Jerry Jeff Walker Interview Reviewit Magazine, October 2012

Paige Moore We had a chance to have a chat with country music legend, Jerry Jeff Walker, who spoke to us from his adopted hometown of Austin, Texas. Reviewit: Let's begin with a typical day in the life of Jerry Jeff Walker. What does that look like? JJW: Not very eventful. I work out with a trainer, try and get in some aerobics, forty­five or so minutes of swimming sometime between traffic jams, read a good book, play some guitar, then watch some sort of baseball game. Reviewit: Do you ever come over to our neck of the Woodlands? Have a favorite hangout over here? JJW: Not since I had to give up golf. My hangout is Austin. Deep Eddy, and what we call "the Hood" which is just a fifteen block area that has stuff like an old dry cleaner, old coffee shop, a corner store…really if I can avoid going past fifteenth street and the river, I do. Reviewit: But you have another home, too. Tell me about "Casa Gonzo and Camp Belize." JJW: Well it all started around 1990. January­February is Cedar season and I like the Caribbean, so we took a cruise and I hated it. I decided I still wanted to go but just be in one place. I needed somewhere that wasn't a long plane ride, where people spoke English, and where I could deal with Texans. So we went to San Pedro, Belize, where there was a little place called "The Victoria House" owned by some folks from Houston. They told me "if you come down with some fans, we'll cook." So we took about twenty couples and had a great time. In '92­'93 I bought some land, in '94 I built "Casa Gonzo." Every year, last weekend of January and the first weekend of February we go. It's fun. People bring their guitars… Reviewit: It's open to everyone? JJW: Yep! We've got a group of regulars that alternate but anyone who wants to come can come. Reviewit: What do you think about all of the new avenues for fame there are today like YouTube and reality television shows like "Idol" and "The Voice?" JJW: Well I've always said that too much knowledge of the business takes away from creativity; by the same token you do have some chance to impact what happens to you by having some other outlets. You can get on with it because one guy may not like you but other people do. This way decisions are made by the public. They say "I like it. I'll buy it." Still most artists don't have the brains to do all that business­ you have to really protect yourself from getting ripped off like a lot of us did. Reviewit: What about the quality of the talent? JJW: American Idol has turned into a big business. I don't think it's as much of people walking out of their houses and singing like it used to be. I suspect there are managers behind it but I'm no authority on the matter. Reviewit: If there was a king of the world who declared that all music was his, what album would you hide in a hollowed­out book and keep for yourself? JJW: ….. huh?? (Laughter) JJW: Okay let's see, so the king's got all of the music except what I kept hidden. I like instrumental stuff. I would get the complete box set of Bill Evans, the Columbia years, when he did duets with myself and all that. I keep coming back to it. It's pleasant, it's good, and it's eight CDs. I like music when I'm just unwinding. I get pretty tired of the same songs all the time…. Really I'd be in good shape because I can just make my own music. Reviewit: That's true! You're prepared.

JJW: Yeah, honestly I would just recommend everyone just learn to play a ukulele. That'll fix the problem. Reviewit: If the future president invites you to the inaugural party, what song will you sing? JJW: "Up against the Wall" and "Redneck Mother." (Laughter) JJW: Actually I just played for the President while he was in town not too long ago. He came up and personally thanked us after the show. I never saw such a fit person. He's ripped. I think he plays basketball four times a week or something. Nice man. (thinks a while) JJW: I played a couple of inaugural parties. Clinton, George Bush Senior…. don't remember if I played for Carter. A gig's a gig. That's what I told my mother when she said "You're going to play Carnegie Hall!" I said "A gig's a gig, Mom." (Laughs) Reviewit: What would you do if you were elected president? What would be your first action? JJW: Expunge the record of my misdeeds. (Laughs) Then I would legalize marijuana. I don't even smoke myself­ I just think it would save valuable prison space. Reviewit: Thank you, Mister Jerry Jeff Walker. And please enjoy Austin today for those of us who can't. JJW: You betcha. For more information about "Camp Belize" and to listen to Jerry Jeff Walker's latest album, "Moon Child," go to his website: http://jerryjeff.com Written by Paige Moore