Blaze Foley
Blaze Foley (born Michael David Fuller in 18 December 1949 in Malvern, Arka… Read Full Bio ↴Blaze Foley (born Michael David Fuller in 18 December 1949 in Malvern, Arkansas; died 1 February 1989 in Austin, Texas) was an American singer-songwriter. He was shot and killed in 1989, at the age of 39, while trying to defend an elderly friend. During the late 1970s Blaze Foley & the Beaver Valley Boys were a big part of the Houston club scene.
Foley grew up in Texas. He performed in a gospel band called The Fuller Family with his mother and sisters. After leaving home, he performed in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and finally Austin, Texas, where even in this city of non-conformists his unusual character was noticed. He slept on friend's couches or under pool-tables in bars. He made the Austin Outhouse his home. He was close friends with another Texas legend Townes Van Zandt.
His song "If I Could Only Fly" became a hit in the interpretation of Merle Haggard. His song "Election Day" was covered by Lyle Lovett on his 2003 album "My Baby Don't Tolerate" and his song "Clay Pigeons" was covered by John Prine on his Grammy Award winning 2005 album "Fair and Square."
In 1989, Foley was shot to death while helping his friend Concho January defend himself from his violent son Carey January. Carey January was acquitted of murder in the first degree by reason of self-defense. Friends of Foley were outraged at the verdict.
Blaze Foley jokingly claimed to be the illegitimate son of Red Foley and Blaze Starr.
Blaze had a love affair with duct tape. Initially he placed duct tape on the tips of his cowboy boots to mock the "Urban Cowboy" crazed folks with their silver tipped cowboy boots. This love of duct tape grew until he'd made a suit out of duct tape that he used to walk around in. At his funeral, his casket was coated with duct tape by his friends. Townes Van Zandt was quoted as saying that "he'd have to dig Blaze up to get the pawn ticket for his guitar that was in his pocket".
The very emotional songs Foley wrote were marked by honesty. They were about all things in life, from love songs to sharp political commentary. Because of the latter one of his master tapes is rumored to have been confiscated by the FBI (or the DEA).
Foley worked with, amongst others, Townes Van Zandt and Calvin Russell.
The song "Drunken Angel" by Lucinda Williams, which appears on her 1998 album "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road", is a tribute to Foley.
Gurf Morlix released a song on his 2009 album, Last Exit to Happyland entitled "Music You Mighta Made" about his longtime friend, Foley. On February 1, 2011, Morlix released Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream, a 15-song collection of Foley's songs.
Three songs, posthumously co-written by Jon Hogan at the request of the Foley estate, were released in 2010 on the album "Every Now and Then: Songs of Townes Van Zandt & Blaze Foley." They include "Every Now and Then," "Safe in the Arms of Love," and "Can't Always Cry."
Foley's music featured prominently in a feature-length documentary film about him entitled "Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah," released in 2011 by filmmaker Kevin Triplett
Foley grew up in Texas. He performed in a gospel band called The Fuller Family with his mother and sisters. After leaving home, he performed in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and finally Austin, Texas, where even in this city of non-conformists his unusual character was noticed. He slept on friend's couches or under pool-tables in bars. He made the Austin Outhouse his home. He was close friends with another Texas legend Townes Van Zandt.
His song "If I Could Only Fly" became a hit in the interpretation of Merle Haggard. His song "Election Day" was covered by Lyle Lovett on his 2003 album "My Baby Don't Tolerate" and his song "Clay Pigeons" was covered by John Prine on his Grammy Award winning 2005 album "Fair and Square."
In 1989, Foley was shot to death while helping his friend Concho January defend himself from his violent son Carey January. Carey January was acquitted of murder in the first degree by reason of self-defense. Friends of Foley were outraged at the verdict.
Blaze Foley jokingly claimed to be the illegitimate son of Red Foley and Blaze Starr.
