Synopses & Reviews
and#160;This is the first serious biography of a man widely considered one of Texasandrsquo;andmdash;and Americaandrsquo;sandmdash;greatest songwriters. Like Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt was the embodiment of that mythic American figure, the troubled troubadour. A Deeper Blue traces Van Zandtandrsquo;s background as the scion of a prominent Texas family; his troubled early years and his transformation from promising pre-law student to wandering folk singer; his life on the road and the demons that pursued and were pursued by him; the women who loved and inspired him; and the brilliance and enduring beauty of his songs, which are explored in depth.and#160;The author draws on eight yearsandrsquo; extensive research and interviews with Townesandrsquo; family and closest friends and colleagues. He looks beyond the legend and paints a colorful portrait of a complex man who embraced the darkness of demons and myth as well as the light of deep compassion and humanity, all andldquo;for the sake of the song.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Like Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt was the embodiment of that mythic American figure, the troubled troubadour. A Deeper Blue traces Van Zandt's background as the scion of a prominent Texas family; his troubled early years and his transformation from promising pre-law student to wandering folk singer; his life on the road and the demons that pursued and were pursued by him; the women who loved and inspired him; and the brilliance and enduring beauty of his songs.
Hardy delineates the musician's chaotic life in honest, often dramatic detail, but always brings the focus back to Van Zandt's music and the classic songs he penned.--Billboard.com
A Deeper Blue demonstrates why Van Zandt has become Texas' version of Mozart, Van Gogh, and Hank Williams all rolled up into one brilliant and beautiful burrito.--Kinky Friedman
A Deeper Blue gives fascinating insight into what inspired this sweet-singing, tortured genius and what inevitably brought him down. Save a tear for Townes. You'll need it.--Joe Ely
About the Author
ROBERT EARL HARDY has been a professional writer for twenty-five years, with articles on twentieth century American music and the arts published in newspapers, journals, and magazines, most recently in The Oxford American. Also a musician, since the 1970s, Mr. Hardy has played guitar in rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and honky-tonk bands in the Washington, DC, area. He lives in Laurel, Maryland.