Justin Townes Earle, the singer-songwriter and son of Steve Earle, has died. The news was confirmed on Sunday night on its official Facebook page. He was 38.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of our son, husband, father and friend Justin,” the statement said. “So many of you have relied on his music and lyrics over time and we hope his music will continue to guide you on your journeys. You will miss dear Justin. ”
Justin Townes Earle, named after Townes Van Zandt, grew up without seeing much of his father during his childhood. “One thing that needs to be clear is that people are always saying, ‘What’s it like growing up with Steve Earle,’ and I do not know, ‘Justin said in a 2009 interview. “I grew up with Steve Earle as I did. I grew up with Carol-Ann Earle.”
He got his start as a working musician when he was a teenager. He played in the Nashville bands the Distributors and the Swindlers, as well as his father’s touring band, the Dukes. Steve Earle shot Justin out of the band, indicating drugs from his son. Justin Townes Earle often spoke about his history of drug abuse, saying in interviews that he had survived five doses of heroin by the time he was 21. He had remained sober in recent years, which he discussed in multiple interviews.
He began his solo recording career with his debut EP Yuma on Bloodshot Records in 2007. He released eight albums in his lifetime, including four on Bloodshot beginning in 2008’s The good life. His last four albums were released on Vagrant (2014’s) Single Mothers and 2015s Absent Fathers) and New West (2017s) Children in the street). His latest album, 2019s The Saint of Lost Causes, addresses current social issues, including the Flint water crisis and the criminal justice system in America.
In a 2019 interview surrounding the release of his latest album, Justin discussed what it was like to be compared to his father. “I really appreciate it,” he said. “There are many sons and daughters who have nothing to do with their parents. Get over that shit. Do you think you will do what you do without the influence of your mother or father? “
This article was originally published on August 23 at 8:58 pm Eastern. It was last updated on August 23, at 21:52 Eastern.
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