One of Texas music’s most original and fiercely independent voices has passed away. Joe Ely, often described as Austin’s musical apostle of change, died on December 15 after a long illness that included complications from Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and pneumonia. He was 78. Born in Amarillo in 1947 and raised in Lubbock, Ely emerged from a rich West Texas music scene that produced generations of influential songwriters. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he built a reputation as a true troubadour—deeply rooted in tradition, yet unafraid to push creative boundaries.
He was never driven by mainstream success, choosing authenticity over commercial appeal. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ely traveled the country performing folk songs on street corners, in clubs, and anywhere he could find an audience. In 1971, he joined fellow Lubbock musicians Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock to form The Flatlanders. Though initially overlooked, the group later earned legendary status and was often compared to the “Beatles of West Texas.”
As a solo artist, Ely released 16 albums and gained respect far beyond country music. He toured with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, collaborated with The Clash, and later worked with Bruce Springsteen. Despite these high-profile connections, his music remained raw and unconventional.
Beyond music, Ely helped develop Stubb’s Bar-B-Q sauce with his wife Sharon and founder C.B. “Stubb” Stubblefield. His final album, Love and Freedom, was released in early 2025, just months before his passing at home in Taos, New Mexico. His legacy of independence and honesty will endure.