Happy birthday to Townes Van Zandt, who would have been 70 today. One of the Lone Star State’s greatest songwriters, the Fort Worth native has an inestimable legacy – a few of his classic tunes include “Pancho & Lefty,” “To Live is To Fly,” “If I Needed You,” “Tecumseh Valley,” “Waitin’ Round to Die,” “Lungs” and “A Song For.”
Van Zandt appeared in a memorable episode in the very first season of Austin City Limits in 1976, as well as joining Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and David Halley in a songwriters special in 1983. In 1998 ACL presented a tribute show led by his longtime friend Guy Clark and his son John T. Van Zandt that was so popular it was represented in 2000 as an ACL Classic. Please join us in wishing happy birthday to the late, great Townes Van Zandt.