Joe Ely, Country-Rocker Who Collaborated with The Clash & Springsteen, Dead at 78

"His beloved wife Sharon and daughter Marie were at his side at their home in Taos, New Mexico. Ely was born February 9, 1947 in Amarillo, Texas. He was a leader of the extraordinary parade of artists raised in Lubbock who later settled in the live music capital of Austin. Ely signed with MCA Records in the 1970s and spent more than five decades recording and performing around the world."

"Ely got his start in music forming the country-rock band The Flatlanders in 1972 with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. However, their music went mostly unreleased, only seeing the light of day in the '90 after all three members had made names for themselves as solo artists. The band reunited in 1998, and would play together and record throughout the years until Ely's passing."

Joe Ely died at age 78 from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's disease, and pneumonia, with his wife Sharon and daughter Marie at his side in Taos, New Mexico. He was born February 9, 1947 in Amarillo, Texas and emerged from the Lubbock music scene before settling in Austin. He co-founded country-rock band The Flatlanders in 1972 with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock; their early recordings were mostly unreleased until the 1990s, and the band reunited in 1998 and continued performing. Ely released 16 solo albums beginning in 1977, signed with MCA Records, toured internationally, collaborated with The Clash and other artists, and formed the short-lived supergroup Buzzin' Cousins.

Read at Consequence