Norm Macdonald introduced me to Billy Joe Shaver and I am thankful for both for their contributions to my life

Otis, I lived in Austin from 2004 to 2009. My parents came from Ireland to visit me and I took them to see the capital building. Billy Joe played on the steps outside. I was wearing a "Waylon Rules" tee shirt. He talked with me and my family for at least 20 minutes. Told me some Waylon stories. A great guy. I love his writing and music.

Between Otis’ videos and the “Tales from the Tour Bus” videos, I’ve recently been getting a lot of outlaw country backstories. Thanks!

I was at Gruene Hall that night, took my mom to see Billie Joe, they’re about the same age, and he usually prays on stage but that night he seemed REALLY into it. It wasn’t such a big crowd that night for whatever reason, but after he played he greeted everyone that hung around after and told my mom a long story about his wife giving him that belt buckle. No one would have guessed what he was going through that night and when we all read it in the paper later we thought they had the wrong show. That’s who Billie Joe Shaver was, an old faithful work horse that gave absolutely all until there wasn’t anything more to give.

After everything Billy Joe went through it’s hard to believe he made it to 81 years old. He could have been a professor at the school of hard knocks. I was hoping to see him one more time but that didn’t happen. He was one of a kind.

Dear Otis: You are a fine man, you have a warm heart, and I love the way you tell the stories, thank you so much. Best wishes, Steve

The last time I saw Billy Joe was 2008 or '09 at a honky tonk called "Bootleggers" just south of Tyler,Tx. At one point Billy asked what we'd like next? I hollered out" Ain't no God in Mexico!" Billy said " Oooohh! That's a good'rn!" and they set off into it. My life was complete. I also feel ya on Gruene Hall. I live about 5 miles away from it and that rickety old shack is made out of magic.

I met Billy Joe 3 times. He "Blessed" me with bottled water at the Cactus Cafe in Austin. One of the greatest song writers in any genre of music. Just ordered the book. Thanks Otis.

There was a nurse at the rehab I just got out of that went to church with Billy Joe Shaver. One of the wildest things I've ever heard.

I loved the story where he and Waylon got stiffed by the bar owner after a gig and they snuck back after it closed, Waylon told him he'd left something in the bar and he had to get it, so Waylon jumps back in the truck they take off and Kaboom the bar blew up, that was a good one

I was fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Mr. Shaver at the Belle Star Saloon one Saturday afternoon when I stopped in for a beer. This was in 1982 in Dallas, TX he was sitting on the edge of the stage strumming his guitar, completely alone. We had some conversation mostly small talk but he told me he wrote " I'm just an old chunk of coal" and I knew that tune so the memory never left me. He was playing at Belle Stare that evening. Super humble man, I enjoyed our short time talking and I am STILL enjoying my talk with him. R.I.P.

I actually shed a tear when Billy Joe passed. I never met him, or him me. Strange. I think his passing hit me hard because of not only his music and persona, but so many of these cultural icons are passing. Leaving voids not to be replaced in a changing world. A mindset, way of life passing. More concerned about living than worried about dying. I believe it was called America.

Thank God for the Screen Actors Guild, and thank God for Billy Joe Shaver. "Please Lord, don't let me die in a motel in Pflugerville" has to be one of the all-time great lines. Great stories, Otis.

Cool man. The fist time I saw Billy Joe was in LA at The Satellite on his 75th birthday, it was pretty incredible. I got to catch him a year later at The Troubadour and that show was the best. He invited a few friends up on stage that night. Dwight Yoakam sang Little Sister and he had Norm MacDonald come up and tell a joke. Billy Joe also tried to get Robert Duvall and Kris Kristofferson up there too, but they both stayed in the balcony. It was a great night, Billy Joe Shaver was magnetic and sounded amazing. It was a real treat knowing Kristofferson and I were at the same show. The Troubadour can be a magical place

There would have been no outlaw movement in country music without Billy Joe!

I remember the first time i heard billy joe shaver,i was riding with my dad while he was working and oklahoma wind came on and i was automatically a fan

Billy Joe Shaver. A true music treasure 👍🏻

Audrey Auld brought Billy Joe to Australia back in the early 2000s to do a show in Melbourne. The only Audrey show I missed and man am I kicking myself to this day still. Both have passed away, and I have been a great admirer of BJ since the 70s when I heard Old 5 and Dimers by Tom T.

