In 2007, three country music legends—Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price—hit the road together for the Last of the Breed Tour. It was a historic co-headlining tour, bringing together three of the genre’s most iconic voices. Sadly, Ray Price passed away in 2013, and Haggard followed three years later on his birthday. Today, Willie Nelson remains the sole surviving member of this legendary trio.
The tour’s grand finale was nothing short of memorable. On the last night, the trio recorded a concert that became both an album and a PBS television special. Backed by Price’s Cherokee Cowboys and Ray Benson with his band Asleep at the Wheel, Nelson, Haggard, and Price performed a selection of their biggest hits, leaving fans with unforgettable memories. One standout moment from the night was Nelson and Haggard performing “Pancho and Lefty.”
Nelson and Haggard had a long history of collaboration, recording three albums together: Poncho & Lefty (1983), Seashores of Old Mexico (1987), and Django and Jimmie (2016). Of these, the title track of their first album, “Pancho and Lefty,” became their most iconic duet.
The song itself, written by the underrated songwriter Townes Van Zandt, tells the story of the outlaw Pancho and his partner Lefty. Van Zandt once explained that the inspiration for the song seemed to come “out of the blue,” and while it loosely references Pancho Villa, the story in the song is its own tale of betrayal and fate.
Over the years, many artists covered “Pancho and Lefty,” but it was Haggard and Nelson who turned it into a major hit. Their version topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1983, cementing the song—and their duet—as an enduring classic in country music history.
The Last of the Breed Tour and performances like “Pancho and Lefty” remind fans why these artists are considered legends. Their voices, chemistry, and deep respect for the music created moments that are still celebrated today.
