Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt and John Madden 

Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel. paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=... www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs Paypal: @otisgibbs Venmo: @OtisGibbs

Happy New Year everybody and here's to better days! : )

Personally, Townes music makes me happy. Even the sad songs. Something about the beauty behind his ability to convey emotion with words is just amazing. That actually makes me feel good.

“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”... I play it every New Years Eve, just after midnight in Hank’s honor!

Hank’s last performance was on December 28th for a private party for the American Federation of Musicians’ local 479 in Montgomery at the Elite Cafe. I had to go back to Colin Escott’s book to remember the name of the place. Thanks for your videos, Happy New Year!

A couple of Austin musicians broke in to the Skyline right before demolition. It was still pretty intact and had not gone through major renovations. They took some 50’s artefacts and tore up the old wooden bar with a hatchet. I was lucky enough to receive a piece of wood from that big chunk. I still have it somewhere..

Love these weekly coffee chats ! My current favorite Townes Van Zandt is "If I needed you" ......beautiful song . My favorite Hank Williams song is "I'm so lonesome I could cry" , it's actually my favorite country song . I love that it was recorded in Cincinnati , Ohio at Herzog Studios . They finally made the studio a historic landmark :)

“The gist of what I’m saying is accurate and true, but the details may be a little foggy” is a great quote 3:18

John Madden lived for football and was football, most people think it's just a football video game , isn't that something, I've got a lifetime of Madden memories

Hi Otis, as a huge Townes fan, along with Guy and friends, I have a few stories about my run ins with them. In the early 90's a close friend of mine, who hung out with Guy in Austin in the 70s, called me. We were both living in PA at the time. He played bass for Willie Nelson for a tour... and knew both Townes and Guy pretty well. He told me they were going to be playing up at a Restaurant in Pipersville, PA. So we headed down there early to see about catching up with them. We showed up and it was Townes, Guy and this young guy, Robert Earl Keen! who was driving them around the Northeast hitting the bars, etc. We are early and nobody was really there but them and us. So we got to chat it up... Shoot some pool and have a few with Guy... Townes wasn't drinking, but Guy was... a bit of Vodka was to be had.... When the gig started, Guy was a bit in the jar, so to speak, so Robert was doing the singing some of the time, and Townes was laughing most of the time. There is more, but just a taste of it. Townes was the best of songwriting there was, along with Guy, coming out of Texas back in the day... Thanks for your video...

To me this is the best channel on RU-vid. Thank you for your time and for all these wonderful stories. They bring back memories of my time as a child .

Thanks for posting. So sad, the end days, of both Hank Williams, and Townes Van Zandt........Love the John Madden truck stop story!!!!

“I don’t want to end the show with all of us singing The Weight.” I love this!

I’ll never get out of this world alive.

These videos are paintings with words. Not all masterpieces, but usually very good, and something that many people take comfort in. Thanks Otis, for being true to yourself. I'm going to make it a goal to get out in the world more. Travel, connect better with strangers and with family, maybe find that good woman with whom I can share the last legs of my journey. Hard to pick a favorite Hank Williams song, they are all so wonderful. Two that come to mind are "I'm a Long Gone Daddy," and "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive."

1-1-01 My Friend lost a life long battle with depression at his own hand. I never knew Townes passed on the same day, but If there ever was music for that day It's Townes. The world can be a hard place but thank God there is music to accompany it.

love these stories.

Why I watch Otis - every sing episode Otis speaks something , some episodes more than once and I go yes I can relate to this. thanks

Avoid drunks. I'm with you. If I'm going to enjoy hanging around with a drunk, I need to be at least as drunk as they are, but I gave that up a long time ago. Life is too short.

Traveling to Pittsburgh from Charlotte, NC, I made my wife and kids stop at the gas station in Oak Hill, WV and get a picture next the Hank Sr. Memorial. Heavy vibe in town that day, thinking about all that could have been.

Oh and I Love every Hank song I've ever heard!

Far thee well ms carousel You win again

You're the most honest man I've ever known. Best to you.

There was a Mexican restaurant called Chuy’s (not the chain) in Van Horn, Texas, that had turned a booth where Madden ate into a shrine. It was right near a truck stop on I-10.

When asked why his music was "sad", Townes answered(I paraphrase from lousy memory...) "it's not sad, the blues is happy music, man!"

caffeine cheers uncle otis watching now i spent yesterday exhasuted with a heart bleeding all overt the place partly crying...time to get back up today thanks for the inspirations

...played yesterday in Orangevale, CA in the afternoon. One of my glasses lenses fell out and I did not realize it until this morning. Ha, Ha!