Blaze had a love affair with duct tape. Initially he placed duct tape on the tips of his cowboy boots to mock the "Urban Cowboy" crazed folks with their silver tipped cowboy boots. This love of duct tape grew until he'd made a suit out of duct tape that he used to walk around in. At his funeral, his casket was coated with duct tape by his friends. Townes Van Zandt was quoted as saying that "he'd have to dig Blaze up to get the pawn ticket for his guitar that was in his pocket".
The very emotional songs Foley wrote were marked by honesty. They were about all things in life, from love songs to sharp political commentary. Because of the latter one of his master tapes is rumored to have been confiscated by the FBI (or the DEA).
Foley worked with, amongst others, Townes Van Zandt and Calvin Russell.
The song "Drunken Angel" by Lucinda Williams, which appears on her 1998 album "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road", is a tribute to Foley.
Gurf Morlix released a song on his 2009 album, Last Exit to Happyland entitled "Music You Mighta Made" about his longtime friend, Foley. On February 1, 2011, Morlix released Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream, a 15-song collection of Foley's songs.
Three songs, posthumously co-written by Jon Hogan at the request of the Foley estate, were released in 2010 on the album "Every Now and Then: Songs of Townes Van Zandt & Blaze Foley." They include "Every Now and Then," "Safe in the Arms of Love," and "Can't Always Cry."
Foley's music featured prominently in a feature-length documentary film about him entitled "Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah," released in 2011 by filmmaker Kevin Triplett
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Blaze Foley Lyrics
02-Clay Pigeons I'm goin' down to the Greyhound station Gonna get a ticket…
Big Cheeseburgers & Good French Fries I got an angel of woman with big blue eyes Friends…
Big Cheeseburgers and Good French Fries I got an angel of woman with big blue eyes Friends…
Black Granite Black granite, so silent, cries out to us all Forever rememb…
Clay Pigeons I'm goin' down to the Greyhound station Gonna get a ticket…
Cold Cold World I've tried for a long time but I think I…
Cosmic Doo Doo Cosmic doo doo, Cosmic giggle Cosmic cutie sure can wiggle S…
Crawl Back to You Lessons learned, bridges burned to the ground, And it's too …
Down Here Where I Am The rain keeps on pouring Down here where I am The river's…
Election Day Hey Mr. Policeman, please don't take my stuff It cost me…
Faded Love and Memories Faded loves, and memories How they take the best of me This…
For Anything Less Last night you went away to be alone And I trembled…
If I Could Only Fly I almost felt you touching me just now I wish I…
It's Just You Well tonight, if I'm feeling bad, I'll know why Baby it's…
Let Me Ride In Your Big Cadillac Let me ride in your big Cadillac, Lord Jesus Let me…
Livin in the Woods in a Tree Met a kinky little woman with crazy hair …
Moonlight Moonlight shining through the trees Moonlight shining down o…
My Reason's Why If I could take my reasons why And make them sound…
Oh Darlin' Oh Darlin Oh darlin We were younger Now alone And i need you…
Ooh Love Blue eyes She's said pretty blue eyes Said I had pretty blue…
Oooh Love Blue eyes She's said pretty blue eyes Said I had pretty bl…
Oval Room In his oval room, in his rockin' chair He's the president,…
Picture Cards Can't Picture You Didn't try to fall in love with you Tried everything that…
Small Town Hero High-school, high-school, college, too Church on Sunday, le…
The Moonlight Song Moonlight shining through the trees Moonlight shining down o…
The Way You Smile Where do you go from here? Do you feel alone? So far…
Tree House Lullaby When I woke up this morning I was wondering where I'd…
Wouldn Lock your door lady or I'll jump in your car I…
Wouldn't That Be Nice Lock your door lady or I'll jump in your car I…
Wouldn't That Be Nice? Lock your door lady or I'll jump in your car I…
You'll Get Yours Aplenty The skies are full of dirt and gray City's kids come…