Billy Joe Shaver,
Honky Tonk Hero

Publisher: UT Press
Year: 2005

(4 out of 5)

Billy Joe Shaver is a living legend. He's left a decades-long imprint on Texas music, from his songwriting on Waylon Jennings's 1973 Honky Tonk Heroes to his perseverance and continued recording after the loss of wife Brenda and son Eddy in 1999. Shaver has always written his life story into his songs. Now he's fleshing out his legacy with Honky Tonk Hero from UT Press.

The first half of Honky Tonk Hero is the memoir section. At 72 pages, it is a brief chronicle that presents little new information for those already familiar with Shaver's life and work. But written in Billy Joe's engaging voice, it still manages to captivate even when covering familiar territory.

Shaver is a natural songwriter. Like one-time contemporary Townes Van Zandt, he views each lyric as an artistic creation. "To me, the song is poetry. That's all it is. It's the way I describe the world around me, make sense of it. … I believe my songs will live long after I'm gone."

Since Shaver's songs have been so openly autobiographical, it's fitting that lyrics comprise the second half of Honky Tonk Hero. Every song penned by Billy Joe and included on recordings from 1973 to 2002 is represented. Preceding the lyrics is a handy index that divides the songs into albums.

At 65, Billy Joe Shaver has already been the subject of a feature-length documentary and recipient of the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. And now he's written his autobiography. But that doesn't mean that he's content to ride out his remaining years.

In addition to his usual heavy touring schedule, Shaver plans a busy 2005. He will be featured on "60 Minutes II" this spring in an interview taped by fellow Texan Dan Rather. In April he will marry Joanne Gray in Waco. In May he will release a compilation CD from his star-studded 65th birthday party last summer in Austin. And he is serving as "spiritual advisor" to Kinky Friedman's gubernatorial campaign.

With so much living left to do, perhaps Honky Tonk Hero will be only the first installment in Billy Joe Shaver's life story.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

March 5, 2005