Warren Haynes Remembers Guy Clark

Yesterday, acclaimed singer-songwriter Guy Clark passed away at the age of 74. The Grammy Award winning member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame wrote songs recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Hayes Carll, Ricky Skaggs, John Denver, Jimmy Buffett and The Highwaymen. Clark’s influence was notable on country music and beyond, and guitarist Warren Haynes shared a message remembering the late musician.

Writing about the man responsible for such well-known songs as “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” “L.A Freeway” and “That Old Time Feeling,” Haynes described the events of the night the then 20-year-old met Clark – as well as two other musicians that would have a massive impact on Warren’s career. Here’s the full statement from Haynes:

RIP Guy Clark.

I met Guy Clark the same night I met Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman. They, along with Don Johnson, came by the studio where I was recording with David Allan Coe. I was 20 years old and it was a big thrill for me to meet all of those folks. As it got later Dickey, myself, and Guy passed around 3 acoustic guitars- 2 pretty good ones and 1 with the action so high it was nearly impossible to play. We took turns playing/singing songs while each of us accompanied the others. We rotated the guitars so that every third song each of us would have the “bad” guitar. I remember Guy playing a new song he’d just written called “Heartbroke.” I said “that’s a great song” to which he replied that he was pitching it to Ricky Skaggs. I thought (or maybe said out loud) “great song but I don’t hear it for Ricky Skaggs”. Of course I was proven wrong (not the first time)- Ricky Skaggs recorded it and had a huge Number 1 hit. I still remember that night like it was yesterday.

-WH

An official recording of Warren Haynes and the Ashes & Dust Band joined by Chris Stapleton for a performance of “Desperados Waiting For A Train” was also shared. Stream the rendition from September 30, 2015 at Stage AE in Pittsburgh here: