Overview
The writer of such influential songs as Pancho and Lefty, To Live’s to Fly, If I Needed You, and For the Sake of the Song, Townes Van Zandt exerted an influence on at least two generations of Texas musicians that belies his relatively brief, deeply troubled life. Indeed, Van Zandt has influenced millions worldwide in the years since his death, and his impact is growing rapidly. Respected singer/songwriter John Gorka speaks for many when he says, """"Pancho and Lefty changed—it unchained—my idea of what a song could be.” In this tightly woven, intelligently written book, Brian T. Atkinson interviews both well-known musicians and up-and-coming artists to reveal, in the performers’ own words, how their creative careers have been shaped by the life and work of Townes Van Zandt. Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Rodney Crowell, Lucinda Williams, and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the established musicians who share their impressions of the breathtakingly beautiful tunes and lyrics he created, along with their humorous, poignant, painful, and indelible memories of witnessing Van Zandt’s rise and fall. Atkinson balances the reminiscences of seasoned veterans with the observations of relative newcomers to the international music scene, such as Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Josh Ritter, and Scott Avett (the Avett Brothers), presenting a nuanced view of Van Zandt’s singular body of work, his reckless lifestyle, and his long-lasting influence. Forewords by “Cowboy” Jack Clement and longtime Van Zandt manager and friend Harold F. Eggers Jr. open the book, and each chapter begins with an introduction in which Atkinson provides context and background, linking each interviewee to Van Zandt’s legacy. Historians, students, and fans of all music from country and folk to rock and grunge will find new insights and recall familiar pleasures as they read I’ll Be Here in the Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt.
Full Product Details
Author: Brian T. Atkinson ,
""""Cowboy"""" Jack Clements ,
Harold F. Eggers
Publisher: Texas A & M University Press
Imprint: Texas A & M University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.70cm
, Height: 2.50cm
, Length: 24.10cm
Weight: 0.615kg
ISBN: 9781603445269
ISBN 10: 1603445269
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 30 November 2011
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
By interviewing such a wide range of singers and songwriters, Atkinson sought to put Van Zandt into context of the evoloving left wing of country music. Atkinson shows how Van Zandt's comtemporaries saw him and felt his influence, as well as the way his unusually literate lyrics influenced new genrations of musicians. --;i>Department of History and Political Science , South Dakota State University--Chuck Vollan The Great Plains Quarterly (11/01/2013)
Townes Van Zandt got about as deep as you can get. He was an amazing songwriter, so sharp and sophisticated. He could say really hard things in a very simple way that makes you feel connected to him. That's why there are a lot of comparisons to my grandfather. --Hank Williams III<br>
Author Information
Brian T. Atkinson writes frequently for the Austin American-Statesman and has contributed to American Songwriter, No Depression, Maverick Country, Relix, Paste, Texas Music, and Lone Star Music magazines, among others. He lives in Austin.