Hello Otis. it's 2 degrees here in the mountains of Washington state. My motorhome is stuck in 3ft. Of snow. Things are presently crappy.. gonna stay in try and stay warm.. want you to know that I 66 years old man. Is getting a grin. Love the stories and the people. Music all day today.. townes Hank, Guy ... And for sure a Otis set.. thanks man I you have added a small part to my life.

You made me listen Townes Van Zandt and now I wanna know everything.

Only saw this today, but wrote 'em down b/c they resonate. Especially #7. 1. Make a new album. 2. Avoid drunks. 3. Spit off bridges. 4. Throw rocks at stuff. 5. Poke things with a stick. 6. Avoid people who talk about their "brand". 7. [Honestly] mix "...that's not gonna work for me, brother" into conversations. 8. Plant some flowers. 9. Put something beautiful into the world. 10. Make 100 paintings.

I listen to Townes everyday 👍🏾 I’m not happy unless I’m sad.😏

Finally someone mentioned the Skyline Club in Austin Texas! What a historic place it was with all the big names that played there. Sure wish you would do a video on only the Skyline Club. It's a shame they tore it down. I was at Bergstrom AFB 1968-1970 and played in a country band. We played many of the small joints in south Austin plus we once played the Skyline Club. What an honor to sing on that small stage where so many famous stars once stood. I still have black and white photos of us playing that gig. Thanks for mentioning the Skyline Club. Hope you can do a segment all about that place. Thanks for what you do.

Townes Van Zandt Is real, no place to fall is a great tvz song ☘️☘️☘️

Still god bless from west Texas!! Towns! 🇺🇸

Thank you Otis sitting here drinking Organic Coffee and listening to Hank sing Honky Tonk Blues man Hank Senior could sing that song ❤️

You mentioning people destroying “The Weight” reminded me of your tale of singing “All the Young Dudes” onstage with Ian Hunter, etc., and you thinking Joe Elliott was wondering, “Why’s the janitor up here singing?”

Whatever your brand is, I'm a big fan of it, Otis. Happy new year! Thanks for the hours of great entertainment last year and for everything '22 will bring. I hope to dig my oldest bottles this year (I've been back to the 1850's so far), find hundreds more marked bricks and vintage marbles, build my 8-track collection back up, get the Astro van road worthy, see you in concert, and see Dylan at least a few more times.

Thanks Otis. Love you brother

Skelley's truck stop smorgasbord in Greenville Illinois is the official truck stop of john madden.

Townes : I’ll be here come morning Hank: I’ll never get out of this world alive

I was ready to play a stragglers gig on New Year’s Eve for the first time in a long time and it got cancelled due to covid. It’s been a long time since we played New Years. Inspired Goals. Make a new album. Write at least as many songs as last year (10). Get back to playing some gigs in Europe (and here for that matter) please god. Host an Otis Gibbs house concert in the yard. Keep growing our garden Keep trying to do my best to be sincere Play music everyday. Thanks Otis for keeping it real.

Greenville Illinois (truck stop ?) Your cheating heart (Hank). Dead flowers (TVZ). All RIP. Great goals! Happy New Year!

Thanks for what you do, Otis, the journeys you take us on. I too love old houses, old buildings, old diners, old stories. Townes songs are almost always sad songs, and they make me feel less alone. One of my favorites is “A Song For”, which ends with “Too late to wish I’d been stronger”.

My younger brother and I were working as "casuals" at the Port of Stockton. We were standing on the deck, leaning over the rail, of an old freighter when an "A" man came up and said, "what r you guys doin, spittin?" He leaned over to spit and both his top and bottom teeth came out and went down into the water. My brother laughed so hard his brand new hard hat followed the teeth into the delta. I guess I won that day.

Keep the wind toward your back. If you ever find yourself in East Texas, stop by and to full fill your goals. HW Pale Horse and His Rider.

Every year at the bar I do sound at here in Edmonton, Alberta we do a Townes/Hank tribute New Years Day starting in the afternoon until whenever. Everybody plays three or four songs. Usually about a dozen performers. Sometimes more. We’ve sadly missed the past couple years. I’m supposed to be there right now but obviously it’s not happening. And neither did last night’s show. New Year’s Eve and Day are usually big money makers for me… but no regrets. Nice to have a couple days off for a change this time of year.

I’ve visited Oak Hill WV where Hank Sr (supposedly) passed. It’s like going back in time, the hospital and the building that held the funeral home are still there but gas station was torn down. I traveled up and down the Hank Williams hwy and there are some memorial’s around town. Check it out sometime

I had an uncle who had a country & western band that played weekends around Central Illinois when I was a kid. He put out a 45". "Swingin' Doors" by Merle Haggard was on one side, and "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)" was on the other side. So, that would probably be my pick for my favorite Hank song, for sentimental reasons.

I wanna learn how to can vegetables this year. Eat good, eat healthy, eat clean.

Maddens official truck stop is Skelly's, on I-70 exit 45 S. in Ill. Now a Comfort Inn. Luv your stories. Lin.

“Pancho and Lefty” is my favorite TVZ song. My favorite Hank song is “Your Cheatin’ Heart“. Your list of goals served as a reminder to me to find joy in the small things in life. I’ve accumulated way too many “things” that ultimately brought me no pleasure at all. Skipping a stone across a body of water, smelling a field of fresh-mown hay, getting a cold drink of water on a hot day from a tin cup that hangs on the pump you pumped the water from, reeling in a fish, and a thousand others are the kinds of things that stick with you and bring a smile to your face. Material things are fool’s gold. I’m someone who also liked those old run-down truck stops. There was something about the smell of the diesel fuel and the atmosphere that made the greasy food taste like fine cuisine. These Saturday morning chats are so enjoyable and this was one of your best. For 2022, I wish you health, happiness, and enough money to pay the bills, plus a little extra for coffee and to have some fun with.

1:40, the pic of the young boy in the cowboy suit shaking hands with Hank Williams is not Doug Sahm. For years I thought it was Doug, and wanted it to be true, but the little boy's name is Darwin Dunn. I have heard of a pic of 11 (?) year old Doug and Hank Williams, taken at the Dec 1952 Skyline show, but have never seen it / can't find it on the google.

Love your story telling my friend, your cover of " Into the Mystic " is my favorite version of that song. Being Irish myself it makes sense Into the Mystic would be one of my favorite songs. Most Irish people feel comfort in a overcast gloomy day...I know I've always felt comfort on days like this, I came to understand the feeling of comfort in these conditions was born in me. With that in mind. For me it's more interesting to think about what Hank was thinking all along the way...I believe humans get a sixth sense about thier impending doom. First thing to understand about the ride Hank took is just how long a ride it truly is, especially in his obvious condition in those final hours, I've driven the route Hank took many times, civilization were far apart in the eighties I couldn't imagine not feeling well knowing the opportunity at medical care are slim in those days yet suffering that ride. I think Hank knew his body was failing, Hank choose to not say anything to his driver I believe out of fear he just may be saved once again, prolonging Hank's mental and physical suffering. I think the idea anyone could know what Hank was thinking would be nothing short of arrogant. Thanks for the food for thought, our generation grew up with music, Towns was a gifted story teller like many Irish, the reason is the Irish people were so abused for many many centuries they couldn't read and write to poor for enjoying entertainment so they told stories, many stories were to instill a moral ideal of one of bravery, the idea of defending one family was a often repeated yarn. Towns wrote because story telling was inbread into him !

Otis Your goal about planting a garden reminds me of a great song by Lukas nelson “Turn off the news and plant a garden”

One of Doug Sahm’s final recordings was with the Austin band the Gourds. Lovely album if you can find it. Oh, favorite Van Zandt song at the moment Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold. Goal for the new year: make some goals and not just survive, but thrive. Spit bridges and thrown rocks, for sure.

Hanks song my bucket got a hold in it!!!

Our band was suppose to play a new venue in Broad Ripple on New Year's eve. Unfortunately they weren't able to secure their liquor license in time.

Happy New Year friend and I wish you good health and all the work you want

Happy New Year, Otis. I hope that this coming year is a good one! My goals for 2022 are to reclaim my health (been an issue all 2021), become employed again, visit my friends in Indiana (I haven't been since 2019 - two of my dearest friends live in Bloomington an Greencastle), and create more art (ink drawing and woodturning are my two biggest outlets), and spend time with my eldest brother (in California).

Thank you Otis

John Madden often stopped at Chuy's Restaurant in Van Horn, Texas. The place has a ton of memorabilia.

It's a perfect day to listen to MARIE and IM SO LONESOME I COULD CRY.. MY goal is to make as many videos of my music as I can with my old band that is a thing again. I love this miracle that's happened regarding us playing again after 42 years. No or very little gigs, just making music we want to make with no restrictions that gigging brought or brings. Our families can see what we did and loved so much, and that's good enough for me to go out on. HAPPY new year to you and this community.

I’ve found that it’s impossible to feel sad with The Best of Roger Miller playing.

