Country Music Icon Joe Ely Dies at 78

Texas country music legend Joe Ely has passed away at 78, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the heart and soul of Texas music. According to his official Facebook page, Ely died on Monday from complications of Lewy Body Dementia and pneumonia at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife Sharon and daughter Marie by his side.

Ely had publicly announced his diagnoses of Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s disease in September. Tributes quickly poured in from the music world. Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame, called Ely a musician who “performed roots music like a true believer who knew music could transport souls,” adding, “His musical style could only have emerged from Texas.”

A true pioneer of progressive country, Ely got his start in the 1970s in Austin, playing legendary gigs at the One Knite tavern and alternating nights with Stevie Ray Vaughan in what would eventually become Stubb’s Bar-B-Q. He also made a name for himself as a founding member of the Flatlanders, alongside Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock.

Ely’s career was as adventurous as his music. From joining the Ringling Bros. circus and caring for llamas and tiny horses to surviving a motorcycle ride down the hallways of his high school, Ely’s life was never dull. He even briefly pursued a role portraying Buddy Holly in Hollywood, rehearsing alongside Gary Busey before the project was scrapped.

In 1975, he formed the Joe Ely Band, signed with MCA Records, and released his debut album in 1977. Over the years, Ely toured with the Clash, sang backing vocals on their 1982 hit “Should I Stay or Should I Go?,” and opened for legends like Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, the Rolling Stones, and the Kinks. His collaborations spanned generations, from Bruce Springsteen to Los Super Seven, John Mellencamp, John Prine, and James McMurtry.

Ely also made television appearances on David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, recorded one of the first albums digitally using an Apple II computer, and even recorded music for the Museum of Modern Art in Munich.

Throughout his career, Ely earned numerous accolades, including induction into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022, the Lifetime Achievement Award for Live Performance from the Americana Music Association, and recognition as Texas State Musician in 2016.

Fellow musicians have expressed heartbreak at his passing. Patty Griffin called Ely’s voice “one of the most beautiful,” while guitarist David Grissom remembered him as a “friend, hero, and artist in every sense of the word.” Bruce Springsteen described Ely as “a singular American singer, great musician, and a true friend,” adding, “We’ve lost an American classic.”