Jerry Jeff Walker, Texas singer and songwriter, dies at 78

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KEN MILLER

Jerry Jeff Walker, a Texas country singer and songwriter who wrote the pop song “Mr. Bojangles,” has died at age 78.

Walker died Friday of cancer, family spokesman John T. Davis told The Associated Press.

“He had battled throat cancer for many years, and some other health issues,” Davis said Saturday.

Walker emerged from New York’s Greenwich Village folk scene in the 1960s and he was a founding member of the band Circus Maximus. He moved to Texas in the 1970s and in 1972 scored a hit with his version of the Guy Clark song “L.A. Freeway.”



FILE - This Oct. 30, 2005 file photo shows Country singer Jerry Jeff Walker at a campaign fundraiser at Willie Nelson's ranch outside Austin, Texas. The Texas country singer and songwriter who wrote the pop song “Mr. Bojangles," has died at age 78. Family spokesman John T. Davis says Walker died Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 of cancer after battling throat cancer and other health issues for several years. (AP Photo/Jack Plunkett)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/us-news-new-york-guy-clark-jerry-jeff-walker-texas-10633d8176808f5e488b0fe112a021f2

[BKDem]

1. Always loved Mr. Bojangles.

And his dog.

[Duppers]

20. One of my favorite songs. The story behind the song...

"Mr. Bojangles'': The Story Behind the Song


https://www.wideopencountry.com/mr-bojangles-the-story-behind-the-song/

[Duppers]

21. Part of the story...

Who was the original "Mr. Bojangles" who inspired Walker to write this well-known country music song? Believe it or not, it was based on a homeless man he met in a New Orleans jail. The man referred to himself as "Mr. Bojangles" and regaled Walker with various stories about his life. While in the cell, Mr. Bojangles talked about his dog who had died. When one of the other men requested for someone to cheer everyone up, "Mr. Bojangles" hopped up and performed a tap dance.

Much more at link above.

[Ilsa]

2. IIRC, I saw him perform live

at a bar & grill in Austin 35 years ago. There wasn't any music program there in the middle of the week; it was just a joint to eat burgers and drink. I guess he just asked if he could do a few songs and the night manager said "Sure." Austin was like that then, and I suppose it is now.

[jaysunb]

4. Same thing in 1983 at a joint called Piggys.

I hosted a weekly jazz session night for my radio station , and he walked in and played. Willie and Kris too. Interesting times.

[Ilsa]

5. I know Kris loved coming to Austin. Said it was a

magical place for him and songwriting. KK was from the Valley, I think, Brownsville.

Rest in peace, JJ.

[jaysunb]

6. Yes, Kris spent a lot of time at Willies place in Spicewood Springs.

RIP JJW.

[deurbano]

11. Lucky!

[groundloop]

7. I saw him perform once, many many years ago..... great show

[Paladin]

8. Jerry Jeff could be a jerk at times. But he had undeniable talent.

RIP.

[rsdsharp]

9. I saw him perform twice. Both times in the mid 70s.

The first time was in the old men’s gym at the University of Northern Iowa. He was phenomenal. The hair on the back of my neck stood up when he did Hill Country Rain.

The second time was a couple of years later. He was opening for Willie Nelson at a concert in Waterloo. He was so drunk he could hardly stand. He was half way through Hill Country Rain before I knew what he was singing. It was like seeing what went before waking up in the drunk tank with Mr. Bojangles.

[Paladin]

14. I wish I still had that little piece of wood.

Back in my Austin days, a friend came by one Saturday morning and handed me a small, thin piece of wood, about the size of a postage stamp. It looked like pine, lacquered on one side, dull on the other. Turned out it was spruce---my friend had gone to a Jerry Jeff concert the night before, and Jerry Jeff, liquored up and feeling that the crowd wasn't fully appreciative of his performance, took a gorgeous 12-string Martin guitar and busted it into tiny pieces---I had one of those pieces for years; finally misplaced it. I'm in no position to lecture others on proper drinking behavior, but what Jerry Jeff did to that Martin stuck with me for a long time. I think he finally grew out of that destructive stage of his life, and full credit to him for doing so. He was a leader in a significant musical movement, along with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Seems like a long time ago.

