Five years ago today, (October 23, 2020) we lost one of the true legends of Texas music, Jerry Jeff Walker.
The singer, songwriter, and storyteller behind classics like “Mr. Bojangles,” “Sangria Wine,” and “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother” left an impact that still runs deep across the Lone Star State and beyond.
Born in Oneonta, New York, Jerry Jeff made his way to Austin in the early ’70s and never looked back. He became one of the founding voices of the Texas Outlaw Country movement, right there alongside Willie, Waylon, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt, helping shape the sound and spirit that still defines Texas country today.
His music was rowdy, poetic, funny, and heartfelt all at once, just like the man himself. From the dusty dancehalls to the Armadillo World Headquarters, Jerry Jeff brought people together with his mix of humor, honesty, and that one-of-a-kind storytelling charm.
Walker passed away on October 23, 2020, after a long battle with throat cancer, but his songs and his influence continue to echo through generations of Texas musicians. You can hear his spirit in everyone from Pat Green to Cody Johnson, and in every barroom sing-along that starts with “I Love You in a Place Like This.”
So today, we raise a glass of sangria to the man who taught us all how to keep it wild, keep it weird, and keep it Jerry Jeff.
🎶 “It’s a good night for singin’ and drinkin’, a good night for friends to come by…”
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