Tag: Jerry Jeff Walker

He said his name, Bojangles

Jerry Jeff WalkerIn the video below, singer-songwriter Todd Snider tells a wonderful story about hanging out with Jerry Jeff Walker, who wrote the classic “Mr. Bojangles.” And then the songwriter himself — who was born born Ronald Clyde Crosby on March 16, 1942 in Oneonta, New York — appears with Snider to sing the song.

Video of Snider and Walker

It’s great to see Snider on stage with Walker, as they are both very talented artists who do not get near the acclaim they deserve. So it makes me happy to think of the two hanging out at a bar. Check it out.

The Inspiration for “Mr. Bojangles”

In the introduction, Snider jokes about how Walker came out of jail with the song. And he is telling the truth.

Although many mistakenly believe that the song is about the dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Walker was inspired to write the song by a different man.  He met the real “Mr. Bojangles” in a New Orleans jail during the Fourth of July weekend in 1965.

I met him in a cell in New Orleans;
I was down and out;
He looked to me to be the eyes of age,
As he spoke right out;
He talked of life, talked of life,
He laughed, clicked his heels and stepped.

Walker was in the slammer for public intoxication when he met the homeless man who inspired the song. The man did tell Walker the sad story about the dog, and then he danced.

He Said His Name “Bojangles”

According to Wikipedia, the man did tell Walker he went by the name “Mr. Bojangles.”  Apparently, he used the name to conceal his real identity from the police.

A 2000 article in the Post and Courier newspaper, though, claims that after Walker met the man in jail, Walker later added the “Bojangles” name.  The article says that Walker used a common name used by street dancers in New Orleans. By contrast, Walker’s biography supports that the man in jail did use the name “Bojangles.”

Either way, the song is one of the all-time classics. Many also may have been introduced to the song by Sammy Davis Jr.’s wonderful version. But I wonder whatever happened to the man who inspired the song and whether or not he ever knew a great song was written about him?

In the video below, Jerry Jeff Walker talks to Bruce Robison about writing “Mr. Bojangles” and plays the song. Check it out.

What is your favorite Jerry Jeff Walker song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Random Music Find of the Day: Ariel Abshire

    Ariel Abshire Check out this music from Ariel Abshire, a young singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas. Her website puts her in the “Americana” genre, noting some similarities to the likes of Jenny Lewis, Neko Case, and Nicole Atkins. She’s performed at shows that also featured Jerry Jeff Walker and Robert Earl Keen. Her voice has appeared in movies, video games, and even a cartoon. Give her a listen and decide for yourself. On the following tracks, you might hear a little high lonesome sound on “Nothing New,” while “No Great Pretender” evokes the pop sensibility of some of Jewel’s best songs.

    Her debut album Exclamation Love (2008) came out when she was seventeen, and her second album came out last year, Still So New (2011). Check out Abshire’s website for more information and videos, which you can also catch on YouTube, like this live performance of Lady Gaga’s “Speechless.” The blog Cat 5 has a good article about her too. Keep an eye out for this rising star.

    What do you think of Ariel Abshire’s music? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Tribute to Guy Clark CD is “Stuff That Works”

    This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark

    One of my favorite recent CD purchases is This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark (2011), which I have had on repeat play since I got it in December. This One’s for Him is a solid 2-CD collection of songs by the wonderful Texas singer-songwriter Guy Clark. Although tribute albums often are hit-and-miss affairs with an uneven collection of interpretations by various artists, this one maintains a nice consistency throughout. One reason the CDs work so well is the consistency of Guy Clark’s writing, although tribute albums usually consist of well-written songs. Another reason that the listening experience is like listening to a CD by one artist is because the producers recorded live with the band and a limited number of overdubs, giving consistency throughout. Finally, the great collection holds up due to the group of artists assembled for the project. Although there are some famous singers on the collection, the producers clearly opted for talented musicians who love Clark’s music instead of just seeking big names, and the love comes through the music.

    It is hard to choose a favorite song, but one of mine is Jack Ingram’s version of “Stuff that Works.” In a video no longer available on YouTube, Jack Ingram talked about his love of Guy Clark’s music, noting that the music feels “like the Truth.” The great thing about Clark’s songs is that he writes beautiful words to go with his beautiful music.

    Stuff that works, stuff that holds up;
    The kind of stuff you don’t hang on the wall;
    Stuff that’s real, stuff you feel;
    The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall.

    Artists on the CD include a who’s who of great singers and songwriters: Rodney Crowell, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Kris Kristofferson, Robert Earl Keen, Ray Wylie Hubbard, John Prine, and many more. [UPDATE: In a promotional video no longer on YouTube, Hayes Carll, who sings “Worry B Gone” on the tribute CD, talked about hanging out with Clark.]

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    If I can just get off of this LA freeway,
    Without getting killed or caught;
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    For some land that I ain’t bought — bought — bought.

    “LA Freeway” captures the common longing for running off and being free. Even if you cannot make that kind of escape, you might come a little closer if while you’re on the road you pop in this CD.

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