Just months after revealing that he was battling a pair of incurable diseases, beloved country music singer/songwriter Joe Ely has died.
He was 78.
Variety reported Ely died from complications from Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia.
He announced that he was battling Lewy Body and Parkinson’s in a statement posted on his Facebook page back in September.
“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 statement read.
The statement also noted that Ely and his wife planned to release some of his recordings that they had recently found.
“Our story is about how music continues to lift us up,” Sharon said in the statement. “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.”
Ely died with Sharon and his daughter, Marie, at his side in his home in Taos, New Mexico, according to a statement shared to his Facebook.
“He was a leader of the extraordinary parade of artists raised in Lubbock who later settled in the live music capital of Austin,” the statement read. “Ely signed with MCA Records in the 1970s and spent more than five decades recording and performing around the world.”
While Ely was a beloved country musician, Variety noted that his skills also earned him a spot working with some big-time rock acts. That included working as a supporting act for the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, the Clash, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Stevie Nicks.
“Joe Ely performed roots music like a true believer who knew music could transort souls,” Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young said in a statement on X. “His musical style could only have emerged from Texas. His true measure came through in the dynamic intensity of his powerhouse live perofrmances, where he could stand his ground aside fellow zealots Bruce Springsteen who recorded duets with Ely, and the Stones and he Clash, who took Ely on tour as an opening act.”
“An absolute legend,” one person replied to Young’s statement. “I was blessed to have seen Joe in concert several times, and not only was he a stellar performer and musician, he was also a super sweet guy, always willing to talk after the show. My eyes got lucky.”
A native of Amarillo, Texas, Ely began his career in 1970 and was active through this year despite his health issues.
He released 21 albums across that time.
