Joe Ely, a singer and songwriter from the vast flatness of West Texas whose mastery of the South’s varied musical traditions and paeans to the open road earned him the nickname Lord of the Highway and made him a leading artist in the development of the modern Americana sound, died on Monday at his home in Taos, N.M. He was 78. […]
Mr. Ely (pronounced EE-lee) came from a long tradition of Texas troubadours, influenced by country stars like Gene Autry, Bob Wills and Ernest Tubb and rock ’n’ roll luminaries like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly.
He was an early and ardent proponent of what came to be known as Americana, or alt-country, a raw, eclectic genre that emerged in the mid-1970s in response to the slick, commercial so-called Nashville Sound. […]
He wrote songs about lost love and endless vistas, built around stories of people leading everyday lives along America’s highways and byways.
Alongside his contemporaries Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and Delbert McClinton, Mr. Ely pioneered a style of genre-blending music, mixing rock, country, Tex-Mex and blues, swirled with subgenres like Western swing and honky-tonk, all of which confounded labels and DJs but drew a loyal following across the United States and Europe.
“I’ve just been lucky that the records seem to find their own audience,” Ely said in 2011. “They kind of wind around, and maybe have to go down some twists and turns and up some alleys and round some bayous and stuff, but eventually they find their audience.”
* As far as I can tell, this is Joe’s only kinda/sorta Christmas song…
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand
In good news, a new troubadour of sorts has arrive on the scene this year. Originally from Paris (France), Theo Lawrence has been touring in the U.S. for the past year. The singer-songwriter will be joining Alison Krauss as her opening act for the coming year, that will include Jerry Douglas. If you get a chance, see what you think of Theo. Disclosure: Theo’s new father-in-law and I are best friends from childhood, and have recorded a few times together.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 8:23 am:
Sad news indeed.
I saw Ely at Fitzgerald’s way back in the 1980’s. He put on a great show.
- Voted for Epton - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 8:44 am:
Speaking of Americana music and other formats not heard on commercial radio much, WQNA Springfield will be bringing back their eclectic, alternative radio format sometime in early 2026, this time on 95.7 and broadcasting from downtown Springfield.
One of the regular Springfield City Council public speakers, Ken Pacha, is among the group bringing WQNA back to the air since its old 88.3 frequency signed off late 2019.
Illinois Times has an article which will appear in print tomorrow:
- H-W - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 7:48 am:
Sad news indeed.
In good news, a new troubadour of sorts has arrive on the scene this year. Originally from Paris (France), Theo Lawrence has been touring in the U.S. for the past year. The singer-songwriter will be joining Alison Krauss as her opening act for the coming year, that will include Jerry Douglas. If you get a chance, see what you think of Theo. Disclosure: Theo’s new father-in-law and I are best friends from childhood, and have recorded a few times together.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 8:23 am:
Sad news indeed.
I saw Ely at Fitzgerald’s way back in the 1980’s. He put on a great show.
- Voted for Epton - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 8:44 am:
Is the City of Chicago gonna shut down?
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 8:53 am:
Love Ely. Bad week. That said H-W I’ll keep a lookout for Theo.
- So_Ill - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 9:43 am:
Winterlude is a Dylan song from New Morning album.
That’s a cool cover. I’ve never heard it.
RIP
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 9:44 am:
Joe Ely was an Americana glue guy - indispensable.
==Alison Krauss==
Don’t know Theo but he’s opening for Alison Krauss & Union Station at Ravinia in September next year and I will definitely be there.
- Chad Hays - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 1:12 pm:
Saw Joe Ely, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and Guy Clark telling stories and playing acoustically several years back at Butler University in Indianapolis.
It was obvious from the first note that you were in the presence of an Americana Mt. Rushmore/
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Dec 17, 25 @ 1:14 pm:
RIP Joe Ely.
Speaking of Americana music and other formats not heard on commercial radio much, WQNA Springfield will be bringing back their eclectic, alternative radio format sometime in early 2026, this time on 95.7 and broadcasting from downtown Springfield.
One of the regular Springfield City Council public speakers, Ken Pacha, is among the group bringing WQNA back to the air since its old 88.3 frequency signed off late 2019.
Illinois Times has an article which will appear in print tomorrow:
https://www.illinoistimes.com/arts-culture/advicegoddess/wqna-returning-to-local-airwaves-soon/