Oh god don’t let me die in a hotel room in flugerville, that’s a classic B.J.S. One their. Otis, Thanks for this segment today. I sure do miss old Waylon & Billy. End of an era for sure. I started my morning today with my rare copy of the complete Waylon live from 1974. Hard to fathom both these outlaws have moved on to the big stage. Thanks again for the share Otis, it made my day!

Otis you recapture something special in these uploads that has been lost in this world.

Love it. Great stuff. I was an exclusive Rock guy (Zeppelin, Hendrix, ABB, Skynyrd etc etc) until the day I was digging through my dads extensive album collection and I saw this long haired guy with a beard on the cover of this album. He looked rough around the edges to say the least. He looked like the type of guy I could hang out with. Then I made the connection !! This is the narrator or "balladeer" from my childhood favorite "Dukes of Hazzard". The album was called "Ramblin' Man". A year later I owned every Waylon CD money could buy. Later I learned about the "Honky Tonk Heroes" album and I learned about Billy Joe Shaver. So many great songs and stories. RIP Waylon RIP Billy Joe RIP Dad Fan for life. AWESOME STUFF Otis. Thank you

Saw Billy Joe open for Rev. Horton Heat in Cameron Park in Waco several years back. Was an amazing show. Got to meet Billy after and shake his hand. I'll always have a heavy dose of respect for him and consider him a hometown hero. Definitely will pick up the book.

Billy Joe, the real deal. A sweet man, great song writer, and a great human being with many of the faults that make his music so memorable. A lot of country artists sing about the troubles and tribulations that make up the narration of so much country music, but Billy Joe lived it, and that is why his songs are so real, so special, and so endearing. A man with many faults, many demons, and so much natural talent. Your many fans miss you, old friend, and will not forget you.

Great preview for anyone interested in Billy Joe. His lyrics are great to read.

I spent 40 years in country music radio all over the USA including Phoenix, Arizona where I worked for Buck Owens, and Waylon Jennings played gigs locally before he went to Nashville RCA records and fame. I'm a huge fan of songwriters in country music. I regret many things in my life but after seeing BILLY JOE SHAVER in concert about 3 years ago at a place called THE RHYTHM ROOM in Phoenix, I wish I had acted to meet him backstage. I knew Waylon had recorded many of his songs. After the show that night some musician friends went backstage to visit with him as they were packing up for another gig. I regret I did not go back to say hello to Billy Joe and try to set up some kind of interview as I'm also a freelance writer. His music is so REAL and the TRUTH. I am going to try and buy his autobiography.

I have always been fascinated with Billy Joe Shaver's life as a drinking, hell raising singer song writer. I love every song he wrote. His life was the perfect example of country music. I purchased the album "Shaver" with Eddy playing guitar and listened to that cassette until I wore it out. All the songs were amazingly good. I love the line in "Georgia on a Fast Train" that said "I got a good Christian raisin; and an eight grade education, aint no need in y'all a treatin' me this-away". Brilliant line! Otis, I just stumbled across your vids and really like your stuff. Now subbed!

The friend that Billy confided in about the poetry and the knife was actually Bobby Bare

I was born in 1970 so I was around 7 or 8 years old and my mom took me to see Waylon in Shreveport Louisiana at the old Hirsch coleseum. It was amazing. I tell people that I haven't been the same ever since. Lol it was my introduction to live music. Waylon was King

Billy Joe was also in "Secondhand Lions" with the great Mr. Duvall... one of my favorite movies! Robert Duvall reminds me so much of my ex (de facto) father-in-law.

My apologies Otis I don't want to Drive u crazy. I'm always toucht Hearing your reads. Thank you for your heart and time. Mark m

Thanks for sharing the stories and the book info! Billy Joe was my second cousin and yeah, if you were around him enough you can definitely still hear his voice writing those words.

Thanks..I got B.J. autograph soon after Eddie passed,at a club in Dallas.I treasure it

I had the pleasure of seeing Billy Jo Shaver in Kerrville TX. Small town. I am forever grateful.

Billy Joe Shaver was definitely in The Apostle, one of my favorite movies… and so was June Carter Cash… right? And…. I want this book ♥️

Tell me about your first Billy Joe Shaver gig! Where was the venue and what was it like? I saw him quite a few times over the years and most of the shows were in Austin. Lets share our memories of seeing Billy Joe and remember the good times.

