bakersfield, Ca. My friends Mike & Buddy Owens convinced them to let me live with them. this journey started in 1964. I was a close friend and confidant of Merle's for 52 years. I actually drove his personal tour bus the last years of his career. Robert E Price, author of," The Bakersfield Sound " gave this review of " Merle Haggard Was a Friend of Mine" Merle Haggard was a storyteller with few peers but as it turns out that other guy on the bus, the one who was by his side for so many shows, so many tours, so many interactions with others, is a pretty good storyteller himself. Ray McDonald witnessed, and often participated in, hundreds of telling moments in the Hag's life. That McDonald was able to boil them down to these few dozen is an achievement in and of itself. " Merle Haggard Was a Friend of Mine" is a must-read for every fan of Haggard's, every country-music historian, every person who simply enjoys a good, entertaining read. ( Thanks Bob!! Raymond)
