Joe Ely, an iconic figure in country music recognized for his role in developing the progressive country genre, passed away on Monday due to complications from Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78 years old.
At the time of his passing, Ely was at his residence in Taos, New Mexico, accompanied by his cherished wife Sharon and his daughter Marie, as revealed by a statement on his official Facebook page.
Born on February 9, 1947, in Lubbock, Texas, Ely co-founded the country group The Flatlanders in 1972 alongside fellow Lubbock artists Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. The group released their inaugural album, All American Music, that same year, but soon disbanded as the members each pursued solo careers.
“Back in the early days when we first came together, Jimmie and Butch were huge motivators for me to start songwriting,” Ely reflected in a 2011 interview with Lone Star Music magazine, discussing his time with The Flatlanders. “Before then, I had written a few songs, but hearing Jimmie’s ‘Tonight I Think I’m Gonna Go Downtown’ and other tracks felt like hearing magic, which deeply inspired me.”
“Butch’s songs seemed to unlock something within me, opening up a floodgate of creativity,” he added. “That was the moment I truly thought, ‘I can do this too.’ Inspiration is essential for any musician.”
Following the dissolution of The Flatlanders, Ely launched his solo career with a self-titled album in 1977. His musical journey took an exciting turn when he traveled to London and formed a friendship with Joe Strummer of The Clash. Ely toured extensively in the U.S. and U.K. with the legendary punk band, which included members Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Nicky “Topper” Headon. Notably, Ely contributed backing vocals to The Clash’s 1982 hit single “Should I Stay or Should I Go.”
Ely once shared with Lone Star Music about his challenging early life, “Teachers used to tell me I wouldn’t make it past 21 when I was in high school. Well, I proved them wrong. I’ve traveled millions of miles in every conceivable mode of transport, zigzagging across the globe to make music.”
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