Jerry Jeff Walker RIP

 

There are a couple more deaths to catch up on  - both of them singer songwriters of note.

Jerry Jeff Walker, who has died aged 78, was originally a folk singer based in Greenwich Village and is best known as the writer of 'Mr Bojangles', a song that has been covered many times. He busked around New Orleans and Texas and settled in Austin in the seventies where he was part of the outlaw country scene along with Willie Nelson, Guy Clark and Waylon Jennings. Albums of self penned songs included 'Mr Bojangles' and 'Bein' Free' and he also recorded songs written by Guy Clark, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Tom Waits and Gary P Nunn, among others. The photo above shows him at the Mean Fiddler in London in 1993.

Johnny Bush, who was 85, was another singer songwriter with his roots in Texas. Known as the 'Country Caruso' he wrote 'Whisky River', a hit both for himself and Willie Nelson. Other country hits included 'Undo The Right', 'Each Time' and 'I'll Be There'. RIP to them both.