JANUARY 1, 1997 – Singer/songwriter/musician/producer/arranger TOWNES VAN ZANDT (b. March 7, 1944 in Fort Worth, Texas as John Townes Van Zandt) died from health problems stemming from years of substance abuse.
At the time of his death, he had begun a long-distance relationship with a woman named Claudia Winterer from Darmstadt, Germany The two met in November 1995 during a concert of his in Hanau. Van Zandt told several friends that His music has been covered by such notable and varied musicians as Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Cowboy Junkies, Andrew Bird, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch. He planned on marrying Winterer, but the two never became formally engaged. Van Zandt’s music has been covered by such notable and varied musicians as Bob Dylan, Nanci Griffith, Norah Jones, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Cowboy Junkies, Wade Bowen, Guy Clark, Andrew Bird, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch,Luke Redfield, Laura Marling, The Avett Brothers, Frank Turner, Devendra Banhart, and John Prine.
