New Book About Townes Van Zandt

Townes Van Zandt, legendary songwriter of classics “Pancho and Lefty,” “If I Needed You” and “For the Sake of the Song,” will be remembered in a new book by Brian T. Atkinson from Texas A&M University Press titled, I’ll Be Here In The Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt, due in stores December 1.

Atkinson’s work on the troubled troubador’s rise and fall includes reflections from more than 40 peers about lyrical significance and impact including Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams.

Artists of today such as Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Scott Avett (The Avett Brothers), Grace Potter, Josh Ritter and Kasey Chambers speak of the influence Van Zandt made on their music since his death on New Year’s Day 1997.

“I don’t envision a very long life for myself,” Van Zandt once said. “I think my life will run out before my work does. I’ve designed it that way.”

“Townes is a Christ-like figure in Texas,” says country singer Jack Ingram at the book’s close. “He is the one. He was writing on another plane.”