Joe Ely died the other day. He was a big part of my musical life. There’s more to say, and I’ll say more sooner or later, but here’s what I wrote when I learned that he had passed. Vaya con Dios
Shortly after The Joe Ely Band album came out in 1977, I trekked to Lubbock to interview Joe and write him up in Texas Monthly. The album rocked hard, a real switch from the progressive country sounds coming out of Austin. It sounded like the connective tissue to Buddy Holly, Lubbock’s best known rock n roller. Joe and I visited Buddy’s grave, which was hard to find back then.
We drove to The Strip to buy beer and he showed me The Cotton Club.
Ponty Bone from his band joined Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in an impromptu performance at Joe’s manager’s small frame house. Then Joe and I hit the streets and clubs, looking for his friend Little Pete. We supped on ‘cue at Stubbs, and visited with Stubbs who was a hardcore music fan. Joe and I ended up at TV’s, a black afterhours joint at the end of a cotton field east of town. I remember him saying he wanted to move to Austin and hire Michael Brovsky, Jerry Jeff Walker’s manager, to guide his career. I was going No, No, No! Moving to Austin will mess with your mojo. Turns out I was wrong. But I will say the most intense performances of the original Joe Ely Band that I witnessed were in Lubbock – at Fat Dawg’s, Rox, and the Tornado Jam.
I went to Seattle when the band was making their third album, Down On the Drag, with the producer Bob Johnston. The sessions were underwhelming. Johnston’s idea of taking the band out of their West Texas element and plop them in a studio in cold, gray, and drizzling Seattle turned out to be a not very good idea. This was a live band that could scorch the roof off of any roadhouse or honky-tonk whenever Lloyd Maines, Jesse “Guitar” Taylor, and Ponty Bone started cooking. That album did not reflect that.
Joe Ely has been a constant in my life ever since. I’ve written stories about him, and have done promo sheets and liner notes for him. I was proud to be there at Ardovino’s Crossing outside of El Paso in 2017 when he was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters, the first musician to become part of that esteemed group.
Kris and I visited Joe and Sharon in Taos back in August. He had been dealing with health issues for several years and was physically diminished. But we managed to have an enjoyable conversation while he ate a box of chocolates, playing a little catch up, and listening to the “Raining In My Heart” track that was about to be released. Joe and Sharon were in a very good place, savoring a view that goes on forever, and savoring the day.
Joe Ely lifted the spirits of so many people, night after night, day after day. His was a well-spent life. I thank him for letting me run alongside for part of the way.
Shortly after The Joe Ely Band album came out in 1977, I trekked to Lubbock to interview Joe and write him up in Texas Monthly. The album rocked hard, a real switch from the progressive country sounds coming out of Austin. It sounded like the connective tissue to Buddy Holly, Lubbock’s best known rock n roller. Joe and I visited Buddy’s grave, which was hard to find back then.
We drove to The Strip to buy beer and he showed me The Cotton Club.
Ponty Bone from his band joined Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in an impromptu performance at Joe’s manager’s small frame house. Then Joe and I hit the streets and clubs, looking for his friend Little Pete. We supped on ‘cue at Stubbs, and visited with Stubbs who was a hardcore music fan. Joe and I ended up at TV’s, a black afterhours joint at the end of a cotton field east of town. I remember him saying he wanted to move to Austin and hire Michael Brovsky, Jerry Jeff Walker’s manager, to guide his career. I was going No, No, No! Moving to Austin will mess with your mojo. Turns out I was wrong. But I will say the most intense performances of the original Joe Ely Band that I witnessed were in Lubbock – at Fat Dawg’s, Rox, and the Tornado Jam.
I went to Seattle when the band was making their third album, Down On the Drag, with the producer Bob Johnston. The sessions were underwhelming. Johnston’s idea of taking the band out of their West Texas element and plop them in a studio in cold, gray, and drizzling Seattle turned out to be a not very good idea. This was a live band that could scorch the roof off of any roadhouse or honky-tonk whenever Lloyd Maines, Jesse “Guitar” Taylor, and Ponty Bone started cooking. That album did not reflect that.
Joe Ely has been a constant in my life ever since. I’ve written stories about him, and have done promo sheets and liner notes for him. I was proud to be there at Ardovino’s Crossing outside of El Paso in 2017 when he was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters, the first musician to become part of that esteemed group.
Kris and I visited Joe and Sharon in Taos back in August. He had been dealing with health issues for several years and was physically diminished. But we managed to have an enjoyable conversation while he ate a box of chocolates, playing a little catch up, and listening to the “Raining In My Heart” track that was about to be released. Joe and Sharon were in a very good place, savoring a view that goes on forever, and savoring the day.
Joe Ely lifted the spirits of so many people, night after night, day after day. His was a well-spent life. I thank him for letting me run alongside for part of the way.