A few years ago, I was backstage at Gold Country Casino in Oroville prior to a Merle Haggard show. I was feeling a bit awkward and out of place. Then Norm Stephens walked by and greeted me so warmly that I felt terrific.
I’d written about how Haggard had discovered that Stephens was living right under his nose in Cottonwood and was thrilled to have him come join his band, the Strangers. One of Haggard’s biggest influences was Lefty Frizzell. Stephens was Frizzell’s guitar player back in the day. He also played with the great Hank Thompson.
That warm greeting in Oroville was one of my favorite memories of Stephens, who died on Monday of emphysema at age 77.
Another great memory: Hearing a packed audience at the Cascade Theatre in Redding give Stephens warm rounds of applause after his solos. He earned them.
There are hundreds of stellar guitar players who would die to share the stage with Hag, but Merle didn’t just want to honor Stephens, he saw quickly that Norm still had great chops. They did quite a few shows together.
It was hard for Stephens to tour into his 70s, but I know he was thrilled to be back out again with a major act. It was nice to see this Cottonwood gentleman get the opportunity to ride high in the saddle once again. His playing reflected the best of soulful country music.
When people (like me) rag on country, their target is typically on today’s pop-country commercial stuff. That’s not what Stephens emerged from. He was in texture of Frizzell, Bob Wills, Hank Williams. He influenced not just Haggard, but people like Willie Nelson, George Strait and Randy Travis.
In 1950, Stephens recorded a pair of tunes with Frizzell that went straight to No. 1 — “If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time” and “I Love You a Thousand Ways.” While with Frizzell, Stephens played several shows in tandem with Hank Williams. It was a golden era.
Along with the old Frizell records, you can also hear Stephens’ playing on the really excellent Haggard album, “Roots, Vol. 1.” That record is so fun because it’s a lot of sitting around the living room playing with no overdubs.
Here’s a link to a fun YouTube video of Norm playing while moving along the road in an RV.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Stephens family. Best to you all.
