Singer/Songwriter Billy Joe Shaver Dead at 81

Gaas / AFF-USA.COM

Singer/Songwriter Billy Joe Shaver Dead at 81

Singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, 81, one of the architects of country’s Outlaw Movement of the 1970s, died on Oct. 28, following an illness.

In addition to releasing more than 20 albums, Billy Joe’s songs were recorded by a who’s who of artists, including Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, the Allman Brothers, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and many more. Some of his most well-known songs include “Old Five and Dimers Like Me,” “I’ve Been to Georgia on a Fast Train,” “Ride Me Down Easy,” “I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Some Day),” and “Live Forever.”

The Texas native was honored with the first Americana Music Award for Lifetime Achievement in Songwriting in 2002, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Led by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, the Outlaw Movement of the 1970s was a musical revolt against the so-called Nashville Sound, the polished country/pop fusion created to lure listeners back to country music in the late ’50s when rock came rolling along. Artists like Kris Kristofferson, Jessi Colter, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Allan Coe, Tom T. Hall, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Tompall Glaser and more looked to liberate country music by asserting their own creative independence and influence.

photo by Gaas, AFF-USA.com

Blogs

Jackson Dean Has Poured Everything He Has Into His Music

Jackson Dean, known for his high-energy live performances, will be releasing his new single "Be Your Man" on May 9. The country rocker's intense stage presence, highlighted by moments of pushing himself to the point of blacking out, has fueled his successful career following his 2022 chart-topping debut single, "Don't Come Lookin'." With a distinct…

Jackson Dean Has Poured Everything He Has Into His Music

Jackson Dean, known for his high-energy live performances, will be releasing his new single “Be Your Man” on May 9. The country rocker’s intense stage presence, highlighted by moments of pushing himself to the point of blacking out, has fueled his successful career following his 2022 chart-topping debut single, “Don’t Come Lookin’.” With a distinct…

LOCASH Share Insight Into New Album ‘Bet The Farm’

Chart-topping Nashville country duo LOCASH recently joined Rob + Holly on the Friday Night Takeover to discuss their forthcoming album, Bet The Farm, which is set to be released on Friday (April 18). LOCASH members Chris Lucas and Preston Brust shared insight into their highly-anticiapted new record, which features their current hit single, “Hometown Home,”…

LOCASH Share Insight Into New Album ‘Bet The Farm’

Chart-topping Nashville country duo LOCASH recently joined Rob + Holly on the Friday Night Takeover to discuss their forthcoming album, Bet The Farm, which is set to be released on Friday (April 18). LOCASH members Chris Lucas and Preston Brust shared insight into their highly-anticiapted new record, which features their current hit single, “Hometown Home,”…

Zach Bryan Praises Bon Iver’s New Album, ‘SABLE, fABLE’

Zach Bryan recently took to his Instagram Stories to salute Bon Iver's latest album, SABLE, fABLE, expressing his admiration for the project that was released on April 11 to praise from fans and critics alike. Noteworthy for his consistent support of music he appreciates, the country superstar revealed that he has “Been with the record…

Zach Bryan Praises Bon Iver’s New Album, ‘SABLE, fABLE’

Zach Bryan recently took to his Instagram Stories to salute Bon Iver’s latest album, SABLE, fABLE, expressing his admiration for the project that was released on April 11 to praise from fans and critics alike. Noteworthy for his consistent support of music he appreciates, the country superstar revealed that he has “Been with the record…

Luke Bryan “Got Roped Into” Watching Katy Perry’s Spaceflight, “Wanted It To Not” Blow Up

During an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday (April 15), Luke Bryan shared that he unexpectedly found himself intrigued by the livestream featuring fellow American Idol judge Katy Perry's all-female space flight on Monday (April 14). The country star's interest was piqued while scrolling through Instagram on his morning farm walk, leading him to…

Luke Bryan “Got Roped Into” Watching Katy Perry’s Spaceflight, “Wanted It To Not” Blow Up

During an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday (April 15), Luke Bryan shared that he unexpectedly found himself intrigued by the livestream featuring fellow American Idol judge Katy Perry’s all-female space flight on Monday (April 14). The country star’s interest was piqued while scrolling through Instagram on his morning farm walk, leading him to…

Jelly Roll And Melissa Etheridge Selected As Co-Chairs For Mobilize Recovery’s 2025 College ‘Campus Surge’ Initiative

Mobilize Recovery has named Jelly Roll, Melissa Etheridge, and Noah Thompson as co-chairs for their 2025 Campus Surge initiative, which highlights their commitment to addiction recovery awareness and advocacy. The country singers will also be joined for this program by coach Scott Cochran and Sheriff Karl Leonard. Jelly Roll is known for both his music…

Jelly Roll And Melissa Etheridge Selected As Co-Chairs For Mobilize Recovery’s 2025 College ‘Campus Surge’ Initiative

Mobilize Recovery has named Jelly Roll, Melissa Etheridge, and Noah Thompson as co-chairs for their 2025 Campus Surge initiative, which highlights their commitment to addiction recovery awareness and advocacy. The country singers will also be joined for this program by coach Scott Cochran and Sheriff Karl Leonard. Jelly Roll is known for both his music…