He was a vitally important behind-the-scenes contributor to the development of rock’n’roll and country music, producing records and writing songs for, among many others, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Townes Van Zandt.
RIP Cowboy Jack.
What a career! (What a life.) Back in Rockabilly days, he wroteBallad of a Teenage Queen for Johnny Cash. During the Outlaw thing, Waylon recorded his Let’s All Help the Cowboy Sing the Blues.
In between, he produced Townes Van Zandt’s first album. I’m pretty sure he’s in the last scene of this video, drinking a beer & sitting down next to Townes.
Here’s Cowboy Jack’s website. Lots more stories to tell & songs to sing…