477 - Merle Haggard - Down Every Road - Peter Billingsley
Producer, director and actor Peter Billingsley puts the nearly 40 years of boozing, brawling and broken spirits of outlaw country legend Merle Haggard's career-spanning retrospective collection\xa0Down Every Road\xa0into perspective for the modern era.\nMuch like with the story of America, a look back on the life of outlaw country legend Merle Haggard reveals as much pain and hardship as it does hope and inspiration. But without the harsh realities of growing up poor and spending time in prison to shape him, the world might find itself sorely lacking the hard-bitten truths and forlorn beauty of that classic Bakersfield Sound he spent nearly forty years shaping with his music, to which the 1994 release of roughly 100 songs from every period of his career\xa0Down Every Road\xa0is an eternal testament. The same might be said of one of Merle's biggest fans: director, producer and actor Peter Billingsley, whose humble beginnings in yogurt commercials and after school specials led him to not only star in one of the most beloved holiday films of all time,\xa0A Christmas Story, but also helped bring to life hit movies and televisions series such as\xa0The Break Up, Sullivan & Son, and\xa0F is for Family.\xa0\nThe 500 is a production of Native Creative Podcasts.\nFor show notes, guest playlists, complimentary documentaries, and audiobooks about the music go to The500Podcast.com.\nNew Artist/Song influenced by Merle Haggard:\nMick Fury\xa0"Front Porch of America"(YouTube)\nJoin. The. Movement.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices