Blaze Foley Stories: -When Blaze Met Townes Van Zandt (Gurf Morlix) 

What's your favorite Blaze song? I think we all got pulled in by Clay Pigeons and If I Could Only Fly, but I really love stuff like Cold Cold World, Oval Room and Officer Norris. There's a lot of great stuff to choose from, so once again, what's your favorite Blaze song? It's also worth noting that Kevin Triplett made a really nice Blaze Foley documentary about ten years ago. This was before the movie and might have even led to the movie being made. He maxed out his credit cards and probably put himself in financial jeopardy just so that more people would know about Blaze. I think that's beautiful and should be commended. I was hanging out With Gurf Morlix and Jimmy LaFave at the G&S Lounge in South Austin about ten years ago and they introduced me to Kevin. I bought a copy of the Documentary on DVD right then and there. It's a great feeling to hand the money to the person who sweated and toiled to make that project a reality. I think that's the only time we've ever met, but I could be wrong. He has a great channel here on youtube and shares a lot of interviews from the documentary and I strongly encourage you to wade through some of it and give him some love. Here's the link. ru-vid.com

I've been spending an hour every morning for the past week or so listening to these terrific interviews. I met Blaze Foley once, by pure coincidence, and only in passing, having stopped for something to eat at a roadside bar somewhere in that big circle of Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Victoria. Had to be 1979 or 80. I had been there maybe three or four minutes waiting for the bartender who was ignoring me in jacket and tie, to take my order, and listened to the tail end of an unrecollected song before the guy on stage went on break I remember that when the guy at the bar next to me got his plate, I decided to go somewhere else, and as I walked past the stage, he had unplugged and all I said was "Love your stuff" or something like that, "Thanks man, you play?" , "A little..." No introductions, and our exchange lasted no more than ten seconds. And the only thing I remembered was that his his name had something to do with fire... Fast forward to a bar in Norfolk VA where I had a gig in the early-mid 90s. I played Pancho and Lefty - been playing it since the song came out, and at the time thought Willie Nelson had written it - A guy catches me on break and asks me if I played any other Townes Van Zant tunes.... Who??? then he goes on to tell me that he knew the guy who wrote Pancho and Lefty (I had grown up with Bruce Springsteen and not a soul had ever believed me, and if it wasn't for facebook, still wouldn't....) and told me all about Townes and his songs. And that rolled into him telling me about this terrific unknown (at least in Norfolk VA at the time) East Texas songwriter named Blaze Foley who he said he had known fairly well while working in a bar down there. Something he said took me right back to that Texas bar, and it occurred to me that I had indeed met this guy with the name that reminded me of fire, once before.. He got my email address and sent me the words and chords to a half dozen Foley songs. And somewhere along the way, I watched Duct Tape Messiah and more recently Blaze. At the close of my 50th high school reunion in 2017, an old friend and I did an impromptu concert in the parking lot of the Cabin (one of Springsteen's favorite watering holes back in the day)... I played If I Could Only Fly and Clay Pigeons and, lest anyone think they were mine, told the story of how I got to learn them. During the pandemic, one of the girls in my high school class sent me a fb note asking if I knew anything about a musician named Blaze Foley.... "Candy, you may not believe this, but...."

Townes came to my birthday party one year in deep South Austin with a Trombone he had just bought at a pawn Shop and played Pancho and Lefty on it... Funny shit.. man I loved him and considered him a good friend!

Otis my man this is why I'm here! These old stories are gold.

Hey Otis, as a 22 year old guitarist and wannabe singer-songwriter who wasn't around for Townes and Blaze's hey day, your stories and interviews mean the world to me. This commentary feels as essential to the story as the story itself and I hope to hear more from you in the future. Thanks for all you do and please take it easy.

That saxophone story was the best and I’ve no reason to doubt it. Thanks

This may just be the most notorious story I ever heard

Lol 😆 🤣 idk how but your voice is poetic in nature

That was really beautiful man. Thank you for going out of your way to find and record stories like this. They get lost in nobody ever gets the chance to hear him

God bless YT algorithms for this suggestion. This channel is a pure gold

What an amazing story about Townes. Gurf is a gem of a person. 24k heart.

Thanks for the cool stories on the good guys. I met Townes twice, never met blaze however. I know a guy who idolizes your guitar picking. I like Lucinda as well. Met her in Austin early 90s. Thanks.Townes 94 Portland once.

Thanks for the videos and blaze Foley, wow 🇨🇮👋

I love these Videos. Thank You.

Loved this...thank you Otis.

That was awesome to listen to, thank you.

Wow. I had read in a magazine that Foley had got in an argument with a man in a bus taking up for an elderly wowmen. That's for getting the story straight Otis.

How wonderful !, Oh what i would do for a copy of Pancho and Lefty sung by Townes in Cajun Jibberish ! Thank you Otis .

I understand about the difficulty in finding Blaze Foley's burial place. My son and I visited his grace last week, and even with GPS it was not easy to find.

Man, these stories are so great! Thank you so much for sharing them.

