Joe Ely

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Lyle Lovett and Joe, 2015 Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Induction and Concert at ACL Live on June 18, 2015. Lyle accepted the award on Guy Clark’s behalf. Photo by Gary A Miller.

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TBT - Joe photographed in Paul Milosevich’s art studio in Lubbock, Texas by Jim Eppler in 1975. A portrait of writer Frank Waters by Paul Milosevich is in the background. Paul’s father’s milk stool from Yugoslavia is what Joe is sitting on. He has his clothes on backwards, it was Halloween.

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Happy 93rd birthday, Willie! Photo by Lana Nelson, 7/6/19, in Luck, Texas.

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When I came back from one of my trips from the East Coast, the Ringling Brothers circus was setting up in my hometown of Lubbock and I went out to watch them set up. And some guy walked over and handed me a jackhammer and said, “Go over and help those guys set up that tent.” I was hired on the spot. And my first job after the tent was when we moved from the auditorium where we played back to the train yards which was several miles away. I was put in charge of two llamas and the world’s smallest horse. If you can imagine, his head was exactly knee-level to me. And he was mean so every five seconds he would turn over and try to take a bite out of my knee. Napoleon complex. That was the worst job I ever had, leading the llamas and the world’s smallest horse. Within three weeks of being in the circus in what they call ringstock, which is taking care of the animals, I had the most seniority which goes to show you how long circus employees last. It’s usually guys running from the law who get a job so they can make it to the next town. So if you’re ever running from the law, just go join the circus. - Joe Ely

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There is such a wealth of creativity stored in Texas that comes from its colorful past. When the cowboys were driving the cattle across the range, they sang at night to knock off the chill. That old tradition from folk music has traveled to so many different places, and here we are today in modern-day Texas, and it’s still generating music. Not many states can say that. From the early campfire days and the early days of singer-songwriter harmonica playing, guys in different places on cattle drives would send a song to see how other groups were faring. And that transformed into blues and country. It’s telling a story, singing songs about life as it evolves into where we are right now. - Joe Ely Photo: Milton Adams

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Fitzgerald’s in Houston. Photo by Donald Sloan.

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Remembering Roy Orbison, born April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas. Photo: Jesse, Roy, and Joe backstage at the Dallas Convention Center during the 1981 Texas Music Awards by Sharon Ely.

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Ed Gray with artist Paul Milosevich at ‘Under The Oak Tree’ celebration of life Friday at Joe and Sharon’s home in Austin. Paul’s charcoal portrait of Joe was used for Joe’s debut album in 1977. “I began the portrait at about 8 in the morning, and Joe took it to California that afternoon. The original got lost out there, but we were fortunate to have taken good photos of it and made prints” – Paul Milosevich. Photo by Karla Milosevich.

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Venmo for book

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*SOLD OUT. Updated reprint coming soon. Pre-orders encouraged. Thank you! This is a book I put together for Joe’s memorial. The gathering took place under our ancient oak tree where Joe and I were married 45 years ago on April 17. Marie and I decided to hold the memorial there to celebrate Joe’s life, and also honor the sacred time we had together for 45 years. While making this book, I realized how much joy it brought me as I collected pictures and stories from our lives together. I’ve included some of Joe’s favorite places, people, and sayings. In many ways I felt like he guided me in creating this book. I believe there is so much more to tell with all the stories there are, and I feel inspired and committed to doing another book in the future. For now, thank you for honoring Joe, and for supporting me and my daughter, Marie, as we remember how lucky we all are to have known Joe in our lives. Sharon Ely Limited number of spiral bound books are available, signed, $50 each, including postage. Funds raised are to recoup printing cost. Payment through Venmo (See first comment), or mail a check to: Sharon Ely 4 San Francisco St P.O. Box 170 Rancho de Taos 87557 Be sure to include your mailing address. Thank you.