On the Passing of Jerry Jeff Walker

In 1978 I was living in Denver and luckily won a radio songwriting contest sponsored by Lone Star Beer and Willie Nelson. My song is a narrative tune titled Willie and the Devil and preceded The Devil Went Down to Georgia, the smash hit by the amazing Charlie Daniels Band released in 1979. I didn't sell as many records as they did.

My prize was a trip to Austin to take part in a big shindig. I was 28 and very conservative, as you can see by the photo I attached. Hoyt Axton’s mother, Mae Boren Axton, co-writer of the Elvis hit, Heartbreak Hotel was handling Willie’s public relations and she was a great host. My business partner, Jim Flynn, came with me and Mae put us up at the iconic Driskill Hotel in Austin. We sat in the bar chatting with Miss Lone Star Beer. I don't recall the conversation.

The event was held at the long-gone Austin Opry House and it was a massive concert. Jerry Jeff Walker was there along with Gary Busey, who had just played Buddy Holly in the hit movie The Buddy Holly Story (Busey did his own singing). Many other artists were there to support Willie as he celebrated a distribution deal of his Lone Star Records with Mercury Records. There in support were Ray Wylie Hubbard, Steve Fromholz, Don Bowman, Larry G Hudson, the Geezinslaw Brothers and swing band Cooder Browne.

Jerry Jeff was a co-founder of the Cosmic Cowboy genre that evolved to be the Outlaw movement in country music. I had the amazing experience of hanging out with him and his pals that evening and into the early morning. I watched him interact with these country and rock heavyweights and I was struck by his gentle nature, fine-tuned sense of humor and ability to put everyone at ease. The next day I happened to be on the same flight with Jerry Jeff from Austin to Dallas on my way back to Denver.

As I entered the plane I saw him sitting in a window seat in first class. He spotted me and hollered “Hey, Hoss, come sit here by me!" I was on my way back to the cheap seats but he wrangled the stewardess (that’s what they were called at the time) into letting me sit with him. I was stoked, as they say.

After we got to cruising altitude, he reached for his guitar under the seat and proceeded to stroll up and down the center aisle and all over the plane, serenading the ladies and charming the entire flight with his gritty, unique voice, honest lyrics and big grin.

We landed at the Dallas airport and waited for our connecting flights inside The Braniff Club, but were shortly asked to leave due to our overly exuberant conversation and animated attempts to get everyone singing.

I did not see him again until the late 80s when he played the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA. He was frustrated that nobody wanted to hear his new tunes. They just wanted to hear him sing his hits. He had been locked in time, as happens to the best.

We lost John Prine and Jerry Jeff this year. As with John Prine's passing, Jerry Jeff’s passing last week was a poignant event for me. I count Jerry Jeff Walker, James Taylor, John Prine and Gordon Lightfoot as my musical idols. Their music has saved my life many times and inspired me in countless ways. I still have their albums and songs.

I'm listening to his version of Night Rider's Lament. Wherever Jerry Jeff is right now, I'm sure he is Ridin' High.