WACO, TX. (Conqueroo/ www.conqueroo.com) - What a difference a year makes! When we announced Billy Joe Shaver's most recent studio album, Billy and the Kid (August 2004), it was couched in the context of tragedy. The legendary
Texas singer/songwriter had lost his mother, wife and son within a single year.
Shaver still feels the hurt, but his life has turned around. On May 17, Compadre Records will release A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver - Live, a CD that documents a 65th birthday tribute held in Austin last August. Guest stars on the album, who paid tribute to Shaver at Austin's Paramount Theatre, include (in alphabetical order) Guy Clark, Diamondback Texas, Joe Ely, The Geezinslaws, Colin Gilmore, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Rodney Hayden, Jack Ingram, Robert Earl Keen, Cory Morrow, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, Todd Snider and Dale Watson.
The artists each sing one Shaver or Shaver-inspired song and offer their spoken testimonials on the occasion of his 65th birthday. Shaver himself performs four songs ('You Wouldn't Know Love,' 'Try and Try Again,' 'Tramp on Your Street,' and, accompanied by Diamondback Texas, 'Georgia on a Fast Train'). The new album, however, is just one of the good things that has made Shaver's life worth living of late. Others:
• Shaver was taped by Dan Rather for a forthcoming '60 Minutes II' segment to air in March or April, exact date TBA.
• He announced his engagement to Joanne Gray, whom he will wed on April 8 in Waco, Texas.
• His autobiography, Honky Tonk Hero, will be published by the University of Texas Press with a March 1 street date.
• 'The Portrait of Billy Joe,' a documentary film DVD by Luciana Pedraza (wife of actor Robert Duvall) was released last year by Butchers Run Films.
• Shaver appears as Rev. Shackleton in 'The Wendell Baker Story,' a film directed by Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson and Will Farrell, shot in 2003 in Austin. Shaver's song "Live Forever" is featured in the movie.
• Shaver was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in a November ceremony.
• He has signed on as 'spiritual advisor' to the Texas gubernatorial campaign of longtime friend Kinky Friedman.
• And at age 65, a year that many turn their thoughts to retirement, Shaver is touring year-round.
A portion of the proceeds from A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver - Live will be donated to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. According to Shaver, 'I am so blessed. God is always on time.'
Track listing:
Billy Joe Shaver with Diamondback Texas - 'Georgia on a Fast Train'
Guy Clark - 'Randall Knife'
Bruce Robison with Kelly Willis - 'Ride Me Down Easy'
Jimmie Dale Gilmore with Colin Gilmore - 'Hearts-A-Bustin''
Robert Earl Keen - 'Bottom Dollar'
Todd Snider - ''Waco Moon'
Joe Ely - 'Honky Tonk Masquerade'
Dale Watson - 'You Asked Me To'
Jack Ingram - 'Ava Adelle'
Cory Morrow - Live Forever'
Rodney Hayden - 'Black Rose'
The Geezinslaws - 'Bad Rock and Roll'
Billy Joe Shaver - 'You Wouldn't Know Love'
Billy Joe Shaver - 'try and Try Again'
Billy Joe Shaver - 'Tramp on Your Street'
Plus a bonus video by Todd Snider: ''Waco Moon.'
For more information on Billy Joe Shaver, please contact conqueroo:
Cary Baker (818) 501-2001 e-mail protected from spam bots