Here in Knoxville it's the Andrew Johnson building and it was a hotel, then offices, now it has a probation office in it and I think the upper floors might be apartments....that's a recent thing (last year or two). Love the content!

When you reach a certain age - different for everybody - but I am certainly there - New Years are definitely bittersweet. This exemplifies that spirit nicely. Love both Hank senior and Townes. So may great songs between two but I particularly love Lost Highway, You Win Again and Snowin’ On Raton. Be well.

I enjoyed that so much Otis . Really interesting to hear your 2022 goals . Hope the year is a great one for you

I think what your doing is very important. These stories need to be documented for future generations. Thank you so much for what your doing. ✌🏻

Every New Year’s Day, I listen to Cowboy Junkies Lament as a tribute to Townes. It’s one of my 75 favorite songs of his. Something tells me that throwing rocks at things, spitting over bridges, and planting flowers might be a really good way to gain inspiration not only for the new album but also for new paintings. This year, I want to write more music and find a way to make a living doing nothing but gigging (i.e., not have a day job) in my new city of San Diego. I also want to get my work placed in TV and film. But I really like your goals: your main aim seems to be to enjoy life to the fullest. I’ve always enjoyed your channel but never in my life did I think I would discover someone else who appreciates Hank, Townes, and John Madden. Great stuff. All the best to you and your loved ones for a fulfilling 2022.

My favorite townes songs (if not all) A Song For, Coo Coo, The Hole, and pretty much every cover of Lightnin Hopkins songs

I heard a few Hank Williams song's and covers the other day on a local radio station and the host was saying Hank would have been 99 on September 17th. I can't wait for the big 100 celebrations next year ! The song's will still be as fresh in another century.

Happy New Year Otis and all the rest of us. My thing this year is to strive for goals as noble as yours. Thanks again for doing what you do.

Favorite Townes/Hank is impossible, but maybe "Tower Song" & "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (for the sillier Hank, "Settin' the Woods on Fire"). I've got to put "That's not going to work for me, brother" into the rotation too. Always good to spend Saturday morning coffee with you Otis, Happy New Year to you.

Hank and Johnny Horton last show was at the same club and they both were married to the same woman!

Have a happy new year. I doubt if I plant any flowers but I think I’ll enjoy more flowers more often and more deeply. Really take pleasure in them. And relax.

Townes is my favorite artist ever:. My favorite composition of his has to be “Forever, For Always, For Certain”.

70 years since Luke the drifter passed away. New Year's Eve 1952

My two goals are to create more original woodworking projects to send one to Otis.... maybe a wooden postcard!!

Austin Lounge Lizards have a song called I Want to Ride in the Car Hank Died in.

My current favorite Hank song is Lost Highway. Townes song is "Waiting Around to Die"

Some good points to ponder. I didn’t mind the John Madden story. I was a big fan of the Oakland Raiders as a kid and now I hardly pay attention to football. I remember one of the sportscasters once referred to Kenny Stabler and Fred Biletnikoff as Waylon & Willie. There were a lot of colorful characters on that team. Happy New Year everyone and I be sure to look up the Doug Sahm with Hank, Sr. photo.

Happy new year

great Saturday morning......Happy New Year!!!!

The Skyline Club was a dinosaur. I got a drink in there in 1972 or 73, just by accident. I knew nothing about it, but saw while driving up North Lamar. It was full of old photos and posters and things no one seemed to know anything about. Going through there in 1976, I made it a point to go there, and surprise surprise,....they were holding AA meetings in there. Lol. What a weird happenstance. Later I heard Soap Creek Saloon moved in there from our on Bee Cave Road, but I don't know.

Wow. That was wonderful. I wish I could give this video two thumbs up. Also, the only people who should be talkin about their Brand are cowboys. Real cowboys, with steer.

Charles Carr was Hanks driver on the last trip. He was 18 yrs old! Otis, please interview Gary Gentry, he wrote “ The Ride” and has some great stories on Hank and Charles Carr. I have contact info if interested! Keep up the good work!

Love most of Hank but love playin Honky Tonk blues

You know Otis, it just amazes me that one little snippet of music that you have no control over, can cause your whole channel to be taken down, but yet all those troll/hate/harassment channels are allowed to run amuck. Makes no sense. Anyway, my favorite Townes song is "Turnstyled, Junkpiled."

Great stories Otis. My goals for 2022. 1. More discipline in all things. 2. Play more guitar, write more, read more and take more photos. 3. Be less hard on myself. Happy New Year! Looking forward to more content from you and I wish you the best with your goals.

