Joe ElyThe singer-songwriter who helped pioneer the new wave of Texas music that united rock and country fans in the 1980s and beyond died Monday. The cause of death was complications from Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease and pneumonia.
A family statement said Eli died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife and manager Sharon and daughter Marie by his side.
“My hero… my template… my friend… Joe Ely “He means as much to me as Buddy, Elvis or Don Everly. Such an artist. Texan. I'm just… heartbroken.
Eli was recognized as one of the more poetic souls of the Texas country-rock scene that emerged in the late '70s and '80s, but his performances often degenerated into sweaty rapture, as if Willie Nelson had been overcome by the spirit of rockabilly.
In 1999, Modern Twang writer David Goodman called Lubbock-raised Eli “the unsurpassed alternative country artist of the last 25 years,” and another quarter-century and the changes that have occurred since that remark was made have not dimmed the accuracy of the description in the minds of many roots-rock fans.
Even though his music was rooted in country, at least in its earliest stages, Eli was beloved by several generations of rockers, many of whom first discovered him in plum places, opening for the biggest artists of the day, at their behest. Forty-five years ago this week, Eli opened for the Rolling Stones on their stadium tour, and he is equally famous and memorable for his performance opening for the Clash. He also opened for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 17 times, along with the likes of Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, The Pretenders, The Kinks and Jimmy Cliff.
The fans he attracted at these warm-up shows tended to remain fans for decades, even after the associational fame that the Stones were in favor faded.
His most famous album may have been Musta Notta Gotta Lotta, which was the fourth recording he released on MCA Records, the label he signed with in the 1970s. Earlier albums, including 1977's self-titled debut, 1978's Honky Tonk Masquerade and 1979's Down on the Drag, were arguably just as good and contained at least as many classic country songs. But it was the harder tone of “Musta Notta…” – along with all those superstar performances – that launched his career with a wider audience.
Eli's impetuous streak did not mean that he limited his activities to “outlaw country.” Indeed, with his new album, 1984's Hi-Res, he sought to expand his sound beyond his core appeal. But the reception to this new music was mixed, and he soon parted ways with MCA, although he and the company reunited in the '90s.
Other career highlights include “Lord of the Highway 1987”, the first of two albums he recorded for Hightone Records. The most recent of his 17 studio albums was “Love and Freedom,” released earlier this year.
His signature songs include “Honky Tonk Masquerade”, “Fingernails”, “Dallas”, “Hard Livin'”, “Wishin' for You” and “She Never Spoke to Me in Spanish”.
Eli formed the Flatlanders in 1971 with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, whose material he also recorded during his later solo career. They only released one album during their original life, but reunited for Now Again in 2002 and subsequent albums in 2004, 2009 and 2021.
Eli's connection with the Clash went beyond opening their shows. He sang backing vocals on “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” and his name was mentioned in “Sandinista!” song “If Music Could Talk” (“Well, there ain't no better mix than Joe Ely and his Texas men”).
He was inducted into the Austin City Hall of Fame in 2022.
