Various Artists

A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver Live

2005-04-12

Billy Joe Shaver is one of country music’s most enduring songwriters. Beginning with his 1973 album, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, Billy Joe has created a body of work that ranges from outlaw-country classics to alt-country hits to straight-up rockers.

But tragedy struck Shaver not long ago. Shortly after losing both his wife and mother to cancer in 1999, his son and lead guitarist Eddy died of an overdose on New Year’s Day 2001.

With time, Billy Joe seems to have turned the corner, documenting the tragic events on two studio albums and completing a release on which he and Eddy had been working.

On Billy Joe Shaver’s 65th birthday, a number of his closest songwriter friends decided to throw him a party at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. The guest list included Guy Clark, Todd Snider, Robert Earl Keen, Kelly Willis, Joe Ely and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. On this live recording of the event, many of the guests offer up versions of their favorite Shaver songs.

Proceeds from sales of the record benefit the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Billy Joe's autobiography is also now available.

Quick Links:

• Ode to Billy Joe
• Billy Joe @ Compadre