I can't tell you how much I enjoy this channel. Wonderfully colorful stories being told by Otis Gibbs , with his calming , southing voice, is just the best!

I had heard Billy Joe Shaver songs before I ever heard him do them. When I first heard him I thought it was just wrong to listen to someone else do them. "Old Five and Dimers" and "RIde me Down Easy" just let you know the real Billy Joe Shaver I think I listened to this when you first put it out, it may have been the first one of your posts I watched and I watched it again tonight. Billy Joe Shaver is one of those types who were common during his life, I worked construction and before I retired all of us about my age agreed that when we were first starting in the late 60s there were real characters out on the jobs, no matter where you were and they are not tolerated at all now days. A great job of telling the story, you can tell that because I listened all the way through both times.

I loved his music it helped me though alot of things in my life he was a hell of of man.

Billy Joe was my favorite Outlawcountry singer. I got to meet him before a show at the Blue Note and he took the crowd to church with his Texas 3 piece band !! The best concert I ever seen.

I appreciate your stories , anyone with any respect at all didn't think anything at all about the hammering in the background. Thank you for the uploads of all your stories they are very entertaining.

Hell of a man. Blessed to know him. Bubba signed the book for me. I’ve got it sitting on my shelf in my room.

I love Billy Joe never got to see him. I think he's way underrated. Thanks for uploading this!

My sister's boy LOVED Shaver! He saw him several times in Chattanooga, TN.

I can remember when his first album came out. It was so great! Produced by Kris Kristofferson, with liner notes by Tom T. Hall!

Hey brother love listening and I'm 50 my grandmother's record player and records changed my life....the family were truck drivers so yeah keep it be safe ....move away your standing to close to the flame

Yes sir, He played red rooster two blocks from my house in pville my friend, Austin, my home town sucks but pville is still a good place to be a 60yrs old cowboy.... God bless you.....

I saw Billy Joe and band loading a van outside a rehearsal space in Austin; I was too shy to speak to him or afraid perhaps. I always wish I had sucked it up. He was awesome.

John, thanks for the story on Billy Joe Shaver oh, I just started listening to him 2 weeks ago. Peace brother man

So good! Thanks Otis!

I have an autographed copy of his book, he played Billy Bobs and had autograph session after the show. The line to get his autograph was long and slow cause Billy loved talking to his fans so much. Man, I miss Billy, what a great man and a great songwriter!

In the history of American music, Billy Joe Shaver deserves to be in the pantheon of the stars. I am a very, very latecomer to the appreciation of his gifts, and of the genre he worked in. But somehow country music’s gotten a hold on me, thank you Otis and Kenny Vaughn for being ambassadors to me. Billy Joe Shaver should be in the same conversation as Cole Porter and his peers as a songwriter. His command of language is staggering. Simple sophistication. Mesmerizing. I could go on, but just Thank you.

Love the book loved Billy Joe. I am glad I had the privilege to see Billy Joe Shaver play with Eddy on guitar what a show. I had the privilege of in partnership with a friend booking him on a show in 2007 at the Leon Springs Dancehall in San Antonio and before the show we went across the street to the BBQ place for dinner and Billy Joe visited with my friend and I and insisted on paying for dinner. A seriously gifted soul and truly a nice man. RIP maestro!!!

Billy Joe is like the common man you hear it in his music and he was such a great singer with natural talent .

I absolutly love you sharing your life, and all the ppl that most folks are fans of. You tell them as real as it gets. Thanks so much my friend much love

I love your stories Ottis. Thank you.

Honky Tonk Heroes has been an important record for me ever since childhood. I love what Waylon did for his songs(though if I ever cover Black Rose, my version would be closer to Billy Joe's).

Another outstanding video!

Thanks for this story and all you do, God bless!

Thanks for another great story from Billy Joe Shavers many tales. We are losing so many country legends now.

Otis this video is outstanding. Ok I'm going to watch the Waylon and Billy Joe Shaver episodes of Tales from the Tour Bus for the 37th time now thanks to this video. Rock On brother

Thanks for the stories Otis, they always seem to trigger other forgotten memories from days gone bye. Peace from Texas

What a great story man! Thank you

Thank You Otis…

This one hits home, I once lived at the north end of San Antonio, and in them days 93'I thought nothing of riding the bike to Grunne ,sit by the quadaloopa river, have a few Shinner's at the Hall..what a place, man I'd take a gig there, the back wall of the stage was covered in trail dust, and the artist signed there names in with thier finger, names like, Willie,Leoon ,Arlo...and I hope Billy Joe, thanks for stirring that wonderful memory .

