He Up And Died: Jerry Jeff Walker

He Up And Died

The lyric “He Up And Died” is from Jerry Jeff Walker’s masterful song “Mr. Bojangles.” In the song Jerry Jeff is speaking of Mr. Bojangles’ dog and continues the heartbreak with the next line: “And after twenty years he still grieves.” For me, those are some of the more poignant lines in that or any song. It always brought a tear to the corner of my eye, but I’m a sucker for such musical sentiment.

Jerry Jeff Walker “Up And Died” Friday October 24th at the age of 78 at a hospital in Austin, Texas. Although Walker was a native New Yorker and began his career with the other folkies who migrated to Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, he then ended up hitchhiking all over … eventually landing permanently in Austin and was an early catalyst for the musical renaissance that was Austin, Texas in the latter part of the 70s.

I was living in Austin during that period. It was nearly impossible for me to go see any live music, at any venue, without Jerry Jeff eventually wandering in (with or without guitar in hand) and if not 3 sheets at least 1 and half sheets to the wind … and in due course finding himself up on stage to sit in and sing a song or three. It didn’t matter if the act was well-established or a newcomer to the Austin music scene, somehow Jerry Jeff would show up.

Thankfully, Jerry Jeff would eventually manage to give up liquor and drugs with the help of his wife Susan and continued to sing “Bojangles” and his acclaimed versions of ” LA Freeway” & “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” written by his good friend Guy Clark. I believe I own most all of his albums and have played the heck out of the self-titled “Jerry Jeff Walker” 1972 MCA~LP and his “It’s A Good Night For Singing” 1976 album also on MCA.

Here’s a link to Jerry Jeff singing “Mr. Bojangles” accompanied by The Lost Gonzo Band (Note: the bass player is Gary P. Nunn songwriter & singer of “London Homesick Blues” which became the theme song for “Austin City Limits” for many years.. and the steel guitar player is Lloyd Maines, father of Natalie Maines lead singer for The Dixie Chicks … now just The Chicks):

….and an interesting interview with an older Jerry Jeff reminiscing about writing that song and other memories is available (Click Here)

Jay Hamilton

Jay Hamilton is a veteran disc jockey, program director, music director and radio programming consultant. In the Pacific Northwest, he is best remembered for his time at KMPS AM/FM during the '70s and '80s. Jay is now retired and lives on the Olympic Peninsula. Music, of nearly every genre, has always been an important aspect of his life and he frequently contributes opinions, articles and "Collectibles" to Puget Sound Media.

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Steven Smith says:

October 25, 2020 at QZVX at

Jay...I saw him when he opened for Jimmy Buffett in the early 70s. It was right after Buffett put out his first album with Filling Station Hold up. You might have been at KBFW then. Anyway, I always loved Bojangles and LA Freeway. But this was during Walkers unreliable years. He came on stage. He was incoherent, forgot words to his songs and cussed at the audience. At one point he turned his back so the audience could not see him or vice versa. I had heard later that before the show he went drinking in the restaraunt that took KBFWs place when we vacated the top of the Bellingham Hotel. All that said, I liked his music and glad to hear he got his life turned around. Jack is right, seems to be an awful lot of musical artists exiting this year...and radio guys too....Pat, Charlie, Les and others.
Edgar Bennett says:

October 25, 2020 at QZVX at

I just received word that WCFL Kingbee dj Ron Britton has died. What a year.