Happy New Year Otis! Great stories and resolutions. Hope you have a wonderful year!

According to Wikipedia: The former Skyline Drive-in has reopened it's doors as Hank's Last Stop, in Hilltop, West Virginia. During the early morning hours of New Year's Day in 1953, a Cadillac pulled into the lot of The Skyline Drive-in at the small, Fayette County community of Hilltop.Sep 27, 2019

Happy new year Otis thanks for all the stories, very appreciated up here in the north here's to 2022

Thank you Otis and happy new year to you and your family...

In Texas we know who Doug Sahm is. LOL Great story. Thanks

Happy New Year! Thanks for consistently uploading some of the best videos with the best stories. It always lifts my mood and brings a smile. :) Warm regards all the way from South Africa.

Happy New Year Otis from an English man in Viet Nam. Have been on a bit of a trip listening to Townes today but didn't realise it was an anniversary recently. I love Hank too and used to busk a number of his tunes in England in the 90s. Even some Vietnamese fishermen appreciate the feeling of "Cheating Heart" and "Lovesick Blues" though the words remain far from being understood. I was in Nashville on a Greyhound but trip back in 1996 on a 28 day ticket, trying to see as much of some of my musical influences as I could. After N.O. and Memphis, I ended up in Nashville and saw a "Hank Williams' House" legend, daubed on the side of a gaf there. Went in and heard a woman's voice calling from a far corner, "Can I help ya, honey?" "Yes! Is it really Hank's house?" I asked. "You're standing right in the bedroom honey," she said. Wow! There really wasn't much to see. A few trinkets in a latter-day Woolworths' style counter...but I skipped buying anything. However, there was a recording studio in the back , I discovered, and the guy in there came out and started up a conversation. "Where ya'll been?" I told him and included 'Graceland' in my account. "Oh, yeah! What did you think?" "Well,"" I said, "It was great, but Elvis's taste in furniture was a bit tacky, man." "Yeah, but Elvis was the King, man." "Yes, man, I love Elvis...I'm just saying the furniture was, you know, a little bit..." "HEY! Elvis was the FUCKING KING man." I quickly agreed. "Yes he was...can you show me your set up here, bro?" I sheepishly asked. Which he did. Great day. I also ,that day, bumped into a busker (I know not where - I was just walking round) and asked him if I could do a tune. He gave me his guitar and I did "Lord Mr Ford" by Jerry Reed as best I could, and got an ovation from the people seated at the coffee bar. Another moment of essence. What a road trip that was. Actually I consider I'm lucky to have survived I think, after some of the places I found myself in. One of a few regrets was I didn't jump off the bus in Clarksdale to check up on Muddy Waters and others, but it was midnight and there was 'darkness at the edge of town' where the bus stopped briefly. Just rambling and recounting some things here. Hope you don't mind. The Townes song that always floors me is usually the one I'm listening to. Likewise I'm not hot on titles, but "Waiting Round To Die' and 'Tecumseh Valley' brought me to tears when I first heard them...and the 'Forgotten Highways' video. Man he lived life to the open bone. Keep up the good work Otis.

the Townes mention took me back to his song, Pancho and Lefty, and the story of it and the story behind it, when he was pulled over and the 2 cops were nicknamed Pancho and Lefty. Otis, you go to some memories on your channel that I'm always happy to relive.

Hey Otis. Your work on this channel paints lots of worthwhile and beautiful pictures that many of us find enjoyable. I wish you well into the new year with hope that happiness and health reign over us all.

Happy New Year's Otis. Got my coffee and watching. Hope you have a great new year.

Happy new year Otis! I hope it's a good one. I've always liked Hank's singing but never gone too deep into his catalog, so I'd probably pick a more common song like Jambalaya on the bayou. For Townes it gets a lot more difficult considering I listen to him constantly and have explored nearly all of his songs. I love Tower song, Fare Thee Well, Ms. Carousel, and None But The Rain never fails to make me cry. I honestly think you could convince me that anything off the album "Townes Van Zandt" is my favorite Townes song because I love all of them. Thanks for helping to make 2021 a better year by posting quality videos and sharing great stories which never really can get old to someone like me. Stay well, friend.

Grew up on John madden football. Favorite Hank song, probably move it in over, or honey tonk blues maybe rambling man or honky tonki and who does love some jambalaya. Favorite Townes. That’s tough, Rex’s Blues maybe, Greensboro woman and buckskin stallion blues are possibles, snowin on raton, or if I needed you, tecumseh valley depends on my mood. But his version of dead flowers is the best. Thanks Otis. Keep on the sunny side