Billy Joe Shaver to release gospel album :: Music News :: Articles

After making headlines earlier this year for his involvement in a saloon shooting, Country music legend Billy Joe Shaver has announced that his latest album, Everybody’s Brother (9/25 on Compadre Records), will be heavily spiritual – apparently carrying not only religious themes, but also a bit of ghostly inspiration from one of his late friends.

“I believe I had a visitation from Johnny Cash,” Shaver has stated about his all-night writing session for the album’s nine-minute title track. “I believe some of the verses are from him. I ought to give him co-writing credit.”

Cash’s son John Carter Cash produced the album, which addresses a list of grievances that reflect some particularly challenging moments in Shaver’s life – from specific instances like cracking his vertebra and losing his wife (in 1999, the same year he lost his mother and son), to a duet with Kris Kristofferson that takes issue with “spiritual people who refuse to take responsibility for the sad state of the world.”

Shaver – who’s accomplished so much more than performing the Squidbillies theme, but we’re mentioning that anyway - hit the road this week. Here are the dates;

September
21 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Molly Malones
22 - Nicasio, Calif. @ Rancho Nicasio
25 - Portland, Ore. @ Music Millenium Records
25 - Park City, Utah @ Club Suede
26 - Denver, Colo. @ The Soiled Dove
27 - Manhattan, Kansas @ Longhorn Saloon
29 - Dallas, Texas @ Granada Theater Concert
30 - Staunton, Va. @ Frontier Cultural Museum

October
5 - Santa Fe, Texas @ Marguerite Dance Hall
6 - Austin, Texas @ Nutty Brown Cafe
13 - College Station, Texas @ Big State Music Festival
18 - Maryville, Tenn. @ The Shed
19 - Duluth, Ga. @ Tavern on the Bridge
26 - Houston, Texas @ Firehouse Saloon
27 - Stephenville, Texas @ City Limits

December
1 - Houston, Texas @ Firehouse Saloon

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