Townes Van Zandt
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Fort Worth TX, United States (1944 – 1997)
Townes Van Zandt (John Townes Van Zandt, born at Fort Worth, Texas, March 7, 1944 and died at Smyrna, Tennessee, January 1, 1997). He was a country and folk singer and poet.
While alive, Van Zandt was labelled as a cult musician. Though he had a small and devoted fanbase, he never had a successful album or single, and even had difficulty keeping his recordings in print. Many of his songs, including “If I Needed You,” “To Live Is To Fly,” and “No Place to Fall” are considered standards of their genre. AllMusic has called him “one of the greatest country and folk artists of his generation.”
In 1983, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard covered his song “Pancho and Lefty”, scoring a number one hit on the Billboard country music charts. Despite achievements like these, the bulk of Van Zandt’s life was spent performing in dive bars, often living in cheap motel rooms, backwoods cabins and on friends’ couches. Van Zandt was notorious for his drug addictions, alcoholism and his tendency to tell tall tales.
Van Zandt died on New Year’s Day, 1997 from health problems stemming from years of substance abuse.
The 2000s saw a resurgence of interest in Van Zandt. During the decade, two books, a documentary film and a number of magazine articles about the singer were created. Van Zandt’s music has been covered by such notable and varied musicians as Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, and The Meat Puppets.
Early life
Townes Van Zandt was born in Fort Worth, Texas to an oil-wealthy family.
While alive, Van Zandt was labelled as a cult musician. Though he had a small and devoted fanbase, he never had a successful album or single, and even had difficulty keeping his recordings in print. Many of his songs, including “If I Needed You,” “To Live Is To Fly,” and “No Place to Fall” are considered standards of their genre. AllMusic has called him “one of the greatest country and folk artists of his generation.”
In 1983, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard covered his song “Pancho and Lefty”, scoring a number one hit on the Billboard country music charts. Despite achievements like these, the bulk of Van Zandt’s life was spent performing in dive bars, often living in cheap motel rooms, backwoods cabins and on friends’ couches. Van Zandt was notorious for his drug addictions, alcoholism and his tendency to tell tall tales.
Van Zandt died on New Year’s Day, 1997 from health problems stemming from years of substance abuse.
The 2000s saw a resurgence of interest in Van Zandt. During the decade, two books, a documentary film and a number of magazine articles about the singer were created. Van Zandt’s music has been covered by such notable and varied musicians as Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, and The Meat Puppets.
Early life
Townes Van Zandt was born in Fort Worth, Texas to an oil-wealthy family.
Shouts:
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Top Albums
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Rear View Mirror
Townes Van Zandt
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Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt Buy- Download Album
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Our Mother the Mountain
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High, Low And In Between
Townes Van Zandt Buy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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Pentangla wrote:
♡
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VK1990 wrote:
Lungs
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JenaSunshine wrote:
It would be magical if I could ever love a man like I love Townes.
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Smirnon wrote:
and thanks Townes, your music always brings me some much needed calm. i'm happy being alone, even lonely, when listening to your music
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Smirnon wrote:
i wonder if there were any women in Townes' life who were able not to fall in love with him
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semionato wrote:
COME TOMORROW. COME 2012.
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Debaser987 wrote:
A man who lived the songs he sang. There are few musicians you can say that about. Such honest, heartfelt, and beautiful writing.
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r_m wrote:
That's a killer quartet right there.
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Jack_Deadman wrote:
Best songwriter ever, and I listen metal, rock, irish, classical, alternative, blues, jazz... Townes, Cohen, Cave, Waits, ...
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Caligula138 wrote:
Thank You Townes...
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Jack_Deadman wrote:
Best country musician of all time
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tuffentiny wrote:
<3
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bloodmaw wrote:
most sincere country musician of all time
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9Nails wrote:
This man's whole life was one long country song, filled with disappointment and struggles, but what magic he wove out of all that. He's justly celebrated by other musicians and fans alike; just wish he'd gotten that acclaim in his own lifetime. [2]
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indietrash wrote:
http://www.lastfm.com/group/sad
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diasdegalvan wrote:
My favorite songwriter of all time.
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yeoldebard wrote:
'The Late Great...' is such a pure, simple and timeless record, it's the sort of thing that needs to be passed down through future generations.
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Druid66 wrote:
This man's whole life was one long country song, filled with disappointment and struggles, but what magic he wove out of all that. He's justly celebrated by other musicians and fans alike; just wish he'd gotten that acclaim in his own lifetime.
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semionato wrote:
'i ain't not much of a lover, it's true/ i'm here then i'm gone/ and i'm forever blue/ but i'm sure wanting you.'
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edanielsen wrote:
Thank you Townes, you just brought me some much needed calm
Videos
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Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold
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MARIE - HQ Sound
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in Heartworn Highway
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Dead Flowers
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Recent Activity
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ETubb, leemond2008, Zel_Vett and 5 other people added Townes Van Zandt to their libraries. 2 hours ago
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Nytemayr tagged Townes Van Zandt with americana, country and singer-songwriter. yesterday morning
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superrfreak, VioletTigerella, wiljanvdb and 17 other people added Townes Van Zandt to their libraries. yesterday morning
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Reysl tagged Townes Van Zandt with ‘v’. Monday morning
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jonkst, ptambourine, vranq and 15 other people added Townes Van Zandt to their libraries. Monday morning
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DeadKinks connected Townes Van Zandt to the group Protest Music. last week
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Arschmatz, FuckingGimp, nova_Nat and 18 other people added Townes Van Zandt to their libraries. last week
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Kovington tagged Townes Van Zandt with country, folk and singer-songwriter. last month
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Kovington, jcksalem, Azrael44 and 6 other people added Townes Van Zandt to their libraries. last month
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DownIsTheNewUp tagged Townes Van Zandt with singer-songwriter, alt-country, americana and one other tag. last month
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