Joe Ely has passed

[Craig Stock]

Said to report that the great Joe Ely has died.

He was one of my favorites after first hearing him in Lubbock, Tx in the early 80's.

The Joe Ely Band with Lloyd Maines on steel was probably the best I have been exposed to ever.

My condolences go out to Sharon and his daughter and friends and family.

https://savingcountrymusic.com/joe-ely- ... ssed-away/

[Terry Wood]

Sorry to hear this sad news. Prayers for his family and friends. He was a wonderful musician.

[Joachim Kettner]

Sad news indeed, Rip Joe Ely

[Ricky Davis]

Oh my; My Heart is heavy. Riding my Motorcycle out to Luckenbach at 15 years old; just to hear my new favorite singer and meet the Steel player with Joe Ely, was a Memory I can never forget. I got the 8-track of "Honky Tonk Masquerade" and fell in love with it; especially the Great Steel playing by my now Best Friend Lloyd Maines. It was this trip that encourages me to take up Steel guitar and is WHY I play Steel Guitar; I wanted to make that great Sound too.
RIP Joe, go rest high on that West Texas Mountain; you are one of the reasons I have played music for 35 years; and this is the song you and Lloyd did in '78, is what did it.
https://youtu.be/d8IYRQ-O5RE?si=L2No_tTCKzwmkLeq
Rick Davis

[Craig Stock]

Yes Ricky that song along with West Texas Waltz did it for me too, that album is a must have for any steel player or lover of great music.

I got to see Joe at Radio City Music Hall lond ago as well as many small venues in Texas and the NYC area, one of the best was at The Bottom Line with Jimmie Dale and Butch at the Flatlanders reunion, my buddy just reminded me that David Byrne was sitting at the table next to us.

I will miss Joe, what an Icon!

[David Becker]

I was fortunate to have been in grad school at UT in Austin from '78-'83. The music scene then and there was amazing: Asleep at the Wheel, Willie's concerts, Stevie Ray bursting onto the scene, Fabulous T-birds, and so, so many others. The most exciting performer to me was Joe Ely. His stage presence, energy, obvious love of the music AND the stories his songs told were absolutely enthralling. I still play some of his CD's on long road trips, and they take me right back to that time and place. It's good for the soul to have such memories. Thank you, Joe!

[Tucker Jackson]

Joe Ely was a great breaker of the rules that surround musical genres, which is why he didn't become more famous. The record companies couldn't figure out which marketing department or division to put him in: too much punk-inspired energy for "country," too Tex-Mex-country and rockabilly for "rock"... along with too much of a few other influences thrown in. Fame was not his goal - he mixed it all together and started us down the road of what would later be called Americana.

Thank you. We'll miss you, Mr. Ely.

[Craig Stock]

Great synopsis Tucker, couldn’t say it better.