Veteran singer-songwriter Joe Ely, 78, has been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease, it was announced Tuesday, Sept. 9 on his official Facebook account.
“Together with his wife Sharon, Joe is sharing their journey—not to dwell in hardship, but to bring understanding, awareness, and hope through the healing power of music,” the announcement reads.
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Comedian-actor Robin Williams was posthumously diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder, following his suicide in 2014. Actor Michael J. Fox has been battling Parkinson’s disease, since his diagnosis in 1991 at the age of 29. He launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000 to support research into the chronic, progressive neurological disorder that affects movement.
Ely emerged from the Texas progressive country scene in the early 1970s, first founding the Flatlanders with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, before launching a solo career in 1977.
Among his fans and early supporters was the British punk band the Clash, who shared concert bills with Ely. The band paid tribute to Ely on the song “If Music Could Talk,” from the 1980 album Sandinista!,with the lyrics, “"Well there ain't no better blend than Joe Ely and his Texas Men." They later invited him to sing backup vocals on their 1982 hit “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”
Ely has also collaborated with several other notable artists over the years including Bruce Springsteen, Lyle Lovett, Uncle Tupelo, John Hiatt and others.
Old tapes discovered and restored
The statement posted on his Facebook account includes a quote from Ely’s wife, Sharon. “Our story is about how music continues to lift us up,” Sharon shared. “Revisiting Joe’s recordings and hearing them brought to life again has given him so much joy, and we want others to feel that same joy too.”
The Facebook post goes on to reveal that Sharon recently found some old recordings featuring Ely’s vocals, guitar and harmonica and those recordings have been “re-envisioned in a way Joe never thought possible,” thanks to the Radar Initiative, which was founded by Grammy-winning producer Lee Miles Buchanan. Using AI technology, the original tapes have been restored and enhanced with orchestral arrangements.
Among the songs restored, is Ely’s version of the Buddy Holly classic “Raining in My Heart.” Holly, like Ely, was born in Lubbock, Texas, and had started recording with an orchestra prior to this death.
“When Joe first heard the orchestrated version of ‘Raining in My Heart’ he lit up,” Sharon says in the Facebook post. “It was like hearing the songs reborn, exactly as he had always imagined them.”
“When I listen to the songs I recorded awhile back in my studio about 10 years ago and then see how these songs are recently transformed with Lee’s expertise as a producer and musician by using the new tools we have today, I say to myself—‘perfect,’” Ely addedin the post.
“Raining in My Heart” will be released on Sept. 19, followed by other songs from Ely’s archives.
Ely and Sharon are also working on a book about his life and career and are asking for submissions from friends and fans. Submissions can be sent to [email protected].
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