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Guy Clark 1941-2016

Posted by Peter Babb on May 17, 2016

Legendary Texas singer/songwriter Guy Clark passed away Tuesday, May 17th after a long illness. Born in Monahans, TX in 1941, Clark helped launch the nascent folk music scene in Houston along with his musical companion Townes Van Zandt. By the early 70s Guy Clark and his wife Susana had moved to Nashville and established themselves as fixtures in the songwriting community with songs and album artwork that found success with artists like Jerry Jeff Walker and Willie Nelson. Almost more than his songs, Clark was known for his meticulous approach to songwriting, spending long hours in his workshop writing out songs on graph paper. That dedication to the craft of songwriting helped his songs find their way to artists like Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Bobby Bare, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson to name just a few.

Please scroll through some of our favorite remembrances and videos from around the Web and find Jody’s interviews with Guy Clark at the bottom of the page.

Sad to hear about the passing of Guy Clark. I'll never forget the day I wrote with him and him busting out a J the size of a baseball bat.

— KACEY MUSGRAVES (@KaceyMusgraves) May 17, 2016

As soon as I get back to Austin, I'll be drinking one at the Chili Parlor bar.

We lost a legendary songwriter today. Goodbye Guy Clark

— Josh Abbott (@joshabbottband) May 17, 2016

Guy Clark – Master craftsman https://t.co/Laa3qvY9B4

— Gurf Morlix (@GurfMorlix) May 17, 2016

Guy Clark: 1941-2016. Travel safe, old friend. I would not be the songwriter I am if I hadn't sat at your table and learned from a master.

— rosanne cash (@rosannecash) May 17, 2016

Texas country musician Guy Clark has died at 74. Clark on making songs last in 2013 @npratc https://t.co/GZdvS6NHJx pic.twitter.com/WSpQvE5775

— nprmusic (@nprmusic) May 17, 2016