Who is Townes Van Zandt (biographical information)?
Townes is a songwriter and singer who usually performs original material, while occasionally performing traditional folk and blues classics, especially those of a major early influence, Lightnin’ Hopkins. He has recorded ten studio albums and released five live recordings on a variety of labels before his death. Currently, (May 2001), 25 albums have been released and several more are upcoming. Townes was born on March 7, 1944. He grew up in parts of Texas, Colorado, Montana, and elsewhere. He spent his Jr and Sr years in High School (1960-62) at Shattuck Military Academy in Minnesota. He lived in a number of areas growing up, but is most strongly associated with the Houston/Austin axis of the ’70s, and has lived in Nashville since the 1980s. Although none of his recordings sold extremely well, several of his songs have been major hits for other artists (especially Pancho & Lefty and If I Needed You). He toured the world regularly, usually appearing alone with his guitar, although he ha