[Cracklin Charlie]

10. He tried to kidnap a girl who drove me to a concert.

In the middle of nowhere New Mexico.

She finally talked her way off the bus, and drove us outta there. A little scary, but a great memory.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. Sorry to hear that.

[Hulk]

13. Great Song.....tragic way to end one's life.

Cancer is such an ugly disease, and throat cancer is a terrible way to go. I believe that is what took Ulyssus S. Grant. My brother in law died at the tender age of 44 of esophagus cancer. An awful end of life.

I hope we are one day able to deal with this awful disease in all of it's forms. R.I.P.

[NNadir]

15. David Bromberg recorded a fabulous story about playing Mr. Bojangles with Jerry Jeff Walker.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

16. Haven't posted here since W was president, but I thought you all might enjoy this clip of Jerry Jeff

We had some fun times together in my unusual Aspen taxi.

[Kali]

32. OMG

that was wonderful!

[Kingofalldems]

17. Mr. Bojangles:

[NNadir]

19. Wow. With David Bromberg. n/t.

[Botany]

18. John Prine, Eddy Van Halen, Jerry Jeff, Spencer Davis, and now Arlo retiring

Fuck you 2020!

[SergeStorms]

22. Born Ronald Clyde Crosby, in upstate New York.

Ronald Clyde Crosby just doesn't have the presence of Jerry Jeff Walker, so I don't blame him for reinventing himself. i saw him perform in several small clubs, in small towns in New York, way back in the day. I'm getting old.......

Let's try another of Jerry Jeff's favorites (and mine), written by Ray Wylie Hubbard.

[GusBob]

26. Pissin In The Wind

Our teen anthem

[SergeStorms]

35. "Bettin' on a losin' friend...

makin' the same mistakes we swore we'd never make again". Love that song, and you're correct, that was one of our drunken "sing-along" favorites around the campfire om many an early morning. Lord, I haven't thought about those days in ages. Thanks for the memories!

[True Blue American]

28. Never listened to him but

Of the 3 would be my favorite! Saved.

[dhill926]

23. listening to Viva Terlingua right now....

bring back some good memories of back in the day...

[Crowman2009]

24. My favorite version.

by Harry Belafonte of course!

[GusBob]

25. Well I can see you are an angel

Well I can see you are an angel
Whose wings just won’t unfold
Tune up you harp
Polish your old halo

Cuz the only kinda man you ever wanted was the one you that knew you couldn’t hold very long

Settin there crying like I’m the first one to go

[mahina]

30. That was my fave. Mahalo b

Aloha Jerry Jeff.

[Sherman A1]

27. RIP

[mahina]

29. Well ****. Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother- you know the words

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=RDEMFaRYo20Knd5QCRVnO9ld3Q&feature=share&playnext=1

[COL Mustard]

31. Damn. I loved his music.

Got to see him at the Birchmere a couple of years ago, and damn glad I did.

He's with Hando and Grampa now. RIP.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

33. In August 1973, Jerry Jeff Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band recorded ¡Viva Terlingua! in Luckenbach

David Fahrenthold Retweeted

In August 1973, Jerry Jeff Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band recorded ¡Viva Terlingua! in Luckenbach, Texas. That record, and a wild Saturday night concert, signaled a Texas music boom and countercultural uprising.

RIP Jerry Jeff Walker.

Link to tweet

[panader0]

34. Yesterday, a former DUer called me to tell me about Jerry Jeff's passing.

He related a story about spending a coupla days in a jail cell with him in Austin years ago.
The DUer, also a musician, was in for drugs, Jerry Jeff for D and D.