The first biography of the elusive musician who influenced an entire generation of country songwriters as his tragic life became the stuff of legend



At last, the authorized biography of Townes Van Zandt (1944-1997), who wrote such unforgettable songs as Pancho & Lefty" and If I Needed You." Born to a wealthy oil family in Ft. Worth, Texas, hounded by alcoholism and depression, Van Zandt pursued a nomadic existence following his muse, whatever the cost to himself, friends, and relatives. Based on exclusive interviews with those close to Van Zandt, including his best friend Guy Clark and colleagues like Steve Earle and John Prine, To Live's to Fly captures all the humour, hijinks, poetry, and heartbreak of this revered, genuinely outlaw country artist.