Great article and song selections. My daughter grew up / friends with a girl whose dad (John Nova Lomax) was a journalist / music savant and whose dad (John Lomax III) managed Townes (and Steve Earle and others) when John was really young. John's great-grandad was famed folk historian John Lomax. John sadly passed away a couple of years ago. He was a talented journalist who relayed some insane and gut wrenching stories of his early childhood on Facebook, including but not limited to being around Townes and other adults when they would crank up the booze and drugs. I'm not on Facebook anymore, but to my understanding his profile is still up and you can find the stories if you dig back far enough. You can also find some of his archived articles at Texas Monthly. Peace.
I’m in touch with Lomax III, he’s been sending me research info for my next book. It’s incredible to contemplate the rich yet complex history of the Lomaxes. Welcome aboard!
I used to play some at the Old Quarter in Galveston when I was a student. Rex Bell owned it then (1996-2016).
I remember one night I was on the stage playing that old song 'Moonshiner,' when Rex walked in wearing a foam neck brace and a piece of medical tape across the bridge of his nose. He looked rough, almost comical, and I watched him moving quick along the bar toward his office in the back. Then he suddenly stopped and looked up, apparently recognizing the song I was singing, and he stood at the bar for a minute to watch.
I didn't have the reverence for him then that I do now. Many times since, I've recalled those moments and wished I had the idea and the nerve to get right into 'Rex's Blues' without a pause. I heard he "hates that song" - but what's that mean? So many of us recognize ourselves in him and Townes and their shared mishaps.
Great piece and excellent choices, Michael. No Deeper Blue is such a great late period record. As much as I'm a big Stones fan, I didn't get into Dead Flowers until I heard his version. And, of course, Pancho and Lefty is an all-timer, a song that blows me away every time I listen to it.
I grew up in Oregon, where nobody had heard of Townes. But I was a fan.
Then I moved to Nashville, where everybody actually knew him! I related that once to a guy at a recording studio I was talking to and he just casually said “oh yeah, I knew Townes.”
I awoke with this lyric singing in my head, "Lefty he can't sing the blues all night long like he used to, the dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth. Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too, he only did what he had to do, and now he's growing old." https://themjkxn.substack.com/p/save-a-prayer-for-lefty-too?utm_source=publication-search
I guess that I awoke with the lyric in my head because I'm feelin' a little like Lefty these days, like I'd betrayed my best friend and I can't do nothing about it but suffer in my old age and one day die. On another note, would you happen to know who the young woman in torn blue jeans is in the video . . . and, for that matter, the old black man who cries listening to Townes singing?
The man who's driven to tears during the performance was "Uncle" Seymour Washington. The clip is from the fantastic film, 'Heartworn Highways,' which I highly recommend. Sadly, Washington died before the movie's belated release. The lady is Susanna Clark.
For a deeper dive/explanation of that scene, I'll defer to the late, great Austin journalist, Michael Corcoran, here talking to Otis Gibbs:
My wife and I watched "Heartworn Highways" a year or so ago, and that rekindled my appreciation for Townes and Susanna and Guy, beloved poets and singers of the songs that played in the soundtrack of my own long-gone youth. I will now replay the songs and check out Michael Corcoran. Thanks for this post and for your conversation. It's made for a pleasant Sunday morning.
PS: Michael Corcoran and Wikipedia both say that the "hippie chick" with Townes and Uncle Seymour in "Heartworn Highways" was Van Zandt's girlfriend named "Cindy." Any idea whatever became of her? She's more than likely dead and gone by now, but what can you find out?
