Billy Joe Shaver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Joe Shaver
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Shaver in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 16, 1939 Corsicana, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 2020 (aged 81) Waco, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Country, outlaw country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1973–2020 |
| Labels | Columbia, Monument |
| Associated acts | Lee Clayton, Jessi Colter, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Mickey Newbury, Steve Young, Johnny Cash |
Billy Joe Shaver (born August 16, 1939 – died October 28, 2020) was an American outlaw country singer, songwriter, and actor. He was known for writing many famous country songs and for his unique life story.
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His Early Life and Music Journey
Billy Joe Shaver was born in Corsicana, Texas. He spent his early years with his grandmother while his mother worked. Sometimes, he went with his mother to a nightclub, which is where he first heard country music.
He left school after eighth grade to help his family pick cotton. When he was 17, he joined the U.S. Navy. After leaving the Navy, he worked different jobs, even trying to be a rodeo cowboy.
Billy Joe met and married Brenda Joyce Tindell. They had a son named John Edwin, who everyone called Eddy. Billy Joe and Brenda married and divorced several times over the years.
One day, while working at a lumber mill, Billy Joe had an accident. His right hand got caught in a machine, and he lost parts of two fingers. Even after this injury, he taught himself to play the guitar without those fingers. This showed how determined he was!
Billy Joe decided to go to Los Angeles to pursue music. When he couldn't get a ride west, he hitched a ride east instead, which eventually led him to Nashville. There, he got a job writing songs for $50 a week.
His songs caught the attention of famous singer Waylon Jennings. Waylon used many of Billy Joe's songs on his album Honky Tonk Heroes. Other big stars like Elvis Presley and Kris Kristofferson also started recording Billy Joe's music. This helped him get his own record deal.
Even though he wrote many hit songs for others, Billy Joe didn't become as famous as a singer himself. But he never stopped making his own music. He worked with many great musicians like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.
Billy Joe faced tough times, including the sad loss of his son, Eddy, in 2000. The next year, Billy Joe had a heart attack on stage but recovered after surgery. He then released a new album called Freedom's Child.
In 1999, he performed at the famous Grand Ole Opry. In 2006, he was honored by being inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Songwriting.
Famous singer Bob Dylan even mentioned Billy Joe Shaver in one of his songs, showing how much he respected Billy Joe's music. Billy Joe's voice can also be heard on the theme song for the TV show Squidbillies.
His Famous Songs and Albums
Billy Joe Shaver's first album, Old Five and Dimers Like Me (1973), had many songs that other artists made famous. His album When I Get My Wings (1976) included "Ain’t No God In Mexico." He also wrote "Honky Tonk Heroes" and "You Asked Me To," which were big hits for Waylon Jennings.
One of his most well-known songs is "Live Forever," which he wrote with his son, Eddy. This song was featured in the movie Crazy Heart and was also performed by supergroups like The Highwaymen. Billy Joe also wrote songs for artists like Patty Loveless and Willie Nelson.
He kept releasing albums through the 1980s and 1990s. His 1993 album, Tramp On Your Street, was highly praised and featured his son Eddy's amazing guitar playing.
In 2007, his country gospel album Everybody's Brother was nominated for a Grammy Award. This album included duets with stars like Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.
In 2014, Billy Joe released Long in the Tooth. After a long career, this was his first album to appear on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, reaching number 19.
In 2019, Billy Joe received the Poet's Award from the Academy of Country Music. This award honored his incredible achievements as a songwriter.
Acting Roles
Besides music, Billy Joe Shaver also acted in movies. In 1996, he appeared in the film The Apostle with Robert Duvall. He also had roles in other movies like Secondhand Lions (2003) and The Wendell Baker Story (2005).
In 2004, a documentary about his life called A Portrait of Billy Joe was released. He also appeared in the TV movie Bait Shop in 2008 and had a small role in the TV series Still the King in 2016.
Comedian Norm Macdonald was a big fan of Billy Joe Shaver's music. Billy Joe even appeared as a guest on Norm Macdonald's Netflix show.
His Passing
Billy Joe Shaver passed away on October 28, 2020, at the age of 81, due to a stroke.
Discography
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See also
In Spanish: Billy Joe Shaver para niños
