Among the luminaries on the Red Carpet last night at the Dallas International Film Festival was the original “Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother” Jerry Jeff Walker. (Did you know he wrote “Mr. Bo Jangles” too, although arguably most associate the song with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band … HA! Or even Sammy Davis Jr.)
Close in stature to a Willie Nelson, he has been a Texas legend since his defection from New York to join the hippie scene in Austin, Texas back in the ’60s … and now he is the star of a film — “OK Buckaroos” by Patrick Tourville. Typically, he cuts a rug … This time he was on the Red Carpet.
In the film “Bo Jangles” dances and sings in concert footage intertwined with the admiration of notables like Kris Kristofferson and Jimmy Buffett. It is shot from a fan’s point of view, chronicling Walker’s touring at the close of the last century.
Here’s more on the film:
While I had him pinned down on the carpet, I asked the songwriter to speak out on the state of Texas Film. In recent days, Texas Lawmakers have discussed cutting the incentives that attract filmmakers to The Lone Star State. (He didn’t dance around the question much … showing support for the arts, although not too specific.)
No surprise … he is an entertainer, not a politician. Thank goodness … “Dance … please dance …”
Know what I sayin?
