No One Could Steer Me Right 🌞 JTSunrise Rendition 

Merle Haggard’s iconic song “Mama Tried” delves into the pain and suffering he caused his mother due to his incarceration in San Quentin in 1957. While the song isn’t strictly autobiographical, it reflects his experiences growing up

The story behind this timeless tune:
Merle’s father passed away when he was nine years old. His mother worked tirelessly to provide for the family. Merle was a wild child. At the age of 20, he was convicted of burglary and attempted escape from county jail. His 2 1/2-year term led him to San Quentin prison, where he played in the prison’s country band and pursued high school equivalency courses and where Merle had a cosmic encounter with the Man in Black himself! 

As a 21-year-old inmate at San Quentin in 1959, Haggard witnessed Johnny Cash’s legendary prison performance as an inmate. Cash’s prison show left an indelible mark on Haggard, inspiring him not only musically but also as a beacon of redemption

Merle began his musical journey earlier in life. He was performing music before he went to prison, and after his release, he resumed working in bars and clubs. His first recording was Wynn Stewart’s “Sing a Sad Song,” which became a national hit in 1964

I saw Merle preform live when my dad VL took me to a concert at our local county fair in rural Illinois in the 1970s

Merle passed away on April 6, 2016—his 79th birthday—in the San Joaquin Valley, California. He lost a brief battle with pneumonia. Haggard’s musical legacy, spanned the 1960s to the 2010s with nearly 40 number one hits. Interestingly, he had predicted his own passing, sharing this poignant insight with his son shortly before the fateful day

The iconic song “Mama Tried” was released in July 1968. It became one of the cornerstone songs of country music, spending four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry due to its cultural significance. In 2021, it was ranked at #376 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”! 🎵🌟

[Verse 1]
                D          G             D                G
The first thing I remember knowing was a lonesome whistle blowin'
      D                                 A7
A young un's dream of growin' up to ride
     D                     G         D                 G
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound
       D                   A7             D
No one could change my mind, but Mama tried

[Verse 2]
        D          G             D               G
One and only rebel child, from a family meek and mild
    D                               A7
Mama seemed to know what lay in store
          D             G                    D             G
'Despite my Sunday learnin', toward the bad I kept on turnin'
     D             A7         D
Mama couldn't hold me anymore

[Chorus]
              D                         G               D
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole
   Bm                                 A7
No one could steer me right, but Mama tried, Mama tried
     D                                 G             D
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleadin’ I denied,
                       A7                 D
That leaves me the one to blame ‘cause Mama tried

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
          D               G               D            G
Dear old Dad, rest his soul, he left my mom a heavy load
      D                            A7
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
          D           G           D               G
Workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best
    D                 A7             D
She tried to raise me right, but I refused

[Chorus Refrain]
            
[Outro]
   D

#MamaTried

Mama Tried - JTSunrise Meets Merle (San Quentin Prison-Acoustic Blues)

@JTSunrise was born in Chicago, IL (the City of Blues) in 1968. JT grew up on a rural horse farm at Cuba Township near Fox River Grove, along the C&NW tracks, about an hour by train outside the city. Summer nights before the internet were for sleeping outside and watching stars, singing and playing guitar to his girlfriends, and hitching trains from his backyard. Anywhere JT went, he had his acoustic guitar slung around his back. JT also learned bass and banjo, and started a folk band in high school, playing house parties and school concerts and busking the commuter train station in Barrington, IL.

His teenage years took him around the world and to Tempe, AZ in 1987, (age 19) where he lived in the same building (and jammed often) with Spiral Stairs, a seminal guitarist who would later form the band Pavement. JT played acoustic sets at the legendary Sun Club. During this time, Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms (JT’s record store clerk friend) did his sound.

Seattle Music Era

Arriving in Seattle in 1992 with his Tempe barista girlfriend PJ (now wife), JT immersed himself in a city alive with music innovation. This was to become known as a time when Seattle bands reshaped the musical landscape. Amidst the scene, JTSunrise carved a niche and performed shows, blending busking music with the amplified Seattle sound, his Tempe-styled lyrical command, and the soul of Chicago street blues.

His performances became the background of Seattle’s music venues, from the intimate setting of **Art Bar** to the historic **OK Hotel**, where grunge legends made history. He captivated audiences at **Sit & Spin**, a venue combining a laundromat with a bar and live music, and found a true home at the **Lake Union Pub**, a legendary punk dive bar that embraced him as their own. Each chord, each lyric, carried the weight of personal experience.

Musical Influences and Style

JTSunrise draws from icons like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Billy Bragg, alongside bands he admired in Tempe such as Gin Blossoms and Dead Hot Workshop. The bands at the Sun Club and Long Wongs in Tempe, AZ shaped his sound and approach. These influences, coupled with the music scene in 1990s Seattle (including Elise Sauer, Obe-Wan Kenobe, and everyone to ever perform at the Lake Union Pub), molded his blend of folk, punk, country blues, and acoustic pop.

Signature Songs and Contributions

Among his many contributions to the musical landscape, a few songs stand out:
- **"Saint James Infirmary"**: A haunting rendition of the classic ballad.
- **"Biscuit Roller Blues"**: A soulful, gritty track that showcases blues roots.
- **"Kevin Song"**: A heartfelt, melodic piece that resonates deeply with listeners.
- **"Cure For Pain"**: A Morphine song that explores themes of struggle and redemption.
- **"Mama Tried"**: A tribute to Merle Haggard, blending acoustic blues with heartfelt emotion.
- **"O Danny Boy"**: A timeless ballad, rendered with sincerity and grace.
- **"Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"**: A fusion of folk and rock.

Prolific Output

JTSunrise has a substantial discography on SoundCloud, with over 200 tracks available. This includes a mix of original songs, raw covers, and collaborations with other artists. His music spans genres like folk, bluegrass and country blues, cowboy country, and 90s acoustic rock, reflecting his diverse influences.

Commitment to Seattle’s Artistic Community

JTSunrise’s influence extends beyond music. His commitment to authentic Seattle art is evident in his participation and support of local artists and musicians. As of 2024 he remains a licensed Pike Place Market busker, a role that allows him to share handmade music directly with the community any time, creating intimate, memorable experiences for locals and visitors.

Thanks everyone for support! 

Find other Art  and Videos by #JTSUNRISE: IG, YouTube, X, TikTok, BlueSky interweb media @JTSunriseMusic
www.linkedin.com/in/jtsunrise-music-1528072b0

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