Townes played some pretty shitty guitar at times... Was born into money but chose a life on the road. Never took a dime of his familys money. Some consider him one of the greatest songwriters of our time. Huge drinker and gambler but a gentle soul. HE wrote "poncho and lefty" one of my favorite songs of all time..He's been dead for awhile now.
BostonStrangler Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > HE wrote "poncho and lefty" one of my > favorite songs of all time..He's been dead for > awhile now.
ghostryder13 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > never heard of him
Townes van Zandt was nothing more or less than the greatest songwriter that ever walked on earth. He was a genius. Listen to the 2CD "Live at the Old Quarter" and you will know what I mean. Okay, Bob and Hank Williams come close. Also recommended is the DVD "Be Here to Love Me" with the tragic story of his life.
“Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.” Steve Earle
"Steve Earle performing the song he wrote as a tribute to Townes Van Zandt. From an ACL Tribute Show fror Townes. An emotional Nanci Griffith looking on."
same tribute show; emmy lou doing townes' "if i needed you" some vintage Townes on tape; Willie Nelson & Emmy lou "pancho & lefty"
Townes was Steve's mentor and friend. Steve was on tour in Europe when he got the news of Townes death & wrote 'Ft. Worth Blues.' I had seen Townes near the end at McCabes in Santa Monica...he was so drunk he could hardly get thru one song...it was a full house...he played for a few awkward minutes...maybe twenty or so...everyone was stone silent and trying to give him good energy...when the show was truncated there was no yelling or catcalling or requests for refunds...just this sad helpless feeling...
His version of Dead Flowers is the last song played in the movie Big Lebowsky. Got an old compilation 2cd set of his somewhere , have to be in a melancholy mood to listen to some of it though.
There's a worthwhile documentary about him that came out a couple of years ago, BE HERE TO LOVE ME. Look for it if you're interested in his work & life.