Townes Van Zandt

Townes Van Zandt (John Townes Van Zandt, 1944-1997) was a country-folk singer-songwriter and poet. He is considered by many to have been one of the best songwriters ever. While alive, Van Zandt was labeled a cult musician. He had a small, devoted fan base, but never achieved large success as a singer/performer, and often had trouble keeping his albums in print. Perhaps his greatest achievement was writing Pancho and Lefty, a song which Willy Nelson and Merle Haggard recorded in 1983, that scored a #1 hit on the Billboard country music charts. Although he never attained great fame with the general public, he is regarded with high esteem in the music industry and with songwriters in particular, and his lyrics continue to inspire many songwriters today, even being the subject of lyric writing classes. Some of his songs, including "If I Needed You," "To Live is to Fly," and "For the Sake of Song" are considered standards of the country and folk genres. His song lyrics are often bitter-sweet, sometimes filled with hopelessness or despair. Van Zandt struggled with alcoholism and substance abuse for most of his life, which resulted in his death in 1997, at the age of 52.

Biography

Born the third great-grandson of Isaac Van Zandt, a prominent figure of the Republic of Texas, Townes was groomed for political office. He was known for both his intellect and his athletic prowess. After being diagnosed as a manic-depressive, he was subjected to insulin shock therapy which removed most of his memories. This caused a marked change in Townes' personality, leading him to be more reclusive and drop all athletic endeavors. According to the 2004 documentary Be Here to Love Me, Van Zandt's mother, Dorothy Townes, ultimately regretted approving her son to be administrated the insulin shock treatments. Van Zandt's interests in singer-songwriters lead him to drop out college and abandon politics. He fathered three children, JT, Bill and Katie Belle with Jeanene Van Zandt. Although Jeanene and Townes ultimately divorced, they remained close friends.

Death

Townes Van Zandt died on January 1, 1997. The official cause was cardiac arrhythmia, resulting from years of alcohol and substance abuse.

Influence

Townes Van Zandt's songs are so far-reaching and influential, they have been covered by many artists, including, and as varied as, Norah Jones, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Cowboy Junkies, John Prine, Guy Clark, and Wrecks Bell. A documentary by director Margaret Brown about Townes' life titled "Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt" was released in 2006. John Kruth wrote a Townes biography, "To Live's to Fly - The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt. Upon his death, artists Steve Earle, and Diane Craig both wrote a tribute song to Townes. Steve Earle stated that "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." A total of Forty albums were released (some posthumously) in Townes' name.

Lawsuit over royalty payments

Townes, and later his Estate, allegedly had many problems receiving royalty payments or even a basic accounting of his album sales. In 2005, Jeanene and the Estate of Townes Van Zandt filed a lawsuit in NY District Court against Kevin Eggers, EGGE Co., TOMATO records and others for lack of royalty payments and other infringements pertaining to Townes' music and film footage.

Songs of Townes Van Zandt covered by other artists

Artist	Song Titles
Willy Nelson & Merle Haggard	Pancho and Lefty
Norah Jones	Be Here to Love Me
EmmyLou Harris	If I Needed You
Lyle Lovett	Flyin' Shoes, Be Here to Love Me
Guy Clark	Don't You Take It Too Bad
Nanci Griffith	Tecumseh Valley

The Old Quarter (Houston)

The original Old Quarter in Houston was a regular stomping ground for Townes. It was here that Townes met many of his lifelong friends, including Rex Bell, Mickey White, Lightnin' Hoppins, Richard Dobson, Blaze Foley and others.

Annual Townes Van Zandt Wake

An annual Townes Van Zandt wake is held every year on the evening of January 1^rst at the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe, in Galveston Texas, as a musical tribute to Townes' songs. Musicians from Texas, the US and Europe congregate for an evening of Townes' music, played by amateurs and professional musicians alike. Rex Bell, the proprietor, always sings the first and last songs of the evening. Traditionally, photo albums and a bottle of vodka, Townes' favorite drink, are set before the stage for all to share.

The Hemmer Ridge Mountain Boys

The Hemmer Ridge Mountain Boys served as Townes' backup band for many years and consisted of Rex ("Wrecks") Bell, the namesake of "Rex's Blues", on bass guitar, Mickey White on lead guitar and Mike Edwards on drums. Mickey went on to become a teacher in the Round Rock (TX) area while Rex became a solo artist with several albums to his credit. Rex and J.T. Van Zandt, Townes' son, recorded a live album together titled "Live at the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe". Rex Bell also played bass for Lucinda Williams and Lightnin' Hopkins, a friend and influence of Townes.