I was just listening to "Greensboro Woman" which I hadn't thought about in years. It's great; it both has a lighter touch than some of his songs, and is still devastating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jrPYLSPXY
Great article and song selections. My daughter grew up / friends with a girl whose dad (John Nova Lomax) was a journalist / music savant and whose dad (John Lomax III) managed Townes (and Steve Earle and others) when John was really young. John's great-grandad was famed folk historian John Lomax. John sadly passed away a couple of years ago. He was a talented journalist who relayed some insane and gut wrenching stories of his early childhood on Facebook, including but not limited to being around Townes and other adults when they would crank up the booze and drugs. I'm not on Facebook anymore, but to my understanding his profile is still up and you can find the stories if you dig back far enough. You can also find some of his archived articles at Texas Monthly. Peace.
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I’m in touch with Lomax III, he’s been sending me research info for my next book. It’s incredible to contemplate the rich yet complex history of the Lomaxes. Welcome aboard!
And oh yeah ... just subscribed.
I used to play some at the Old Quarter in Galveston when I was a student. Rex Bell owned it then (1996-2016).
I remember one night I was on the stage playing that old song 'Moonshiner,' when Rex walked in wearing a foam neck brace and a piece of medical tape across the bridge of his nose. He looked rough, almost comical, and I watched him moving quick along the bar toward his office in the back. Then he suddenly stopped and looked up, apparently recognizing the song I was singing, and he stood at the bar for a minute to watch.
I didn't have the reverence for him then that I do now. Many times since, I've recalled those moments and wished I had the idea and the nerve to get right into 'Rex's Blues' without a pause. I heard he "hates that song" - but what's that mean? So many of us recognize ourselves in him and Townes and their shared mishaps.
Fantastic.
Great piece and excellent choices, Michael. No Deeper Blue is such a great late period record. As much as I'm a big Stones fan, I didn't get into Dead Flowers until I heard his version. And, of course, Pancho and Lefty is an all-timer, a song that blows me away every time I listen to it.
I grew up in Oregon, where nobody had heard of Townes. But I was a fan.
Then I moved to Nashville, where everybody actually knew him! I related that once to a guy at a recording studio I was talking to and he just casually said “oh yeah, I knew Townes.”
Thank you for remembering a good man gone but not forgotten.
I awoke with this lyric singing in my head, "Lefty he can't sing the blues all night long like he used to, the dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth. Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too, he only did what he had to do, and now he's growing old." https://themjkxn.substack.com/p/save-a-prayer-for-lefty-too?utm_source=publication-search
So much going on in those few lines and throughout the song - one of America's greatest songwriters, no doubt.
I guess that I awoke with the lyric in my head because I'm feelin' a little like Lefty these days, like I'd betrayed my best friend and I can't do nothing about it but suffer in my old age and one day die. On another note, would you happen to know who the young woman in torn blue jeans is in the video . . . and, for that matter, the old black man who cries listening to Townes singing?
The man who's driven to tears during the performance was "Uncle" Seymour Washington. The clip is from the fantastic film, 'Heartworn Highways,' which I highly recommend. Sadly, Washington died before the movie's belated release. The lady is Susanna Clark.
For a deeper dive/explanation of that scene, I'll defer to the late, great Austin journalist, Michael Corcoran, here talking to Otis Gibbs:
https://youtu.be/WnM52cegyS8?si=V4O_rez4sX6jRcHc
My wife and I watched "Heartworn Highways" a year or so ago, and that rekindled my appreciation for Townes and Susanna and Guy, beloved poets and singers of the songs that played in the soundtrack of my own long-gone youth. I will now replay the songs and check out Michael Corcoran. Thanks for this post and for your conversation. It's made for a pleasant Sunday morning.
PS: Michael Corcoran and Wikipedia both say that the "hippie chick" with Townes and Uncle Seymour in "Heartworn Highways" was Van Zandt's girlfriend named "Cindy." Any idea whatever became of her? She's more than likely dead and gone by now, but what can you find out?
I was just listening to "Greensboro Woman" which I hadn't thought about in years. It's great; it both has a lighter touch than some of his songs, and is still devastating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jrPYLSPXY
Yes! Another great one!
My God, where to begin? I'll start with Tecumseh Valley, sung by Nanci Griffith.