Keep up the good work Ottis your like billy a straight up honest person

Great story Otis as usual. Billy Joe was a survivor.

Great stories Otis!

Really love these stories Otis! Thank you.🎶🎶

Thank you.

Thanks Otis... Beautiful remembrance of BJ..

Love the way you tell it all, Otis, thanks for that

Loved your storys about Billy Joe, Otis! “Live Forever” is my favorite of his songs ...

Beautiful

That book and the Charlie Louvin autobiography are some of my favorite music bios.

Otis Gibbs makes some good music. The Darker Side of Me is classic. Really appreciate this channel and his stories for us outside that world. Beautiful stuff!

Great stories Otis, Billy Jo was a underrated writer who wrote some great songs.my personal favourite is Live Forever. R.I.P Billy Jo. Keep the stories coming Otis, love them!

Man! This is one of the coolest stories yet!!

Thank you brother Otis. Your stories are so relaxing and a joy to listen to. As always, lovin' your gift. Kyle, from Arizona. 🌵

First saw Billy Joe at Willies Picnic at Luckenbach...1999...Been a fan ever since....Travelled to The Picnic from New Zealand ,,,Great Day...

Thanks Otis. I got my retro Billy Joe hoodie last week. Wearing it daily. I saw Billy Joe in November, 2012 at the Museum Club here in so-called Flagstaff, AZ. Many Country stars played there over the decades. It closed just after New Year's. Pete Sands, who plays a bunch of Waylon / Billy Joe and is apparently a friend of Shooter's told me that when Waylon was having tough financial times, he was welcome to and played on the Tribal Lands alot. A couple years back, driving back from Tuba City, on the radio is Waylon's song Common People. Seeing Billy Joe at "the Zoo" was a blast. A bunch of crazies, staff from the Grand Canyon were there. The lady with the shirt: "Fuck y'all I'm from Texas". We had a blast. RIP BJS.

Your videos are pure gold. You make me feel like I was there for all these stories. Please don't ever stop doing them!

Love these stories dude!

Ottis I love the story’s thanks for sharing and God’s blessings for you and all your family. Thanks my friend

Love the videos Otis keep em up 💯😎

Otis that was some profound story telling. Fact is stranger than fiction! It's amazing how Billy Joe survived that whole ordeal and few of us, if any, would have ever heard it if you hadn't related it to us here on this forum. A thousand thanks to you.

Thanks for providing this educational resource about the great Country Music legends, as your insight and story telling make my appreciation for the music grow ten fold.

One of my favorite song smiths!! When i saw him in my home town he showed us his bottle of Evian and told us it´s naive spelled back wards, and that what you are if you think thats spring water!

Thanks Otis, for keeping it real, paying it forward👍 Thankfully, I got see him at a great, local folk festival...a beautiful summer's day, at an Alberta prairie river valley, intimate, small stage...sitting on the grass. So perfect for this kind of rootsy, talent. A similar deal with Kinky, catching him in a modest, subterranean room of a seedy, big city hotel.

Much love

Otis , you're a terrific story teller , love this channel

U R D Best. I love your commentary as U R so real.

Always a good time listening to you share the stories of our Heroes! Billy Joe Shaver will always be in hearts of our family. HIs photo watches over me in my shop/studio. The book is great! Stay well & Happy Otis, best to you & yours.

Billy Joe was an American original. He was what he so humbly and not so humbly claimed to be, including, arguably, the greatest songwriter who ever lived.

brother I've become a big fan of your stories. Dig your music as well..

Great story - Thank you

As always, thank you for these videos , Otis! They make my day. It sounds like God's a big Billy Joe Shaver fan, too.

You're the Heat Otis! Dig the sincerity! I'm a music lover but the backstories allow it to blossom! Thank you zir

An amazing life... just wow

Another great story Otis. I just posted it on my twitter feed.

I very much enjoy your stories and the people you interview. I especially liked the ones with WS Holland and Kenny Vaughan.