A particularly tough month in a particularly tough year, October 2020 will always be remembered as the month we lost Eddie Van Halen. But we also lost two of the greatest songwriters ever late in the month. On October 23rd Jerry Jeff Walker passed away. And on October 28th we lost the enigmatic Billy Joe Shaver. If you aren't an old-school Country Music fan you might not know Billy Joe. Hell, you may be a huge old-school Country fan and still not know Billy Joe. But you have heard his songs: Anthems like "Georgia On A Fast Train,” "Old Five And Dimers Like Me," "Black Rose (aka The Devil Made Me Do It The First Time)," "Old Chunk Of Coal," and one of my favorites, "If You Don't Love Jesus, Go To Hell."

For those who have never heard the story of how Billy Joe came to write the Honky Tonk Heroes album for Waylon Jennings, I will tell an abbreviated version here. Legend has it that Waylon heard Billy playing "Willie The Wandering Gypsy And Me" at a party thrown by Willie Nelson. Waylon asked him if he had anymore of "...them old cowboy songs?" Billy replied that he "...had a whole sack full." Waylon told him to bring them to Nashville sometime and he would record them. Sure enough a haggard-looking Billy showed up at the studio wanting to see Waylon, who had Hells Angels serving as bodyguards. They didn't take kindly to the hobo-looking minstrel wanting to see the man. When Billy reminded Waylon of his promise. Waylon reportedly said "Play that 'Willie The Wandering Gypsy’ song and then another, and another, until I tell you to stop." After eight songs Waylon turned to his band and said, "That's the album, boys."

I was lucky enough to see Billy play live on two occasions. The first time, I had my picture taken with him along with another longtime friend who I mainly see at live shows. As his girlfriend was taking the picture, Billy Joe says to the two of us. "A couple of Outlaws, huh?"

But the second time I saw him was an experience worthy of a story. On the day of the show I responded to a Facebook post from his management looking for people to work his merch booth. I answered the post and was told to arrive at the club at 6:30 pm. So I show up that evening and there's this other guy, Chad, who had also volunteered. Billy's bass player arrived while we we were laying out t-shirts and he hands me a cashbox full of money. We are talking hundreds, potentially a thousand dollars. Sometime before Billy ever started playing, Chad excused himself to take a break, and he never came back. Fortunately he didn't take the cashbox, but I was on my own for sales the rest of the evening. It was a busy night but fortunately the merch booth faced the stage so I saw the whole show.

When the night was over and the last t-shirt buyer had left, I tried to give the now bursting cashbox back to the bass player. He said, "No, you have to give that back to Billy himself." So he walks me to the dressing room and I give Billy the money. He looked at me with stern, squinty eyes and asked me if I helped myself to a t-shirt. When I answered "No, sir" he looks at the rest of the band and says, "Ha! Can you believe this guy? He didn't take anything for himself!" They all started laughing! They were busting my balls for NOT stealing from them! I guess with the way they handle their merch business...just arriving in town, grabbing a volunteer and handing them loads of cash...they were probably used to a bit of inventory loss.

Billy then walked me to the booth and let me pick out one of everything that I wanted. I grabbed a "Live Forever" t-shirt, an "If The Trailer Is Rocking Don't Come Knocking" bumper sticker, a "Live at Billy Bob's" CD, and a copy of his autobiography "Honky Tonk Heroes," which he autobiographed with a message of "Bless you." Then he paid me in cash straight from the box. He just grabbed a few 20's and put them in my hand. Then, just like that, Billy and the boys rolled away like an old west outlaw gang.

Many people who know me may have seen me wear that "Live Forever" shirt from Billy Joe. It's one of my favorites. Alas he did not live forever, but his songs certainly will. And so will my memories.

"I'm just an old chunk of coal, but I'm gonna be a DIAMOND someday!" Godspeed Mr. Shaver.….