Townes Van Zandt

Townes Van Zandt (1944-1997) was a country-folk singer-songwriter and poet and is considered by many to have been one of the best singer-songwriters ever. His songs have been covered by many famous artists, including Willy Nelson and Merle Haggard ("Pancho and Lefty"), Norah Jones ("Be Here to Love Me"), Lyle Lovett ("Flyin' Shoes", "Be Here to Love Me"), EmmeLou Harris ("If I Needed You"), Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffith ("Tecumseh Valley"), Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Cowboy Junkies, John Prine, Guy Clark, and Wrecks Bell, among others. 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. His song lyrics are often bittersweet and filled with crushing dispare. A documentary about Townes' life titled "Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt" was released in 2006.

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. His interests in singer-songwriters lead him to drop out college and abandon politics.

The Hemmeridge Mountain Boys

The Hemmeridge Mountain Boys served as Townes' band for many years and consisted of Rex (Wrecks) Bell, the namesake for the song "Rex's Blues", on bass guitar and Mickey White on lead guitar. Mickey went on to become a teacher while Rex became a solo artist with several albums to his credit. Rex and J.T. Van Zandt, Townes' son, released an album together titled "Live at the Old Quarter Accoustic Cafe". Rex Bell also played bass for Lightnin' Hopkins.