Country singer and songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker has passed away from health complications after a long battle with throat cancer.
As TMZ reported, the singer’s former publicist confirmed that Jerry’s wife told her husband to prepare an obituary two months ago. The publicist also confirmed that the country star died of cancer and related health complications.
Jerry first revealed he was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2017 when he was also suffering from pneumonia. While his condition was so bad he thought he wasn’t going to make it at the time, he was able to overcome the disease and went into remission.
The 78-year-old country star was best known for penning Mr. Bojangles, the iconic 1968 country song that resulted in covers by popular artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, and Sammy Davis Jr.
After the song became a hit some two years later, the New York-native moved to Austin where he married in 1974 and contributed to the creation of a new music genre known as outlaw country.
“The reason I stay here is because of my wife. She’s as happy as she can be. She has the house she wanted in Austin. My kids like it too, so I’m sort of there,” the singer told The Next Waltz in an interview a few years ago.
While Jerry never appeared to seek fame and spotlight, he managed to record a total of 36 albums, including the famous 1973 live record ‘Viva Terlingua’.
The artist released his final album called ‘It’s About Time’ in 2018.
May he rest in peace. Sending words of support to his wife, Susan, and their children Django Walker and Jessie Jane.
Replaced!