I was regularly going to those Houston clubs at the time, and the first time I heard Blaze I thought 'here is someone that takes his songwriting craft as seriously as TVZ" .Gurf wore these snakeskin-looking pants at many of those gigs at Corky"s , maybe even a jacket that matched. (I can't remember for sure)) Blaze had a wry, dry, humor and would sometimes tease Gurf in between songs. GURF NEVER SPOKE A WORD, I wasn't even sure that he could talk! I loved Blaze, but he was always better when Gurf was with him - maybe Gurf kept him in line. As an aspiring songwriter, those were some of the best times in my life. And Blaze was always kind and friendly to me and my friend who was usually with me. I was quite surprised to learn later that Gurf was a talented producer.

Great recording Otis..💯

Thanks, so wounderful to hear this. Clay Pigeons and an endless rainbow, I heard Blaze Foley for the first time in 2010 and it changed my life as a person and singer-songwriter. Outlaw Two Shirt Man.

Another beauty Otis, thanks so much for doing this.

WOW.. These are such intense recordings.. so much i want to say.. Blaze's Blues has always been one of my favorite TVZ songs especially live.. Old Quarter double album i wore out n more.. God Bless Blaze.. I always wanted to know more about him the story reminds me of Rodriguez he was best friends w my friend Paul Steele whom was our building manager in the Cass Corridor of Detroit, he had a jam room right beneath his apartment in an old coal bin, massive steel door, Rodriguez and many other musicians, story tellers, street people all came through, jammed, Rodriguez was on drunken spirit walks for days and crashed often on the mattress it was there for him Paul took care of him, he was a handicap person whom could barely walk.. so many amazing stories.. we painted Hank Williams and the Angel of Death mural next to the building spontaneously '99.. The story Townes tells in a live university recording in the 90's i believe he talks about the extreme cold and that they had to dig Blaze up to get a pawn ticket.. The sax story is totally intense and important thank you

Great just absolutely fantastic!

Thank you Otis for putting this together - really is a gem to find your channel and activity at this time. I'm a huge fan of Townes and Blaze and I thought I'd heard and read it all, but here we go!

Thank you so much! You have the key to the treasure box.

These stories were real and quite touching. The cute cat was a bonus! Thank you for uploading, Otis.

Yes, i enjoy this a lot to. Great way to start this day! 😄

That Townes story was GREAT

Thanks, Otis. I’m a big fan.

This is awesome! Thank you, Otis and Gurf!!! 💞🤗🎶💞

That was great!! Thanks for posting

I thank you for the intro to Blaze Foley. I listen to Townes, and many others that I would have thought, would mean that I would know about him. What a gift I got! Had a couple too many beers, and listened to the Austin Outhouse show on Friday, sitting on my back porch.

I love these stories. Thank you for sharing and letting us into the lives of the artists that we love...

This is such a beautiful thing. I love your channel, if thats what you call it. I feel this is more than that. Its an amazing glimpse into so much history. My 18 year old son's eyes have been opened even more. Thank you sir. Also i love when you go down rabbit hole's ;)

What a fabulous Townes story! Great interview. Thank you. Keep em coming.

Every bit of this is pure legendary GREATNESS !!!

Too cool! Thanks Otis.

Otis I always enjoy returning to your posts and listening again and again

I love Steve Earle's tribute album to Townes...I never get tired of it...those great songs...

I've met Gurf a few times. Not only a great storyteller but a great musician, songwriter and producer. Enjoyed that!

Thanx for this!!!✌🏽🧡😊

Otis, I just discovered your channel today and I can't get enough! I sincerely love Townes, Blaze, and all the other people you feature. Besides "Soft White Underbelly" your channel is the best I've seen in a long while. Thank you! Michael Barone, CT USA

Spectacular.

I just recently discovered this site and these wonderfully rich, well told stories. You do an incredible job as an interviewer and storyteller as well. Thank you for sharing these amazing , revealing stories . Totally fascinating and highly entertaining.

That was a really entertaining way to start my morning, thanks!

Love that you let us in on these stories 💕

Great story to hear thank you from Scotland

Really enjoy these tapes, ... your performances , & the cat to. Good times 😀 - Thanks for all your time & efforts kind sir. Be well

Great video. Great history. I really appreciate these in depth recollections as someone who is a fan but wasn't there.

Wow this was an incredible Video , thank you for sharing with us all. Peace !

This one is your best, Otis!! What an incredible story. I love how Townes shows up to do a show in Houston, blotto drunk rollin on a two day bender. Starts singing all of his songs in some Cajun jibberish he made up. Literally runs all of the fans out of the club because Townes is so awful. Then he picks up the sax he found in a pawn shop the day before and starts playing the sax. Not only playing it, but his bassist said it was like he had channelled Charlie Parker. It's almost like Townes was one of those rare people who are so talented and so intelligent that most things bore them so they are very mischievious and like to apply outlandish, chaotic unorthodox, unexpected things into normal situations. Townes was a heavy drinker and drug user perhaps partially because someone that intelligent sees all of the BS, exploitation, unfairness, etc. in life and it really gets to them.Just a theory of mine.

Awesome story. I just watched the Blaze Foley two days ago. I m glad to see that you are a cat lover. That’s the only pets that I have ever had. Thanks for the stories 👍😎👍Happy Trials!

That was fun, great interview, thanks!

Thanks Otis that was great…

That was fantastic! Really enjoyed it, Thank You Otis, Love your cat!

Recent Townes discoverer and big fan, got here by chance. Now looking up Blaze Foley.

Wonderful story. Thanks for this. Subscribed.

Great channel Otis. Yet again, another great story.

Great story.

Hey Otis, thanks for sharing, that was awesome. I'm a Gurf fan also, and great to learn about Blaze (he wasn't known so well here in the UK). Have a great weekend buddy.

Man that last story was wild. Favourite Blaze song is definitely Clay Pidgeons but also Oval Room because its like a Bob Dylan song. Thanks for these videos.

Love Blaze and Townes and love stories about them. Thanx for sharing this Otis!

Best channel on youtube.. I just now found it and I am going to listen to all these wonderful stories.. Thank you..

Fantastic stories. I laughed so hard and fought back tears!

Wow just stumbled upon this channel. Thank you so much for sharing. Spent many, many a night at Hole in the Wall listening to whoever came in to play. Such fond memories.

thanks again brother otis...happy burf townes today mar 7 oh and I LOVE seeing ya with ur cat in ur arms!

This is great. I first heard of Blaze when Merle Haggard recorded his song If I Could Only Fly. Anything Merle latched onto was worth finding out more about. Townes I first heard back in 1973. And Gurf I saw when he came through CA with his CD of Blaze songs and stories about him, later heard him play before Covid hit. My songwriter friend Blackie Farrell had Gurf produce his CD. And I'm damn proud to have seen you and said Hi at your AmericanaFest gig in whatever the fuck that dive in East Nashville was. All this to say, yes, we do give a damn. Thanks.

Hi Otis. That's a very funny story . We have a saying ''You can't make this stuff up!'' Brilliant!

More great stories! Wow

Great stories Otis..

Glad I found your channel!

I love your videos. Living in Austin, this is our history.

thanks otis that was amazing.. keep em coming .this is gold

Incredible story ✌️❤️

😎 Thanks Oti⚓️

Great tales of tragedy and hilarity thank you.

wow..I had to listen to this again. Gurf can really tell a good story.

Ahh I love these stories, 🇨🇮👋👋👋

Thank you!!

I could listen to these all day.

Hey Otis! I caught this when you first posted it and while having a "Blaze Foley" day had to hear it again. I've become an avid fan of your channel and music! Thank you Otis and regards to handsome Daryl

Happy New Year, Mr. Gibbs. You helped me get through some dark times this year.

fantastic!!!!

Great stuff man!!

Otis, I am original from Dodge City, KS and moved to Malvern, AR when I was 9. One of my best childhood friends in Malvern was Michael Blaze Fuller.

That was pretty great!!

I Love your story s thank you spook much

Keep it up man! These stories are great!

Imagine if that show had been taped by someone. Townes Van Zandt arrives slightly late and sauced to the gills for a performance, does okay at first, then it gets bad, then it gets worse, those who came to see the show start to leave, even the band members start to desert one by one, the eyewitness sharing this crazy fantastic story decides to stick it out with Townes come what may, continuing to back up Townes with his bass only to then witness the man play a pawnshop saxophone like a master that only a day before he could not even make a sound with that he then promptly hung in a tree and shot to pieces a month later. Life is full of colorful and interesting moments. I'm thoroughly enjoying your storytelling Otis as well as your storytelling by way of old interviews. I really appreciate your cordial manner and delivery and what you are bringing to folks with your channel. You seem like a genuine soul and a good fellow. I think I would consider it a good thing to be able to sit down and have a chat with you on the porch for awhile talking about music or what have you. Even if I never get to be that person I pray God sends good folk onto your path that are and who will bring blessing and joy to you and yours. Thank you Otis for taking time to share with us these stories and experiences you've had or know about or have read about.

Awesome!

Amazing

Just digging into Blaze and Townes... I'm close to Indy - sort of :) Would love to hear more stories!

Our Little Town had me in tears the first time I heard it. The live recording in particular. And I also love Let me Ride in Your Big Cadillac. But I would very much like to hear Pancho and lefty in Cajun jibberish. Fantastic song writers.

When Kevin brought his movie to Finland, I joined him at the theater watching it. Kevin is a very nice person. He filmed me busking outside the theater, doing Wouldn't that be nice. Impossible naming a favourite though, they're all good!

My God. I'd pay good money to hear Townes sax solo from that night. Great stuff.

i knew Iowa Blackie from the hobo convention, it makes me happy to know he was crowned hobo king as well as my good friend songbird John McCue who was crowned twice...

Huge fan of Election Day, especially seems relevant nowadays! Thanks for sharing Otis :)